Job Title:

Senior Financial Accountant

Job Purpose:

The Senior Financial Accountant is responsible for supporting and leading key financial accounting, financial control, governance, trade finance and group reporting activities, in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

The incumbent will contribute to maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting, strong financial controls, working capital management, budgeting, tax and audit requirements, foreign exchange activities and trade finance processes. The role will also contribute to improving the efficiency of the Finance function through automation, integration and process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and support accurate and timely month-end and group financial reporting
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of the general ledger and trial balance
• Prepare and review monthly balance sheet reconciliations
• Perform monthly intercompany reconciliations and resolve differences
• Monitor working capital across debtors, creditors and cash
• Review and approve creditor payments and banking-related transactions
• Maintain appropriate payment policies, creditor procedures and financial controls
• Support banking, regulatory and approval requirements
• Lead components of the external audit, including schedules, reconciliations and supporting documentation
• Coordinate company secretarial requirements and maintain ongoing compliance
• Prepare and submit corporate, VAT and payroll tax calculations and returns
• Assist with insurance and financial risk management
• Review foreign currency balances and related accounting entries
• Lead monthly reconciliation between accounting and operational systems
• Respond to Group Finance requests and support weekly and monthly group reporting
• Maintain accurate asset and tax asset registers
• Lead the gross-profit budgeting process in collaboration with Sales and Logistics
• Coordinate budget submissions and assist with ensuring adequate financing for cash requirements
• Review and update financial policies and procedures
• Coordinate internal controls across departments and ensure that appropriate processes are implemented and followed
• Maintain authorised signatory records and approval controls
• Coordinate statutory submissions and compliance requirements
• Lead weekly payments to local and international growers
• Perform accuracy checks on commissions, royalties and levies recovered from growers
• Manage and account for foreign exchange requirements, including Forward Exchange Contracts
• Manage foreign currency debtors and suppliers
• Calculate and monitor foreign exchange cover
• Liaise with Sales to ensure consignments are confirmed accurately and timeously
• Work with Supply Chain to ensure costs are accurately captured and recovered
• Act as a Finance representative to allocated growers and manage Finance-related correspondence
• Record and validate foreign exchange transactions within the ERP system
• Assist with pre-season setup of costs, rates and royalties
• Lead the end-of-season fruit pool reconciliation process
• Reconcile standard costs to actual costs and resolve variances
• Prepare reconciliations and reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Coordinate and monitor claims schedules and perform related calculations
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment on strategic business initiatives
• Support and develop Finance team members
• Contribute to automation, integration and process improvement initiatives
• Provide general assistance and backup to Finance team members

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Management Accounting
• Honours degree would be advantageous
• Professional qualification or membership with SAICA or CIMA would be advantageous
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in general ledger management
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in financial reporting and reconciliations
• Minimum 5 years’ experience with IFRS and financial accounting principles
• 3–5 years’ experience in financial planning and analysis
• 3–5 years’ experience in leadership and stakeholder management
• Minimum 3 years’ ERP system experience
• Minimum 3 years’ project coordination experience
• Minimum 5 years’ experience working with and analysing large data sets
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail
• Minimum 2 years’ Incoterms knowledge
• Minimum 2 years’ foreign exchange transaction experience
• Experience in a commercial multinational company would be advantageous
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, reporting and reconciliations
• Ability to work independently without close supervision
• Strong problem-solving and analytical ability
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Effective time management skills
• Balanced negotiation style
• High standard of accuracy and quality in work