Finance Projects Accountant

Location: Middelburg, Emalahleni
Industry: Industrial industry (machine testing)
Salary: R60,000 (negotiable, to be discussed in detail during the interview)
Reports to: Chief financial officer (CFO)
Type: Permanent position

Role overview

The finance projects accountant will facilitate and assist with the initiation and implementation of projects aimed at improving efficiencies and enhancing detailed management reporting. The role includes advisory services, process design, implementation, financial reporting, and the development and maintenance of financial models to support business management and long-term planning. The successful candidate will work closely with business unit management and field operations to provide high-quality financial and control services.

Key accountabilities

• Deliver timely financial reporting and insights to support decision-making.
• Prepare accurate and timely WIRE reporting for assigned companies.
• Develop, monitor, and communicate projects designed to improve business performance.
• Establish and maintain strong internal and external relationships to ensure effective financial service delivery.
• Implement and manage a job card/project costing system to track and analyse project costs for profitability analysis and informed decision-making.

Key result areas

Financial reporting

• Ensure the timely and accurate production of financial reports.
• Meet reporting deadlines as per agreed timetables.
• Provide positive feedback to management and external parties.

Group reporting and internal management reporting

• Prepare reports for the turnaround team to assist with strategic decisions.

Financial models

• Develop and maintain tools that support business management and long-term planning.
• Complete business cases, forecasts, management accounts, and other financial models to evaluate business opportunities.

Fixed assets

• Ensure accuracy in the fixed assets register, ensuring all assets are accounted for and reconciled.
• Verify that assets exist and are managed per company policy.

Inventory management

• Ensure timely and accurate processing of inventory.
• Conduct stock takes as per company policy.
• Maintain accurate cost of product sales reporting.

Staff utilisation

• Identify opportunities to improve business processes and measure the utilisation of key technical resources.
• Improve recovery rates and eliminate non-billable hours.

Continuous improvement

• Identify opportunities to enhance business efficiency and reduce costs.
• Monitor and analyse business trends at local and national levels, providing improvement recommendations.

Project management

• Provide resources for finance-related projects.
• Manage finance projects to achieve required goals.
• Complete all finance projects successfully and conduct post-implementation reviews to evaluate project success.

Experience and qualifications

• Minimum of five years of experience in a finance or finance project role.
• Tertiary qualification in accounting.
• Knowledge of audit and finance systems, with a strong control and process mindset.
• Experience in managing and using modern accounting systems.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Word and Excel; familiarity with Outlook and other Microsoft applications.
• Experience in implementing and managing job card/project costing systems to track expenses, determine project costs, and analyse profit margins.
• Ability to work in a matrix organisation and provide excellent service to internal and external customers.

Key relationships

Internal

• Leadership team across all business units.
• Support office staff.
• Field management teams and staff.
• Group finance.
• Accounting and taxation professionals.
• Financial and software suppliers.

External

• Auditors.

Competencies

Group organisation competencies

• Ethics and values.
• Integrity and trust.
• Listening.
• Motivating others.
• Customer focus.
• Drive for results.

Business support competencies

• Business acumen.
• Decision quality.
• Problem-solving.
• Planning.
• Action-oriented approach.
• Managing vision and purpose.

Project management competencies

• Scope definition, research, and analysis.
• Project planning and resource allocation.
• Objective setting and milestone tracking.
• Timeline management and post-project reporting.

This position offers an exciting opportunity for a finance professional to lead key financial projects, enhance business efficiency, and contribute to strategic decision-making.

Posted on 21 Feb 11:21, Closing date 28 Feb