Senior Accountant

Academic Qualifications (Essential)

• Matric with Accounting (Higher Grade)
• BCom Degree or equivalent, including Accounting III and Taxation
• Completed SAIPA or SAICA articles

• More than 6 years’ experience in an accounting practice

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Core Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to communicate in English / Afrikaans / Xhosa (advantageous)
• Report writing capability
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Problem-solving ability
• Training and presentation skills
• Supervisory and leadership skills, including the ability to guide and manage junior and intermediate accountants

Key Competencies

• Strong accounting, taxation, and auditing knowledge
• Decisive, accurate, and detail-oriented
• Ability to prioritise effectively
• Ability to perform under pressure in a deadline-driven environment

Experience

• Minimum of 6 years’ relevant accounting experience

Required Computer Packages

• Pastel
• Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Windows)
• CaseWare
• Xero

Key Duties & Responsibilities (Key Performance Indicators)

Accounting & Financial Processing

• Supervise and initiate processing of:
  
  • Client information receipts
  • Sales invoices and purchase invoices
• Perform bank reconciliations
• Process and reconcile petty cash and cash control accounts
• Maintain fixed asset registers
• Prepare general journals (depreciation, provisions, interest, salaries, stock, etc.)
• Process complex journal entries, including:
  
  • Instalment sale agreements
  • Borrowing interest
  • Accruals and provisions
  • Bad debts
• Distinguish between finance and operating leases
• Process foreign exchange transactions
• Reconcile debtors and creditors statements
• Apply correct accounting treatment on:
  
  • Disposal of assets (PPE and investments)
  • Capital gains/losses and associated tax

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Analyse trial balances for errors and deviations and discuss findings with clients
• Perform analytical reviews of AFS, including:
  
  • Gross profit %
  • Inventory, creditor, and debtor days
• Record books from insufficient records
• Prepare draft annual financial statements in line with GAAP
• Compile full working paper files in accordance with training file standards for:
  
  • Sole proprietors
  • Close corporations
  • Trusts
  • Partnerships
  • Small business corporations
  • Farmers
  • Body corporates
• Prepare notes to financial statements
• Formulate accounting policies
• Identify provisions and contingent liabilities

Taxation

• Calculate tax liabilities for:
  
  • Individuals
  • Sole proprietors
  • Close corporations
  • Trusts
  • Small business corporations
  • Farmers
  • Body corporates
  • Partnerships
• Calculate taxation on lump-sum retirement payments
• Perform tax planning (fringe benefits, allowances)
• Address tax avoidance and non-resident tax
• Calculate secondary tax on companies
• Calculate PAYE, UIF, SDL, and VAT
• Complete and submit statutory returns (UIF / SDL / PAYE / VAT)
• Liaise with clients regarding payment of statutory returns
• Reconcile VAT to annual financial statements and monthly trial balances
• Complete tax returns for all relevant entities

Auditing & Compliance

• Perform vouching tests during audits of (Pty) Ltds and Body Corporates
• Identify shortcomings in internal controls
• Identify risks and calculate materiality
• Perform statutory checks (members’ certificates, founding statements, association agreements, etc.)
• Conduct pre-engagement procedures
• Handle acquisitions of members’ interest / shareholding
• Complete and review management representation letters
• Qualify Accounting Officer reports
• Perform Independent Reviews and audits for Body Corporates

Management Accounts & Client Engagement

• Compile and discuss monthly management accounts with clients
• Review monthly files of junior and intermediate accountants
• Review working papers prepared by junior to intermediate staff

Other Responsibilities & Knowledge Areas

• Understanding the concepts, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of:
  
  • Close corporations
  • Private companies
  • Sole proprietors
  • Trusts
  • Clubs
  • Sectional titles
• Knowledge of:
  
  • Loans to members
  • Members’ powers and liabilities
  • Accounting records to be maintained
  • Duties and rights of an Accounting Officer
• Provide guidance, support, and training to junior and intermediate accountants
• Handle complex, non-routine client work
• Perform basic administrative duties as required

Software & Systems

• Set up accounting systems for clients
• Ensure appropriate hardware and software solutions
• Train client staff on Pastel
• Ensure compliance with the firm’s:
  
  • System of Quality Management (SOQM)
  • Policies and procedures
  • Employee Code of Conduct
  • SAICA, IRBA, and IESBA Codes of Conduc