Senior Group Accountant (6-month contract)

The Senior Group Accountant is responsible for supporting the preparation, consolidation, and delivery of accurate, timely, and compliant group financial and statutory reporting. The role ensures adherence to IFRS, applicable statutory regulations, and internal governance standards while maintaining strong financial controls across all group entities. This role reports to the Group Reporting and Consolidation Manager.

Working closely with Operating Units, the Senior Group Accountant oversees the preparation of statutory (IFRS) and management reports, ensuring the integrity and consistency of consolidated financial information. The position provides shareholders, management, and other stakeholders with reliable financial reporting and value-added analysis to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.

Dimensions:

• Large Group of companies (Approx 135 companies to consolidate) in accordance with IFRS.

• Business Support to 1 of 4 core Operating Regions

• Key Group Reporting Systems (Finance Reporting Landscape):

-SAP S4 Hana

-SAP Group Reporting (Consolidation system)

-SAP Analytics Cloud (IFRS Report Book & other Reports)

• Key Reporting timelines for External Stakeholders

Principal Accountabilities:
Financial Reporting

·       Timely and accurate completion and submission of consolidated results.

·       Monthly and quarterly reporting of consolidated results

·       Compilation of monthly management and statutory packs

·       Supports Operating Units in accurate and timely reporting

·       Analyzing financial statements for discrepancies, performing trend analysis, and providing management with detailed commentaries to support strategic decisions.

·       Analyse financial performance and variances against budget and prior periods.

Financial Close process

·       Ensure accuracy and completeness of general ledger balances.

·       Resolve consolidation differences and reporting discrepancies.

·       Maintain consolidation journals and adjustments.

·       Co-ordinates a quality close across operating units ensuring proactive and on time close.

·       Engage Operating unit finance teams in their allocated region to ensure all required tasks are completed, follow and guidance provided to resolve issues.

·       Reviewing intercompany transactions, foreign exchange adjustments, and eliminating entries.

·       Submission of management and statutory report books at expected level of data quality.

·       Validate the accuracy and completeness of accounts.

·       Preparation of IFRS group reports for monthly Board pack.

·        Utilise SAP for financial processing, reporting, and data extraction.

·       Generate and maintain financial reports within SGR reporting frameworks.

Annual Financial Statements (AFS)

·       Review of the IFRS report books by region.  Ensuring IFRS compliant and complete and in alignment with the group accounting manual.

·       Preparation of Allocated Disclosure notes for Group Consolidated AFS.

·       Ownership of allocated disclosure notes to address and resolve audit queries.

·       Assist with review of consolidated AFS.

·       Maintain supporting documentation and audit trails.

Project delivery across central teams and operating units

·       Supports key projects impacting the close process (Mergers and Acquisitions, Business disposals)

·       System and process continuous improvements

·       Support implementation of finance governance frameworks.

Requirements

Essential:

·       ACCA / CA(SA) / BCom Accounting or equivalent

·       3-5 years of experience in a Finance Group reporting function

·       Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

·       Experience in technical financial accounting role with exposure to complex IFRS financial accounting issues

·       Experience in performing consolidations in large complex multi-national group

·       Proven track record of working effectively in an SAP environment

Desirable (if required)

·       Downstream Oil and Gas experience / Listed Company

·       French

· Experience working with external auditors.

Note: the successful incumbent to join as soon as possible.