Accountant (Manufacturing)

SUMMARY:
Our client, a leader in the manufacturing industry, is seeking to employ an Accountant (with manufacturing experience) to join their dynamic team based in Port Elizabeth.

This role offers broad exposure across accounting, payroll, financial reporting, inventory, manufacturing costing, cash flow, with opportunities for growth into broader financial management and leadership responsibilities.

• GENERAL ACCOUNTING  :  Daily accounting and month-end support
• PAYROLL  :  Manage and oversee payroll processes
• FINANCIAL REPORTING  :  Prepare accurate and timeous reports
• INVENTORY & MANUFACTURING COSTING  :  Monitor stock, costing and production related costs
• CASH FLOW  :  Assist with cash flow management

POSITION INFO:
Requirements: BCom Accounting or an equivalent relevant degree. Approximately 4-7 years of relevant accounting experience. Hands-on experience with accounting, bookkeeping, payroll and month-end processes. Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, VAT, payroll accounting, intercompany transactions and fixed assets. Experience with balance sheet reconciliations and management reporting. Manufacturing, production costing or experience in a stock-based environment is highly advantageous. Completed articles would be advantageous. SAIPA, AGA(SA) or progress toward a relevant professional designation would be beneficial. Practical experience with Xero is advantageous. Experience with Cin7 or a comparable inventory\/manufacturing system would be valuable. Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP or equivalent lookup formulas, SUMIFS and data validation. Strong analytical, reconciliation and reporting skills. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy. Ability to work independently, take initiative and solve problems through to resolution. Ability to supervise, train and support junior finance and administration staff. Strong communication and organisational skills. Ability to work effectively in a hands-on, changing environment with incomplete information and competing priorities. Responsibilities: Perform hands-on accounting and bookkeeping, including bank, supplier, customer, general ledger, intercompany and adjusting transactions. Lead and coordinate the monthly financial close process. Prepare and review journals for accruals, provisions, depreciation, payroll, inventory, foreign currency and intercompany transactions. Prepare and review monthly management accounts, cash flow information, KPI schedules and management commentary. Review trial balances, balance sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules. Investigate and resolve reconciling items and accounting discrepancies. Prepare and process monthly salaries and oversee weekly wages. Review payroll inputs, deductions, leave, overtime, incentives, reconciliations and payment schedules. Review debtors, creditors, banking and bookkeeping processes. Maintain accurate accounting master data and supporting documentation. Maintain rolling cash flow forecasts and monitor short-term funding requirements. Review debtor and creditor age analyses, payment proposals and working capital risks. Coordinate supplier payments in line with approved authority and banking controls. Reconcile inventory and manufacturing data between Cin7 and Xero. Investigate stock, WIP, finished goods and negative stock exceptions. Review stock counts, stock adjustments, scrap, rejects and production variances. Prepare inventory valuations and slow-moving or obsolete stock reports. Maintain standard costing inputs, including labour, overhead and landed cost calculations. Support product costing, margin analysis and commercial costing models. Prepare and review VAT201, EMP201 and EMP501 returns. Coordinate year-end files, audit packs, stock certificates and information required by auditors and external advisers. Maintain the fixed asset register, depreciation calculations and supporting schedules. Manage intercompany reconciliations, group schedules and consolidated financial information. Coordinate routine CIPC, payroll and finance-related compliance requirements. Liaise with auditors, tax practitioners, legal advisers, system consultants and other external specialists. Act as a finance super user for Xero, Cin7 and related financial workflows. Maintain practical financial procedures, checklists, control evidence and organised working papers. Allocate, oversee and review the work of junior finance and administration staff. Train and support junior staff while maintaining quality standards and accountability. Identify process improvements and implement practical solutions to strengthen financial controls. Please note that if you do not receive a response within 2 weeks, your application has been unsuccessful.