External Reporting - Note Owner at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To be part of the team that looks after the activities of financial reporting to internal and external stakeholders of the Absa Group and Absa Bank to ensure that financial reporting is performed accurately and timeously and complies with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), JSE Limited listing requirements and the Companies Act as well as specific requirements as communicated by analysts, the Group Audit and Compliance Committee and the Board of Directors for Absa Group Limited and Absa Bank Limited.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

Accountability:  Monthly Reporting 

• Reviewing the financial results, obtaining commentary from Analytics and Balance sheet control for the various clusters.
• Attendance to queries from internal reviews, external auditors, financial analysts and the JSE Limited by requesting information from the relevant team members and reviewing the responses for accuracy and validity.

Accountability:  Projects

• Be involved and contribute to improvement projects within the department including SAP 4 Hana, Hyperion Essbase and Planning, IFRS 17.

Accountability:  External reporting

• Review the team’s preparation/updates to CDM notes that are included reports for booklet, SENS and financial statements.
• Perform an analysis, to ensure that any changes to the notes and accounting standards are taken into account. Ensuring accuracy of the disclosures through analysis and comparisons to annual financial statements. Taking into account note consistency across reporting levels.
• Assist the team with HFM web form queries needed for external reports prior to release to ensure that all the relevant disclosure requirements are included in the web forms and that the necessary checks and validations are in place to ensure accurate submission by business units.
• Assist the team with necessary escalations to ensure data is received timeously taking into account reporting deadlines.
• Agree prior year figures to reported figures and following up on any and resolving discrepancies, taking into account re‐statements where applicable.
• Confirming accuracy of disclosures through analysis and comparison to other reports within the team. Review all components of external reports to ensure reasonability, validity, accuracy and consistency across all. Ensure that financial information in other reports (included in the integrated report) agrees to financial information as reported in other external reports.
• Obtain signoff from the team as notes are completed. Also provide signoff post review of note has been performed.
• Ensure compliance to the Group's accounting policies, the Companies Act and King III.
• Assist in preparing reports to the GACC and the Board alongside the Report Owners Manager.
• Keep up to date with changes in accounting standards (IFRS) and other regulatory requirements to ensure proper and adequate disclosures.
• Liaise with auditors regarding the review of financial statements and ensure that comments raised by auditors are being dealt with adequately. Meet with auditors to discuss audit budgets and possible fee overruns to be presented to the financial controller.

Accountability:  Internal reporting

• Check the accuracy between the Exco report, GACC report, Board report, Segment report, the financial results booklet, SENS announcements as well as the financial statements.

Role/Person Specification

Education and Experience Required

• Chartered Accountant CA(SA) strongly preferred
• 3 year Accounting articles (this includes supervision and review, passing the Board exams and completing recommended hours for the training contact)
• Minimum B Com Accounting degree required, Honours in Accounting preferred together with IFRS reporting experience and banking industry experience

Knowledge and Skills:

• Analytical skills
• Stakeholder management (over reporting periods key stakeholders include direct team members, management and external audit)
• Communication (verbal and written)
• Report writing skills
• Microsoft Office ‐ Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Hyperion Essbase and Planning exposure beneficial
• Certent CDM exposure beneficial
• Technical accounting knowledge
• Specialist knowledge and skills – Banking exposure beneficial
• Negotiation skills
• Time management skills
• Understanding group structures and chart of accounts

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action proactively
• Learning and researching
• Commercial thinking and applies to work responsibilities
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating
• Drives efficiencies and automation in work responsibilities

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Financial Sciences (Required)