SENIOR ACCOUNTANT

Ergasia Placements; Delmas; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Ergasia Placements is seeking a practical, commercially minded Senior Accountant to join our team. You will combine robust technical accounting skills with daily operations understanding, ensuring accurate reporting and strong financial controls across all cycles.

The ideal candidate demonstrates ownership, stability, and the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights while supporting management and operational teams in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• BCom Accounting degree or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 3 years' relevant accounting experience, including reconciliations, month-end reporting and management accounts.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Working knowledge of Sage Pastel.
• Valid driver's licence.
• Strong financial analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills in English and Afrikaans.
• A stable employment history with a proven track record of reliability and commitment.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Willingness to participate in operational stock-takes and a weekend duty roster.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and finalise weekly reconciliations for feed, medicine, workshop expenses, chemicals, seed and diesel.
• Manage work-in-progress, capital, accrual and profit-control reconciliations.
• Ensure accurate month-end financial reporting, provisions and expense allocations.
• Prepare and submit SARS diesel refund claims and monitor diesel consumption and stock.
• Prepare, review and analyse monthly management accounts against budgets.
• Investigate variances, ensure accurate cost allocations and provide financial feedback to management.
• Review budgets across feedlot, crop farming and administrative operations.
• Assist with annual financial and operational planning.
• Monitor monthly performance indicators against business plans and targets.
• Conduct ROI, cost-over-gains, contract profitability and break-even analyses.
• Analyse cattle growth, weight performance and slaughter results from a financial perspective.
• Calculate operational unit costs, including transport cost per kilometre, equipment costs and by-product costing.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support operational efficiency.
• Review purchase requisitions and supplier quotations against approved operating budgets.
• Verify invoice allocations and ensure accurate client billing.
• Monitor medicine stock levels and support effective inventory management.
• Lead and participate in stock-takes alongside operational teams.
• Maintain strong financial controls across the business.
• Assist with the financial administration of vehicle, equipment and implement purchases and disposals.
• Coordinate relevant insurance documentation and asset records.
• Participate in daily operational meetings and support management with financial information.
• Assist with operational planning and weekend duty arrangements.

Skills

Excel

Financial analysis

Problem-solving

Education

BCom Accounting degree or equivalent

Tools

Sage Pastel

Job description

Minimum Requirements

• BCom Accounting degree or equivalent qualification from a recognised institution.
• Minimum 3 years' relevant accounting experience, including reconciliations, month-end reporting and management accounts.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Working knowledge of Sage Pastel.
• Valid driver's licence.
• Strong financial analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Good communication skills in both English and Afrikaans.
• A stable employment history with a proven track record of reliability and commitment.
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and meet strict deadlines.
• Willingness to participate in operational stock-takes and a weekend duty roster.

Advantageous Experience

• Previous accounting experience within the agricultural, livestock, feedlot or farming sectors.
• Knowledge of SARS diesel refund requirements.
• Experience in operational costing, budgeting, profitability analysis and return on investment (ROI) calculations.
• Exposure to stock control, asset management and operational financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Reconciliations

• Prepare and finalise weekly reconciliations for feed, medicine, workshop expenses, chemicals, seed and diesel.
• Manage work-in-progress, capital, accrual and profit-control reconciliations.
• Ensure accurate month-end financial reporting, provisions and expense allocations.
• Prepare and submit SARS diesel refund claims and monitor diesel consumption and stock.

Management Accounts and Budgeting

• Prepare, review and analyse monthly management accounts against budgets.
• Investigate variances, ensure accurate cost allocations and provide financial feedback to management.
• Review budgets across feedlot, crop farming and administrative operations.
• Assist with annual financial and operational planning.
• Monitor monthly performance indicators against business plans and targets.

Costing and Profitability Analysis

• Conduct ROI, cost-over-gains, contract profitability and break-even analyses.
• Analyse cattle growth, weight performance and slaughter results from a financial perspective.
• Calculate operational unit costs, including transport cost per kilometre, equipment costs and by-product costing.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and support operational efficiency.

Purchasing, Stock Control and Financial Compliance

• Review purchase requisitions and supplier quotations against approved operating budgets.
• Verify invoice allocations and ensure accurate client billing.
• Monitor medicine stock levels and support effective inventory management.
• Lead and participate in stock-takes alongside operational teams.
• Maintain strong financial controls across the business.

Assets and Operational Support

• Assist with the financial administration of vehicle, equipment and implement purchases and disposals.
• Coordinate relevant insurance documentation and asset records.
• Participate in daily operational meetings and support management with financial information.
• Assist with operational planning and weekend duty arrangements.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are looking for a practical, commercially minded Senior Accountant who combines strong technical accounting skills with an understanding of day-to-day business operations.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• A consistent and stable career history.
• Strong ownership and accountability.
• The ability to translate financial information into practical business insights.
• Confidence working with both management and operational teams.
• A proactive approach to identifying financial risks, controlling costs and improving profitability.
• A willingness to be actively involved in the operational environment rather than focusing solely on desk-based accounting.