SmartStart is a social franchise which aims to expand access to quality, affordable early learning opportunities for young children in South Africa.
Job Title: Financial Accountant
Job Location: Johannesburg
Salary: This will be negotiated based on years of experience
Report to: The Finance Manager
This a full-time post.
The purpose of the position is to ensure that funds are managed and accounted for in an effective, transparent and sustainable manner.
Responsibilities:
Finance and Cashflow Management
- Implement appropriate systems for finance management
- Ensure the organisation’s finances are managed and accounted for in an effective, transparent and sustainable manner, in accordance with IFRS
- Review monthly general ledger accounts
- Ensure all relevant journals are processed on a monthly basis
- Ensure relevant and accurate monthly management accounts are prepared and submitted to the respective unit managers, as well as, assisting with queries on the accounts
- Review and approve the organisation’s annual financial statements
- Manage cash flows of the organisation
- Liaise with the organisation’s bankers, when necessary
- Identify areas for potential cost savings
- Review the effectiveness of accounting and reporting systems on an ongoing basis to identify areas for enhancement
- Ensure financial policies and procedures are up to date and complied with
- Ensure spending is undertaken with due regard to value for money and identifying areas for costs savings
- Assist with the preparation of financial documents and presentations for management, funder and board requirements
- Ensure all source documents are appropriately filed and files are properly labelled to facilitate retrieval of documents
Budgeting
- Assist the respective units with the preparation of their budgets
- Review all unit budgets for accuracy and reasonableness
- Prepare expenditure forecasts for the organisation
- Ensure that the respective units are provided with the necessary technical support during the budgeting process
- Assist with the collation of budgets for submission to the Board for approval
- Monitor monthly actual expenditure against budgets, identifying variances and ensuring that the necessary follow up action is taken, including expenditure from franchisors
- Assist the unit managers with ongoing budget management
- In consultation with the Finance Manager, preparing budgets for proposal submissions
Audits
- Undertake audit preparations to ensure an efficient, effective and successful statutory external audits
- Manage all other audits and external reviews
- Ensure that audit findings are timeously resolved, prior to the commencement of the next year’s audits
Payments
- Manage processing of invoices
- Authorise EFT payments
Payroll and HR
- Prepare monthly payroll report
- Review payroll records
- Ensure all staff expense claims are handed in timeously for payroll processing
- Ensure compliance with the relevant SARS requirements
- In collaboration with HR, providing support on the HR system
Invoicing
- Review the debtor’s age analysis on a regular basis
Fixed Assets
- Ensure that assets are adequately insured
- Maintain the fixed asset register
- Conduct periodic fixed asset counts
- Ensure that all assets are tagged for identification purposes
Grants Management
- Ensure that grant/social investment funds are properly managed and accounted for
- Prepare funder reports, and ensuring timeous submission thereof
- Prepare all other financial information and documents required by funders
- Ensure compliance with funder contractual requirements
- Ensure that disbursement requests to funders are timeously submitted
- Build and strengthen relationships with funders
- Liaise with funders and attending funder meetings, when necessary
Procurement and Contract Management
- Monitor compliance with procurement policies and procedures
- Review procurement policies and procedures on an ongoing basis to identify areas for enhancement
- Oversee tender processes, including the development of tender dossiers
- Ensure adequate documentation of procurement processes undertaken by the organisation
- Review contracts and participating in contract negotiations to ensure that the organisation’s interests are protected and risks effectively managed
- Manage service providers / suppliers to ensure that deliverables are in accordance with the terms and conditions of signed contracts
Risk Management
- Ensure that financial risks are identified and effectively managed through the implementation and monitoring of appropriate accounting procedures, sound internal controls and good governance structures
- Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements
Other
- Ensure that staff are provided with efficient and effective support / assistance from the finance unit
- Conduct training for staff on organisational policies and procedures
- Prepare presentations and reports, as and when required
- Take part in regular team reflection and review sessions
- Contribute to the work of the design and development team in enhancing the SmartStart
- Attend required internal and external meetings to report on progress and to gain an insight into the challenges and opportunities
Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting plus articles
- Minimum of three to five years’ work experience in an accounting/finance environment
- Experience in the NGO and / or development sector would be advantageous
- Work under pressure and as a team member
- Establish and maintain sound relationships with key stakeholders
- Provide the inspiration, direction and incentives required for team success
- Create an environment conducive to learning and development
- Embrace diversity and ensure fairness
- Focus on optimising own and others’ energy to drive results
- Use analysis, logic, innovation, experience, skill and knowledge to solve problems
- Express oneself effectively verbally and in writing in the English language
- Demonstrate strong conviction in own judgment and actions
- Use discretion and deal with sensitive information in a confidential and professional manner
- Proficiency in Sage One (including the inventory system), Sage 300 People and Pastel Partner
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook)
- Knowledge on E-filing and all relevant taxation submissions
- Knowledge of the VAT Act
- Handle technical journal entries relating to income and income in advance on a monthly basis
- Interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
- Strong planning and organisation skills
- Meticulous and ability to pay attention to detail
- Strong customer service orientation
- Willingness to travel at least once a month around South Africa
To apply, submit CV and covering letter to [email protected]
Application Deadline: 8th August, 2018