Senior Management Accountant

Ntice Search Solutions; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable finance and accounting firm in Durban is seeking a Senior Management Accountant to analyze financial performance, develop budgets, and ensure compliance with accounting standards. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of management accounting experience in a manufacturing setting and advanced Excel skills. This role offers an opportunity to drive financial performance and support strategic decision-making.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years management accounting experience, including hands-on costing in a manufacturing environment.
• High competency in terms of Advanced Excel Skills, understanding database tables and structures.
• CIMA would be beneficial, or progress in attainment of CIMA.

Responsibilities

• Analyze and investigate anomalies and variances to budget and prior year figures.
• Preparation of monthly sales packs, financial budgets, sales budgets and forecasts.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure cost data integrity and accuracy.

Skills

Advanced Excel Skills

Management Accounting

Business Acumen

Analytical Skills

Risk Management

Power Bi

Education

B Comm (or equivalent)

CIMA (or pursuing)

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: SENIOR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

Section: FINANCE AND ADMIN

Reports to: FINANCIAL CONTROLLING MANAGER (FCM)

CORE PURPOSE

The Senior Management Accountant is responsible for analysing and interpreting financial and operational performance to support sound business decision-making. The role focuses on accurate costing, margin management, operational efficiency improvement, forecasting and budgeting accuracy, and driving financial performance to support sustainable manufacturing growth.

DIMENSIONS

Statutory Liabilities

• Basic Conditions of Employment Act
• Labour Relations Act
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Internal Policies and Procedures
• Skills Development Act
• Company’s Act
• Corporate governance
• IFRS standards
• Taxation laws

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Financial Management and Reporting

• Analysis and investigation of anomalies and variances to budget and prior year figures.
• Preparation of monthly sales packs, financial budgets, sales budgets and forecasts.
• Maintain sound accounting records in accordance with accounting standards (full IFRS), group policies, relevant legislation and sound internal control systems.
• Deliver additional financial and performance reporting for various divisions and departments.
• Compile and maintain hourly production rates per technology in line with company policy.
• Prepare financial scenarios and advise management on the financial implications of strategic and operational decisions.
• Provide professional financial guidance to business units, recommending initiatives to enhance profitability and efficiency.
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure cost data integrity and accuracy.
• Meet internal and external reporting deadlines.
• Ensure correct allocation of costs and revenue.
• Perform detailed job de-costing and compile standard costing reports, ensuring monthly margin analysis and variance reporting.
• Oversee monthly stock counts, ensuring all variances are investigated and resolved.
• Reconcile and balance Work in Progress (WIP), Raw Materials, and Finished Goods monthly.
• Ensure the completeness and accuracy of all financial information reported.
• Develop, maintain, and regularly review standard costs.
• Conduct production variance analysis (labour, material usage, overhead absorption).
• Partner with Production to interpret KPI results and identify improvement initiatives.

Asset Management

• Assist with the preparation of capex motivations, including post-implementation reviews and performance assessments.
• Analysis and management of risk.
• Coordinate and compile the annual asset insurance renewal process.

Projects

• Work on projects as and when necessary.
• Support project assessment and long-term strategy aimed at securing stability, growth and profitability.
• Assist with any ad hoc requirements from key stakeholders.

Audits

• Assist external auditors with all matters relating to annual external audits.
• To alert the FCM of any irregularity, lack of compliance, lack of adherence and problems whether actual or potential concerning the financial systems, the financial operations, the accounting, the audits, the budgets and any other matter of a financial nature or which could or does have a financial implication.

Management of Finance department

• Oversee invoicing team ensuring accuracy and completeness of invoicing.
• Provide guidance and training to junior team members.

Working Capital Management

• Assist with managing and improving the working capital requirements of the businesses.
• Assist with ensuring that measures are put in place for effective management of Inventory and inventory days.
• Monitor and challenge slow-moving, obsolete, and surplus stock, driving corrective actions with Operations and Sales.

Financial and ERP/MIS Systems

• Assist with conceptualising and implementing automation and enhancement of ERP within the business including an integrated MIS system.
• Creation and analysis of relevant business intelligence reports.
• Ensure data accuracy across financial and production systems.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

Skills and Knowledge:

• B Comm (or equivalent) minimum.
• CIMA would be beneficial, or progress in attainment of CIMA.
• High competency in terms of Advanced Excel Skills, understanding database tables and structures.
• Minimum 5 years management accounting experience, including hands-on costing in a manufacturing environment.
• Power Bi would be advantageous.

Behavioural

• “Can do” attitude
• Business Acumen
• Critical and strategic thinking
• Relationship building at all levels of the organisation
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Results and goal orientated
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent planning, administrative and organisational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills
• The ability to thrive in a team within a diverse work environment
• Conflict Management
• Analytical
• Risk management
• Profit driven and cost focused
• Team player
• Good ability to handle pressure and stress

CONTACT RELATIONSHIPS

• Senior Management
• Financial Institutes
• Auditors

NOTE

No Job Description can be all embracing. Associated duties which can be reasonably considered to be part of the described job shall form part of the job responsibilities. In addition, in the event of an employee's job being temporarily discontinued, he/she may be allocated to other temporary duties provided these are in keeping with his/her status and experience.

SIGNED OFF

Line Manager: _______________ Date: __________

HR Department: ________________ Date: __________

Incumbent: ____________________ Date: __________

Kindly initial the bottom of each page and sign in full on this page