Client Accountant (Off Shore) at Stonehage Fleming

• The role is as part of a team in Cape Town and Johannesburg, which reports to the Client Accounting Team Leader. It involves maintaining the accounting records of and producing timely and accurate financial statements for offshore trusts and companies, therefore requiring close and regular interaction and collaboration with team members in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, all members of the Family Office team, clients, the international accounting team and various external business contacts (including banks, 3rd party and in-house custodians and in particular accounting and tax compliance service providers).

PRINCIPAL ELEMENTS & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Accounts maintenance of relevant information to trial balance level as well as the preparation of offshore/onshore financial statements
• Maintaining entity ledgers on a regular basis ensuring they are up-to-date
• Identifying payment requirements for the client, instructing and executions of the payment process to ensure accurate and timing payments.
• Systematic filing and information gathering of client agreements with third parties to identify actions required such as issuing invoices.
• Providing assistance to the Investment Accounting team to ensure that all entity ledgers are up to date by reconciling investment and bank accounts, in the preparation of investment reporting and other financial analysis within strict reporting deadlines
• Providing external service providers with relevant information to allow them to prepare financial reports, tax and other statutory returns for our clients within strict deadlines
• Liaising with the Trust Administrator and Middle Office Team to ensure adequate supporting documents are in place for various updates in clients.
• Provision of relevant reports for client reporting purposes including client meeting preparation
• Provision of reporting for local and international tax purposes

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• BCom Accounting graduate having completed either SAIPA (with Professional Exams passed) or SAICA articles (with AGA(SA) registration complete).
• Practical experience within the financial services (wealth management or investment management) environment in a similar role, with exposure to both local and international trust structures being beneficial

SKILLS

This position requires a good understanding of the following:

• Accounting knowledge and competence including IFRS for SMEs, STEP accounting, basic understanding of trusts and investments, understanding and the interpretation of financial statements
• Technical experience in Caseware, Xero and Microsoft Office
• Experience in Business Central and Laserfische beneficial
• Excellent in communication skills
• Deadline driven 

COMPETENCIES AND BEHAVIOURS

• Energetic: Self-motivated and self-manages with a good work ethic (attitude), schedules and manages workload effectively, thinks ahead, sets plans to achieve goals
• Results orientated: Delivers work of a high standard, output is accurate and error free; owns delegated tasks and pays attention to detail, takes prompt action and sees tasks through to completion
• Resourceful problem solver: Considers the wider consequences of each decision, gathers and analyses information to find creative solutions
• Team player: Supports and works towards team goals, shares information, is helpful and cooperative, works effectively with people outside the immediate team
• Efficient and effective communicator: Communicates clearly and concisely with clients and colleagues of all levels, listens effectively, has well-presented written communication and the ability to deal with sophisticated clients
• Client focused: Understands and satisfies client needs at all times, takes full responsibility and accountability for all client matters including delegated tasks