Senior Accountant

MECS Africa; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 520,000 - 860,000; Full time

Job summary

MECS Africa is seeking a hands-on accounting professional to manage monthly management accounts and contribute to regional finance across multiple entities in Africa. You will focus on value-adding accounting tasks, with the transactional processing handled by a central team in East Africa.

You’ll travel to East Africa to collaborate with regional finance and operations, gaining broader exposure while supporting month-end reporting, reconciliations, payroll, and budgeting processes.

Qualifications

• Qualified CA(SA) or CIMA or equivalent accounting qualification.
• 2–3 years' commercial accounting experience.
• Strong experience preparing management accounts.
• Solid understanding of month-end accounting.
• Payroll experience would be advantageous.
• Strong Excel skills and financial reporting abilities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts across multiple entities.
• Manage the month-end close process and reporting timelines.
• Perform detailed balance sheet reconciliations.
• Complete customer and supplier reconciliations.
• Prepare bank reconciliations and investigate reconciling items.
• Assist with monthly payroll processing.
• Maintain the general ledger and supporting schedules.
• Prepare journals and month-end adjustments.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow reporting.
• Prepare financial reports and variance analysis for management.
• Assist with statutory reporting, tax compliance and annual audits.
• Support intercompany accounting and reconciliations.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes and reporting.
• Provide financial support to operational teams across the business.
• Travel to regional operations when required, typically on a monthly basis.
• Assist with ad hoc operational and finance projects as the business continues to grow.

Skills

Management accounts

Month-end accounting

Payroll experience

Excel skills

Attention to detail

Financial reporting

Education

CA(SA), CIMA or equivalent accounting qualification

Tools

Sage Online

Job description

The Role

This is a hands-on accounting position with significant operational exposure across multiple African entities. Your primary focus will be preparing monthly management accounts, completing month-end reporting, performing customer, supplier and balance sheet reconciliations, assisting with payroll, and ensuring the integrity of the financial records. The transactional processing function is managed by the finance team in East Africa, allowing this role to focus on value-adding accounting responsibilities rather than high-volume invoice processing.

You’ll also have the opportunity to travel to East Africa, working alongside regional finance and operational teams to gain a broader understanding of the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts across multiple entities.
• Manage the month-end close process and reporting timelines.
• Perform detailed balance sheet reconciliations.
• Complete customer and supplier reconciliations.
• Prepare bank reconciliations and investigate reconciling items.
• Assist with monthly payroll processing.
• Maintain the general ledger and supporting schedules.
• Prepare journals and month-end adjustments.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and cash flow reporting.
• Prepare financial reports and variance analysis for management.
• Assist with statutory reporting, tax compliance and annual audits.
• Support intercompany accounting and reconciliations.
• Identify opportunities to improve finance processes and reporting.
• Provide financial support to operational teams across the business.
• Travel to regional operations when required, typically on a monthly basis.
• Assist with ad hoc operational and finance projects as the business continues to grow.

What We’re Looking For

• CA(SA), CIMA or equivalent accounting qualification.
• Ideally recently qualified or 2–3 years' commercial accounting experience.
• Strong experience preparing management accounts.
• Solid understanding of month-end accounting.
• Excellent balance sheet reconciliation skills.
• Payroll experience would be advantageous.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, schedules, PivotTables and financial reporting.
• Exposure to Sage Online or a similar cloud-based accounting system.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally when required.

We’re looking for someone who wants to build a career rather than simply fill a role.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Ambitious and eager to develop professionally.
• Comfortable working in a small, entrepreneurial business.
• Adaptable and able to manage changing priorities.
• Proactive, hands-on and willing to take ownership.
• Commercially minded with an interest in business operations.
• Confident communicating with stakeholders across different countries.
• Someone who enjoys working closely with senior leadership and making a tangible impact.