Financial Controller at Bidvest Bank

About the position

Bidvest Bank is looking for a Financial Controller.

Requirements:

• Must pay keen attention to detail, numeric accuracy and strong accounting background
• Must have good understanding of accounting flows and product mapping and banking systems
• Assertive individual who will be able to implement new controls and procedures as required
• Ability to work well and maintain focus under pressure and manage the team outputs withing required timelines
• Honesty, trustworthiness and high ethics are non-negotiable
• Excellent communication skills and must be able to interact with staff at all levels (up to Senior Executive level)
• Must be well organised
• Self-starter, motivated and energetic individual
• Have a great attitude, take ownership for tasks and see them through to completion
• Microsoft excel (advanced)
• Ability to work with different data sources and systems
• Previous experience in a similar role in a Bank (2-3 full year), full understanding how banking systems and GL workings
• Must be able to manage expectation across all levels
• Banking experience essential
• Must be able to understand and complex transactions and be able to guide team on required output
• Qualification: CA (SA) or Equivalent

Responsibilities:

Daily:

• Ensure daily adhoc queries and requests from FM/business and Execs are addressed adequately and directed to relevant individuals and resolved
• Work Closely with IT to identify any GL issues and resolutions
• Ensure that GL integrity is always maintained
• Address any business request and direct to relevant individuals to resolve, manage outcome
• Assess any financial impacts with any missing files and system issues with the assistance of IT that may occur and communicate to finance areas impacted
• Ensure that any financial logs that are raised to be resolved by respective business units are adequately resolved and closed out

Monthly:

• Send out Monthly timelines for Month end and ensure everyone meets these deadlines

• Review and approve journals posted by business and accountants

• Ensure that month end Flash number are accurate and complete and estimate profit to be included in group reporting
• Ensure that all business units provide inputs withing required timelines
• Review Opstats and identify any anomalies, which must be sent to all areas to provide explanation
• Ensure Opstats balances to TB and any anomalies raised for investigation and resolution
• Ensure that all balance sheet items are cleared, and any items of risk noted and identified to FM
• Ensure Balance sheet analysis done, and respective areas and responsible individuals attest to balances before closure
• Ensure month end closed within timeline and any delays are properly communicated
• Ensure Regulatory reports are provided by teams and saved adequately after month end close
• Ensure that all regulatory queries are address and directed to correct individuals to ensure appropriate and timely feedback.
• Ensure impairment reporting month on month is completed and available to regulatory submission.
• Review of subsidiary entities Monthly numbers and trial balance for accuracy

Reconciliation:

• Review Reconciliations across all entities
• Ensure proper controls are followed and recons are done with timeline and accurate and complete
• Ensure all items on balance sheet is reconciled and allocated to a responsible individual
• Ensure all recon owners and business attest to their balances
• Identify any items at risk and long outstanding/unreconciled items are cleared and resolved timely, if unable to clear assess the financial impact and communicate to FM to assess the reasonability of release.
• Quarterly balance sheet attestation with all owners and confirm all for audit reporting

Profit and loss reporting:

• Understand how to prepare and analyse a profit and loss statement for card products
• Ensure understanding on how card products work and P&L in line with agreement which will entail a close relationship with the card division
• Review Profit and loss models and liase with 3rd party and business on clarity on any items and ensure items resolved timely
• Ensure that all invoices are timely issued and received and raise any concerns

Process Management:

• Raise and discuss any issues regarding system/ process weaknesses identified
• Identify controls to be implemented
• Feedback to relevant department / staff to ensure problems are resolved
• Ensure all Policies and Procedures are updated and reviewed and implemented correctly
• Work closely with risk to clean up and maintain risk register and report on any identified risk that are material to the risk team, and manage resolution

Risk:

• Ensure all risk items are flagged and appropriately addressed
• Attend Ops Risk Committee and provide feedback to FM on any items to be addressed
• Ensure KRI's are completed by relevant financial individuals and supplied to risk monthly

General:

• Assist with preparation of audit reporting requirements
• Liaise with and assist internal and external auditors where required
• Assist Accountants and reconciliation teams when required
• Ensure proper governance and controls are followed
• Year end or interim pack notes for financials
• Resolve any medium to high audit findings and provide adequate resolution as management comment
• Review product mappings by Product accountant where necessary and ensure reasonable and accurate.
• Ensure that close link between Finance and all business areas and any items are resolved and addressed adequately, and any further escalations is done to FM
• Oversight and Guidance on New product mappings by Card Product accountant.

Personal Development:

• Take ownership for driving own career development
• Achievement of objectives set out in personal development plan

Desired Skills:

• Financial Control
• Accounting responsibility
• GL
• Reconciliation
• Banking

Desired Work Experience:

• 2 to 5 years Financial / Project Accounting