About the position
Position Overview
A well-established and rapidly growing organisation within the utility management and energy services sector is seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Financial Accountant to join its finance team.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing financial accounting functions, ensuring accurate financial reporting, maintaining strong internal controls, and supporting strategic financial operations across multiple business divisions.
This role requires a hands-on finance professional with proven experience operating within a high-volume transactional environment, managing large debtor and creditor books, and handling complex reconciliations within a fast-paced operational business.
The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial acumen, excellent reporting capabilities, and the ability to support operational decision-making through accurate financial insight and analysis.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting & Accounting
- Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports
- Reconcile general ledger accounts and investigate discrepancies
- Ensure accuracy of trial balances and financial records
- Assist with preparation of annual financial statements
- Maintain fixed asset registers and depreciation schedules
- Process and review journals, accruals, and provisions
- Manage month-end and year-end close processes
- Ensure compliance with IFRS and applicable accounting standards
High-Volume Transaction Management
- Manage and reconcile high volumes of financial transactions accurately and efficiently
- Oversee large accounts payable and accounts receivable functions
- Process and review high-volume invoicing, supplier payments, and customer reconciliations
- Monitor large debtor and creditor books and proactively resolve discrepancies
- Ensure timely allocation of payments, collections, and account reconciliations
- Support cash flow management through accurate transaction processing and reporting
- Work within strict reporting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Accounts Payable & Receivable Oversight
- Monitor debtors and creditors age analysis
- Ensure accurate invoicing and revenue recognition
- Oversee supplier reconciliations and payment processing
- Assist with cash flow forecasting and working capital management
- Resolve account queries and financial discrepancies
Tax & Compliance
- Prepare VAT calculations and reconciliations
- Assist with PAYE, UIF, and statutory compliance requirements
- Liaise with auditors, tax consultants, and external stakeholders
- Ensure compliance with company policies and financial controls
- Support audit preparation and compliance reporting
Budgeting & Financial Analysis
- Assist in preparation of annual budgets and forecasts
- Analyse operational expenditure and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Produce variance analysis and financial performance reports
- Support management with financial modelling and reporting insights
- Provide recommendations to improve financial efficiency and controls
Process Improvement & Controls
- Implement and improve accounting procedures and controls
- Assist in streamlining finance and reporting processes
- Ensure proper document management and audit readiness
- Participate in ERP/accounting system optimisation initiatives
- Support automation and reporting improvement projects
- Identify inefficiencies within finance processes and implement corrective measures
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
- Completed SAIPA / SAICA articles advantageous
- Professional registration advantageous
Experience
- Minimum 5 years' experience in a Financial Accountant role
- Proven experience within a high-volume transactional environment is essential
- Experience managing large debtor and creditor books
- Strong reconciliation and month-end reporting experience
- Exposure to multi-division or group structures preferred
- Experience within utilities, services, engineering, telecommunications, logistics, retail, manufacturing, or similarly high-volume industries advantageous
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of IFRS and South African tax legislation
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Experience using accounting and ERP systems
- Strong financial reporting and reconciliation capabilities
- Financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting experience
- Strong systems orientation with the ability to analyse large data sets
Competencies & Behavioural Attributes
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Commercially aware and solutions driven
- Ethical, professional, and confidential in handling financial information
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Strong ability to prioritise and manage multiple financial processes simultaneously
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Accuracy and timeliness of monthly financial reporting
- Successful completion of month-end and year-end processes
- Accuracy of high-volume transaction processing
- Audit readiness and compliance adherence
- Debtors and creditors management effectiveness
- Cash flow and financial forecasting accuracy
- Reduction in financial discrepancies and reporting errors
- Improvement of finance processes and controls
Working Environment
- Office-based environment
- Fast-paced and performance-driven culture
- Exposure to multiple operational business units
- Collaborative finance and operations environment
- Opportunity to contribute to a growing and evolving organisation within the energy and utility sector
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a proactive and detail-driven finance professional who thrives in a high-volume operational environment. They possess strong accounting fundamentals, advanced reconciliation skills, and the ability to manage large transactional workloads while maintaining exceptional levels of accuracy and efficiency.
They are commercially minded, highly organised, and capable of providing meaningful financial insight that supports operational decision-making and business growth.
***Salary - R45,000.00 - R60,000.00 (Negotiable, based on skills, experience and in relation to current package)
Desired Skills:
