About the position
ENVIRONMENT:
A manufacturing and distribution company an Accountant who is responsible for managing the full bookkeeping and accounting function of the business up to trial balance level. The role ensures the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions, bank reconciliations, debtor and creditor management, inventory accounting, payroll reconciliations, statutory compliance, month-end reporting, and management accounting support. The incumbent is required to provide accurate financial information to management, ensure strong financial controls are maintained, and support business operations through effective financial administration and reporting.
DUTIES:
Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Maintain the integrity and accuracy of the General Ledger.
- Process journals, accruals, prepayments, provisions and reversals.
- Ensure all financial transactions are accurately recorded and allocated.
- Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
- Maintain accounting records up to Trial Balance.
- Assist with annual financial statement preparation and external audits.
- Ensure compliance with company financial policies and procedures.
Bank and Cash Management
- Perform monthly bank reconciliations for all company bank accounts.
- Process daily bank transactions.
- Reconcile bank accounts and investigate reconciling items.
- Allocate customer receipts accurately.
- Follow up on unidentified deposits and outstanding items.
- Liaise with banking institutions regarding discrepancies.
Inventory and Stock Control
- Process and reconcile monthly stock counts.
- Perform weekly stock count reconciliations.
- Investigate stock variances and discrepancies.
- Process stock adjustment journals.
- Ensure inventory balances agree to the General Ledger.
- Maintain inventory control schedules.
- Maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) in Sage.
- Process and reconcile inventory-related transactions: donations, trading samples, stock write-offs, damaged stock, promotional stock, inventory transfers, and production variances.
Month-End Close Process
- Take ownership of the monthly financial close process and ensure all deadlines are achieved.
- Prepare and review monthly sales reports, export sales reports, profitability analysis, management reporting packs and financial reporting schedules.
- Prepare monthly accruals for sales incentives, transport costs, staff transport, truck allowances, storage and distribution charges, bonuses, royalties, overtime, insurance, rental expenses, audit fees, and other operational expenses.
- Prepare and process sales, tax, depreciation, commission, payroll, inventory, accrual, reversal and intercompany journals.
Management Reporting
- Prepare and analyse monthly sales performance reports, customer growth reports, gross profit analysis, inventory reports, export profit & loss reports, cost centre reports, variance analysis and financial manager reporting packs.
Taxation and Statutory Compliance
- Prepare monthly VAT calculations and reconciliations.
- Assist with provisional tax calculations.
- Prepare tax journals and supporting schedules.
- Ensure statutory deadlines are met.
- Assist with SARS audits and queries.
- Maintain tax and statutory filing records.
Payroll Accounting and Reconciliations
- Review payroll information for accuracy.
- Perform wage testing and payroll validation.
- Process payroll journals.
- Reconcile payroll clearing and control accounts.
- Investigate payroll discrepancies.
Creditors and Supplier Management
- Review creditor age analysis.
Export and Intercompany Accounting
- Process export sales invoices.
- Maintain export sales schedules.
- Prepare export age analyses and profitability reports.
- Update export reporting records.
- Manage intercompany reconciliations.
- Prepare monthly intercompany reporting for group reporting requirements.
Commission and Royalty Administration
- Calculate and process sales commissions, export commissions, Meridian commissions, SPAR commissions, Elite Star commissions, Mauritius commissions, and royalty payments.
Production Accounting Support
- Capture and reconcile daily production information.
- Review production reports against inventory movements.
- Investigate production and stock variances.
Budgeting and Forecasting Support
- Assist with annual budget preparation.
- Monitor expenditure against budgets.
- Distribute cost centre reports to cost centre owners every second month.
Internal Controls, Audit and Compliance
- Maintain effective internal financial controls.
- Ensure accounting records are ready.
- Assist external auditors and internal auditors.
- Identify process improvement opportunities.
- Ensure compliance with company policies and financial procedures.
- Safeguard company assets through effective control measures.
General Responsibilities
- Assist with ad hoc finance projects and management requests.
- Participate in continuous process improvement initiatives.
- Support junior finance staff where required.
- Maintain confidentiality of all financial information.
- Perform any other duties reasonably required within the scope of the position.
Key Performance Indicators
- Accurate and timely month-end close: completed by 12pm on the 2nd working day.
- Accurate bank reconciliations and cash management: every 2nd working day.
- Inventory reconciliation accuracy: weekly.
- Statutory compliance and VAT accuracy: accurate and submitted within statutory deadlines.
- Intercompany reconciliation accuracy: accurate and submitted within deadlines.
- Audit compliance and readiness: no audit findings.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bcom in Accounting or Finance
- SAIPA / SAICA Articles completed
- 4 yrs experience managing accounts up to trial balance, ideally in a manufacturing/FMCG environment.
- Experience working on an ERP system, Sage Evolution and Pastel Payroll.
Skills and Competencies:
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Strong understanding of VAT, inventory control, bank reconciliations and month-end processes
- High level of numeracy and attention to detail
- Strong analytical ability
- Deadline-driven, with the ability to work under pressure
- Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet non-negotiable deadlines
- Clear and accurate written and verbal communication
Desired Skills:
