Accountant

Hands-on from day one, the Accountant will process monthly payroll journals, maintain and update the fixed asset register and review and approve creditor reconciliations prepared by junior staff for a professional services firm in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.

You will have the tools, systems, and backing needed to do the job properly. The team values honesty, hard work, and treating every customer with respect. This is a stable position with long-term prospects for committed candidates. If you are the right person for this role, apply without hesitation.

Discretion and confidentiality are essential given the sensitive nature of the work.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Automate recurring journal entries, reconciliation templates, and management report generation using advanced Excel functionality and accounting system capabilities to streamline month-end close processes and reduce manual effort.
• Participate in system upgrade and implementation projects by testing financial modules, validating data migration accuracy, and providing user acceptance feedback to the project team to ensure a smooth transition to new systems.
• Conduct regular reviews of accounts payable and receivable processes to identify control weaknesses, reduce processing errors, and implement improvements that enhance operational efficiency while reducing fraud risk and financial losses.

Statutory Compliance & Tax

• Coordinate year-end audits by preparing comprehensive audit files, compiling working papers, responding to auditor queries promptly and accurately, and facilitating timely sign-off of annual financial statements with an unqualified audit opinion.
• Assist with the preparation of provisional tax computations biannually and the annual income tax return, liaising with external tax practitioners to ensure full compliance with the Income Tax Act and minimising risk of penalties.
• Handle the preparation and submission of PAYE, UIF, and SDL returns to SARS on a monthly basis, ensuring employee tax deductions and employer contributions are correctly calculated, reconciled, and remitted within statutory deadlines.

• A proactive approach to problem-solving with the ability to investigate and resolve complex reconciling items independently.
• A minimum of two to three years of practical accounting experience with exposure to the full accounting cycle in a commercial environment.
• A bachelor's degree or diploma in accounting, financial management, or a closely related field from a recognised institution.
• Proficiency in accounting software such as Sage, Pastel, or Xero, and advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables and VLOOKUPs.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and submitting VAT returns via eFiling and maintaining knowledge of tax legislation changes.
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail with ability to identify and correct discrepancies in large volumes of financial data.