Senior Financial Accountant

Malander Careers; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Malander Careers is seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to join a fast-paced finance environment supporting a UK-based client in Johannesburg. This hands-on role suits an independently driven professional with strong end-to-end accounting and financial reporting experience.

You will own key areas across the financial cycle, from purchase orders and invoice processing to management accounts, reporting packs, and variance analysis, communicating clearly with senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years' experience in a Senior Financial Accountant or similar role.
• Strong end-to-end accounting experience.
• Experience with budget-to-actual and variance analysis.
• Experience preparing reporting packs and financial commentary.
• Good understanding of payroll impacts on financial reporting.
• Strong Excel and financial analysis capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and take full ownership of deliverables.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Confident communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and financial discipline.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end finance cycle including POs, invoice processing and GL bookings.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Perform budget-to-actual analysis and investigate variances.
• Prepare reporting packs and provide clear financial commentary and analysis.
• Analyse financial information and identify trends, risks and areas requiring attention.
• Understand payroll impacts and reflect them in reporting.
• Perform account reconciliations and ensure accuracy of records.
• Take ownership of tasks from initiation through to completion.
• Identify, investigate and resolve accounting issues independently.
• Support month-end and year-end financial processes.
• Communicate financial information clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Contribute to process improvements and reporting quality.
• Provide general finance support where required.

Skills

End-to-end accounting

Financial reporting

Variance analysis

Management accounts

Stakeholder management

Excel

Education

Relevant accounting qualification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Malander is currently seeking a Senior Financial Accountant to join a fast-paced finance environment supporting a UK-based client. This is an office-based opportunity in Johannesburg, suited to a hands‑on and independently driven accounting professional with strong end-to-end accounting and financial reporting experience.

The successful candidate will take ownership of key areas across the financial cycle, from purchase orders, invoice processing, and general ledger activities through to management accounts, reporting packs, budget-to-actual analysis, and variance reporting. The role requires someone who can work independently, identify and resolve issues, and communicate confidently with senior stakeholders.

This is a renewable/ongoing contract opportunity, although the role is treated as permanent in nature for sourcing purposes.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end finance cycle, including purchase orders, invoice processing and general ledger bookings
• Prepare and maintain accurate monthly management accounts and financial reports
• Perform budget-to-actual analysis and investigate and explain key variances
• Prepare reporting packs and provide clear financial commentary and analysis
• Analyse financial information and identify trends, risks and areas requiring attention
• Understand and incorporate payroll impacts into management accounts and financial reporting
• Perform account reconciliations and ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial records
• Take ownership of accounting and reporting tasks from initiation through to completion
• Identify, investigate and resolve accounting and reporting issues independently
• Support month-end and year-end financial processes
• Ensure financial processes and reporting are completed accurately and within required deadlines
• Communicate financial information clearly and confidently to senior stakeholders
• Contribute to process improvements and improvements in the quality and efficiency of financial reporting
• Provide general finance support where required

Requirements

• Relevant accounting qualification is required
• 2–3 years' experience in a Senior Financial Accountant or similar role
• Strong end-to-end accounting experience
• Proven experience preparing management accounts and financial reporting
• Experience with budget-to-actual and variance analysis
• Strong understanding of general ledger processes, invoice processing and purchase orders
• Experience preparing reporting packs and financial commentary
• Good understanding of payroll impacts on financial reporting
• Strong Excel and financial analysis capabilities
• Ability to work independently and take full ownership of deliverables
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Confident communication and stakeholder management skills
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and financial discipline
• Commercially aware with the ability to understand and communicate financial insights effectively