Accountant -Mill Operations -Belville at Ellahi Consulting

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• To support the Financial Manager in the preparation of accurate, timely and concise financial reports, managing budgets, analyzing financial data, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and the achievement of the overall strategy and business goals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Grade 12 or equivalent (Required)
• B.Com or equivalent degree in Accounting and Finance (Required)
• Honors or Post Graduate Diploma / CIMA / ACCA (Advantageous)
• CIMA Graduate, newly qualified CA or equivalent (Advantageous)
• Minimum 5 years of full operational accounting and reporting experience (Required)
• 3 to 5 years of operational experience within a manufacturing industry (Required)
• Completed articles (Advantageous)

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES AND KNOWLEDGE

• Advanced understanding of internal controls, best practices, and cost/management accounting principles.
• Advanced understanding of relevant accounting standards, regulations, and principles (specifically IFRS).
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge and practical application of the VAT Act principles.
• Advanced proficiency in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, specifically SAP.
• Advanced computer literacy with MS Office (including strong Excel skills for handling large volumes of data and financial data analysis).
• Ability to document, implement, and monitor financial processes and internal controls.
• Code B motor vehicle driver's license (Recommended).

KEY PERFORMANCE OUTPUT AREAS

Financial Accounting Responsibilities

• Daily sales reconciliation and validation, including inspecting supporting documentation from security and supply chain.
• Review the dispatch reconciliation prepared by the supply chain team.
• Support the credit control team by investigating queries related to weight discrepancies.
• Review the CCTV to weighbridge reconciliation prepared by security and supply chain teams.
• Perform daily month-to-date cost of sales and weighbridge reconciliations, and follow up on outstanding items.
• Monitor daily weighbridge reports to confirm completeness of invoicing and accruals for sundry sales (scrap, fats, proteins) and waste disposal.
• Manage intermill transactions: prepare schedules for sales/purchases of stock, confirm transactions/balances with related parties, process journal entries in SAP, and validate/reallocate other intermill charges.
• Process and park required daily and month-end journal entries in SAP for release by the Financial Manager, submitting supporting documentation for sign-off.
• Coordinate fixed asset verifications for the mill and submit approved changes to the head office fixed asset accountant.
• Monitor planned capex applications, review capex forms, extract asset information from the fixed asset register for disposals, and file applications.
• Prepare the reconciliation of fixed assets to the fixed asset register and monitor the status of the fixed assets WIP listing (including retirement of disposed assets in SAP).
• Manage all elements of petty cash: balance on a weekly basis, file cash payment documentation, and prepare monthly petty cash journals and reconciliations.Monitor cash flow requirements and submit to head office; upload grain and other ad-hoc payments in banking systems.
• Review payments documentation to confirm compliance with company policy, Income Tax, and the VAT Act; ensure authorized signatories release payments on time.
• Process credit card transactions in SAP and reconcile expenses to the statement.
• Review and approve purchase orders in accordance with company policy and authorization levels.
• Assist with performing inventory verification at cycle counts during the month and
• month-end stock counts (held on the 1st calendar day of every month at 6 am).
• Ensure spares cycle count is executed according to the programme, perform validation counts, and monitor items not assigned to a bin location.
• Assist with reconciliations, variance reporting, validating and reporting on stock discrepancies, write-offs, adjustments, and draft inventory-at-risk schedules.
• Perform validation of monthly payroll as captured by the payroll administrator and validate overtime processed and captured.
• Prepare and submit assigned month-end balance sheet and income statement reconciliations, investigate long outstanding items, and review reconciliations prepared by other finance team members.

Reporting Responsibilities

• Weekly Reporting: Prepare and distribute weekly performance reports to the mill leadership team.
• Monthly Reporting: Prepare month-end management accounts for the mill, perform month-end variance analysis, prepare data inputs for finance reports, and support the Financial Manager with submissions.
• Year-End & Half-Year Reporting: Prepare half-year and year financial reporting packs and supplementary schedules.

Budgeting and Cost Control

• Perform weekly reviews of expenses to monitor allocation to correct cost centres and GL accounts; investigate supporting documentation and process adjusting entries.
• Prepare and submit weekly cost centre variance reports to HODs and investigate budget overspends.
• Coordinate and facilitate meetings to review financial performance with operational teams.
• Assist with the preparation of the mill budget/forecast, prepare templates for HODs, and assist with the consolidation of departmental budgets and trend reviews.

Teamwork, Continuous Improvement and Internal Controls

• Act as finance team leader/representative in the absence of or as requested by the Financial Manager.
• Provide leave cover and support for the production accountant and maize administrator.
• Coordinate the maintenance of continuous improvement reports, BBS reports, and trackers.
• Proactively collaborate, share knowledge of internal control procedures, and assist stakeholders with understanding controls.
• Assist with monitoring compliance to internal control procedures, report non-compliance, and create/update existing work instructions for the accountant role.
• Coordinate and assist with internal and external audits, prepare reports, and serve as the main contact for audit queries.
• Adhere to safety policies, procedures, ethical standards, and live core company values while ensuring strict data confidentiality.

KEY CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS

• Internal Interactions: Mill Finance Manager, Human Capital, Divisional Financial Manager, General Manager, Mill HODs, Production & Operations, Finance teams at other mills/head office, and Senior Executives.
• External Interactions: Banking institutions, external customers (e.g., utilities/municipalities), and auditors.

BEHAVIORAL & LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Strong analytical, critical, and logical problem-solving mindset.
• Highly flexible, focused, and resilient with the ability to operate efficiently under changing or stressful circumstances.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the confidence to collaborate across departments and lead courageous conversations.
• Strong time management and organizational skills to handle multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• High level of professional ethics, integrity, and absolute adherence to confidentiality.
• Basic understanding and ability to implement principles of lean operations, continuous improvement, and problem-solving.
• Demonstrated essential leadership traits: accountability, customer focus, driving operational excellence, relationship building, and team leadership.

ADDITIONAL ROLE DETAILS

• Flexibility to work overtime as required to meet deadlines and mandatory attendance at stock counts on the 1st calendar day of every month at 6:00 AM.