Assistant Accountant

Title: Assistant Accountant

Department: Cape Town Head Office

Manager: Accountant

Location: Cape Town

Background of the Business Our Client is working towards the 2025 strategy, and the Finance vision for 2025 is to “achieve a best-in-class environment and provide the business with a high-performing, reliable, scalable, and astute Finance service while ensuring that all processes and systems will guarantee a sustainable, growth-oriented, cost-effective, and low-risk business. Our client seek s excellence in all of their human capital endeavors and focus on creating an employer-of-choice environment.”

Main purpose of the role:

The Assistant Accountant will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, maintenance, and completeness of all accounting records and related transactions, the integrity of data captured on the ERP system, and performing various other ad hoc requirements in the financial operations department.

The Assistant Accountant will be expected to ensure the timely capture of all accounting-related transactions within their area of responsibility, while supporting the Accountant and Finance Manager during each financial period.

Responsibilities: The primary tasks, functions, and deliverables of the role include, but are not limited to:

1. Accounting support:

o Work closely with the Accountant to ensure the smooth operation of all finance and accounting matters.

2. Trial Balance:

o Support the Financial Accountant responsible for the company trial balance and ensure the accuracy and understanding of all general ledger accounts.

3. Balance sheet reconciliations:

o Responsible for the accurate, timely, and complete preparation of relevant balance sheet reconciliations.

4. Review entries processed to accounts on a highly detailed level.

5. Manage Foreign Supplier payments:

o Manage the companys foreign suppliers, including payments, and ensure correctly prepared, tracked, and receipted (GRNI) and foreign supplier reconciliations.

6. Company payments:

o Assist with company payments and fulfill the role of loading payments/refunds on a bi-weekly basis.

7. Support for Month-end, Year-end process & Statutory Reporting:

o Support the Accountant and Finance Manager and be accountable for the financial month-end and year-end processes.

o The Assistant Accountant will support the Accountant and Financial Accountant with managing the finance month-end checklist.

o Assist with preparation of all statutory requirements (i.e.: VAT, provisional tax, and income tax returns) including the accounting, eFiling maintenance, and payment thereof.

o Communicate and interact with the external auditors and provide all information as requested and required by the auditors.

o Assist in the preparation of annual external/internal audits.

8. Finance Reporting:

o Analyse and prepare variance reports and expenses to ensure that they have a detailed knowledge of all accounting transactions.

o Ensure strong quality control over all financial transactions and monthly reporting, including sales and volume reporting.

o Analyse any financial data required by the Finance Manager, including SAGE Data Analytics and any other reporting.

9. Finance compliance:

o Develop suitable standard operating procedures (SOP) for allocated company accounting functions.

o Ensure adherence to IFRS in all accounting operations, including but not limited to IFRS16.

o Ensure that adequate internal controls are in place across the financial and accounting department and that all identified financial risks are adequately addressed in a timely manner by the company.

o The Assistant Accountant will ensure that the accounting department operates in a “no-surprise” environment and that all identified issues affecting the financial results of the business are communicated immediately to the Finance Manager.

o Maintain all necessary accounting controls in a robust and stringent manner.

o The Assistant Accountant will work closely with the Accountant and Financial Accountant and foster an environment of excellence, high performance, and success.

10. Systems:

o Assist with testing new releases of ERP systems prior to use in a production environment.

o Work with the Systems Analyst and knowledgeable persons throughout the agency and its partners to help define user needs and develop data processing solutions.

o Analyse and troubleshoot ERP system issues reported in the department.

o Process stock results on a weekly and monthly basis.

o Assist the ERP Analyst with executing month-end reports on SAGE.

Skills and Competencies: The abilities that the individual needs to perform this role effectively:

• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and procedures.

• Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process.

• Advanced knowledge of SAGE X3 would be an advantage or, at the minimum, advanced knowledge of a similar ERP system (e.g., SAP or SAGE).

• Professional and confident communicator capable of dealing with staff at all levels.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• Specific knowledge of accounts receivable management.

• Good problem-solving skills.

• Excellent planning, organizational, and time-management skills.

• Ability to multitask and prioritize.

• Work accurately, meticulously, and with high attention to detail.

• Analytical and strong reconciliation skills.

• Enjoy working in a team, but also able to work independently.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Matric or NQF equivalent.

• Diploma/certificate in accounting.

• 3-4 years experience in a similar role.

• Ideally in a retail or FMCG environment.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

• Advanced Excel skills.

Information :

• Company : abc
• Position : Assistant Accountant
• Location : Cape Town, Western Cape
• Country : ZA