Introduction

A Leading Education Group is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Financial Accountant to support its finance function and ensure accurate financial reporting, effective internal controls and strong financial governance across its schools and central offices.

This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong finance professional who enjoys working across financial accounting, reporting, reconciliations, controls and process improvement. The successful candidate will work closely with the Financial Manager, school bursars, Group Business Services (GBS) and other key stakeholders to ensure month-end and year-end processes are completed accurately and timeously.

The role requires a strong combination of financial accounting expertise, analytical ability, attention to detail, stakeholder management and a proactive approach to process improvement. The successful candidate will play an important role in maintaining the integrity of financial information, supporting audit and tax processes, strengthening financial controls and improving the efficiency of Source-to-Pay and payroll operations.

Description

• Perform month-end financial accounting activities and ensure reporting deadlines are met.

• Prepare journals including intercompany, payroll, staff salary deductions, bonus and incentive provisions, prepayments, accruals and fundraising accruals.

• Review journals and reconciliations prepared by Group Business Services (GBS).

• Identify and record required accruals.

• Coordinate month-end activities with school bursars, including petrol and store card reconciliations.

• Prepare VAT reconciliations.

• Prepare and review all balance sheet reconciliations.

• Prepare bad debt and bonus provision calculations.

• Review income statement and balance sheet results.

• Perform actual-versus-budget variance analysis and investigate material variances.

• Compile Group consolidation reporting packs.

• Support financial close activities for half-year and year-end reporting.

• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations and maintain the audit file.

• Provide information and supporting documentation required for internal and external audits and post-audit reviews.

• Prepare information required for tax reviews.

• Assist with additional Group reporting requirements and financial queries.

• Coordinate Source-to-Pay operations across CAPEX and OPEX activities.

• Coordinate Source-to-Pay training and operational support for school bursars.

• Coordinate GBS Source-to-Pay queries with schools and relevant stakeholders.

• Drive efficient and effective resolution of Source-to-Pay queries and operational issues.

• Ensure suppliers are paid accurately and on time and that school purchasing requirements are met within required timeframes.

• Coordinate troubleshooting of Source-to-Pay processes between schools and GBS.

• Monitor Source-to-Pay KPIs and SLAs, including quality and timeliness of deliverables.

• Identify opportunities to improve Source-to-Pay efficiency and effectiveness through process improvements and SLA amendments.

• Support the standardisation and continuous improvement of financial processes.

• Review the effectiveness of payroll controls performed at schools.

• Standardise payroll control procedures, including checklists, tools and supporting documentation.

• Identify payroll control gaps and recommend corrective actions.

• Identify training requirements relating to payroll controls.

• Support the implementation and monitoring of improved payroll control procedures.

• Escalate control weaknesses, discrepancies or financial risks to the appropriate stakeholders.

Education Profile

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline.

• Professional accounting qualification or progression towards a professional qualification would be advantageous.

• Previous experience in a financial accounting role.

• Strong experience with month-end and year-end financial reporting.

• Experience preparing journals, provisions and balance sheet reconciliations.

• Experience with management accounting and variance analysis.

• Experience supporting internal and external audits.

• Experience with tax-related reporting and reviews.

• Strong understanding of financial controls, compliance and accounting processes.

• Experience with Source-to-Pay, procurement or shared-service finance environments would be advantageous.

• Experience with payroll controls would be advantageous.

• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with financial/accounting systems.

• Excellent analytical and numerical skills with strong attention to detail.

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.

• Proactive approach to identifying issues and implementing process improvements.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with finance and operational teams.

• Comfortable working with multiple stakeholders across schools, central offices and shared-service functions.

• MUST BE SAIPA REGISTERED

Application Instructions

Please forward your CV to cv@myfuturecareer.co.za. Should you not be contacted within 2 weeks, kindly consider your application unsuccessful.

Contact Details