Accountant/Senior Accountant

Overall Purpose

Our client is seeking a Senior Accountant to provide an Accounting and tax service offering to their Clients as well as to the allocated Client Relationship Managers (CRM) and Key Account Manager (KAM) – building strong service relationships to enhance, retain and grow business.

The Senior Accountant will perform various accounting, servicing, coordinating, support and relationship management activities to assist with the day-to-day duties of accounting services for a portfolio of Clients. The strategy is to grow this service offering and team over time.

The Senior Accountant forms an integral part of the Clients service centre, bringing together the skills, systems, processes and procedures relating to Client accounting.

Principal Elements and Accountabilities

Take full personal ownership, responsibility and accountability of all transactions, interaction and enquiries for the allocated Client portfolio.

This will include, but not be limited to:

• Providing day-to-day accounting and other services to allocated clients;
• Preparing trial balances, management accounts;
• Type out and format the client’s annual financial statements;
• Carrying out, on a timely basis, all administrative tasks assigned;
• Assist the accountants with any requests that come from the client;
• Applying standard procedures to facilitate the rendering of quality services to clients in a consistent, effective and efficient manner and exercising quality control to ensure that all accounting reports conform to set standards;
• Assisting to ensure that clients’ files (be it electronic or paper based) are organized, completed and up to date;
• Recording all time spent accurately to facilitate invoicing and internal reporting;
• Follow processes and procedures, working to set quality standards and keeping to agreed turn-around times;
• Ensure that client queries and/or complaints are dealt with efficiently and timeously, and escalated immediately where needed;
• Ensure the highest level of service, quality of work and support to our Clients, the CSM, KAM, other areas internally as well as other teams within the company;
• Liaise with internal departments to promote clear channels of communication and working relationships;
• Comfortable and able to deal with clients and external parties (tax advisers, auditors, statutory authorities etc.)
• Provide ad hoc assistance with projects and analyses
• Demonstrate the company’s values on a daily basis.

Risk Management

• Responsible for implementing and maintaining controls relevant to the position.

Qualifications and Experience

• Has a BCom (Accounting) or equivalent degree.
• Has a minimum a 5 years practical experience in auditing or accounting, ideally in the professional services or financial services industry.
• Has proven experience in preparing annual financial statements for companies and trusts.
• Is passionate about service and service excellence, with a ‘will do, can do’ attitude – demonstrating a determination and encourage others to achieve excellence in every task, action and or interaction.
• Is detail and quality conscious – accountable, responsible and adaptable.
• Has excellent computer skills, with the ability to learn and understand new systems with confidence, and has a good knowledge and experience of working on and understanding the Microsoft Office suite (including Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Is flexible and dynamic with an enthusiastic approach and a positive and upbeat attitude.
• Has the ability to gain and establish the confidence of others, inspiring others to have a passion for performance by enhancing and improving the way things are done.
• Is highly organized, efficient and professional with a sense of urgency and good time management.
• Takes initiative, is pro-active and flexible with great problem resolution skills – sound decision making and judgement.
• Has the ability to work confidently, use initiative, be decisive and be able to consistently perform well when under pressure.
• Has honesty and integrity of the highest order and respect for the confidentiality of our clients’ and company’s affairs.
• Has the ability to work well both under supervision as a member of a team, as well as independently.
• Has excellent skills to communicate confidently, professionally and effectively with clients, staff and management (verbal and or written).
• Is knowledge and information seeking – understanding the importance of knowledge and skills and actively manages own and staff’s development path and plan.
• Has business acumen – an understanding of the application of business principles, procedures and processes to comply with regulations, enhance efficiency and increase profitability.
• Has resilience – overcoming obstacles and delivers results by showing tenacity.

Competencies, Skills and Behaviors

• Has excellent typing skills.
• Is passionate about service and service excellence, with a ‘will do, can do’ attitude – demonstrating a determination and encourage others to achieve excellence in every task, action and or interaction;
• Is detail and quality conscious – accountable, responsible and adaptable.
• Has excellent computer skills, with the ability to learn and understand new systems with confidence, and has a good knowledge and experience of working on and understanding the Microsoft Office suite (including Excel, Word and Outlook).
• Is flexible and dynamic with an enthusiastic approach and a positive and upbeat attitude.
• Has the ability to gain and establish the confidence of others, inspiring others to have a passion for performance by enhancing and improving the way things are done.
• Is highly organized efficient and professional with a sense of urgency and good time management.
• Takes initiative, is pro-active and flexible with great problem resolution skills – sound decision making and judgement.
• Has the ability to work confidently, use initiative, be decisive and be able to consistently perform well when under pressure.
• Has honesty and integrity of the highest order and respect for the confidentiality of our clients’ and company’s affairs.
• Has the ability to work well both under supervision as a member of a team, as well as independently.
• Has excellent skills to communicate confidently, professionally and effectively with clients, staff and management (verbal and or written).
• Is knowledge and information seeking – understanding the importance of knowledge and skills and actively manages own and staff’s development path and plan.
• Has business acumen – an understanding of the application of business principles, procedures and processes to comply with regulations, enhance efficiency and increase profitability.
• Has resilience – overcoming obstacles and delivers results by showing tenacity.