External Reporting- Report Owner (Financial Control) at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To perform the activities of financial reporting to internal and external stakeholders of the group to ensure that financial reporting is performed accurately, timeously and complies with IIFRS, the JSE listing requirements, the Companies act, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) as well as specific requirements of analysts, the group audit and Compliance Committee (GACC) and the board of directors for Absa Group Limited and Absa Bank Limited.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities 

Accountability: Monthly Reporting

• Review the financial results, obtaining commentary from Analytics and Balance sheet control for the various clusters.
• Prepare monthly performance matrix.
• Review and approval of Exco codes and GL accounts to ensure that they are aligned to the chart of accounts and external reporting requirements

Accountability: External reporting

• Prepare/update the booklet, SENS and financial statements in CDM, as well as the advertisement outside CDM
• Perform a bi-annual analysis of the afore-mentioned report, to ensure they comply with external stakeholders’ requirements (i.e. IFRS, Companies Act, King III, JSE listings requirements).
• Attend to queries from internal stakeholders, rating agencies, external auditors, financial analysts and the JSE Limited by requesting information and reviewing the responses for accuracy and validity.
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of disclosures through analysis and comparison between different reports (internal and external).
• Review web forms for all the relevant disclosure requirements and to ensure that validations are in place to enforce accurate submission.
• Obtain all the relevant information needed for external financial reports.
• Agree comparatives to numbers released and resolve any discrepancies, by taking re‐statements into accounts. Ensure that restatements are fully understood and supported.
• Review all components of external reports for reasonability, validity, accuracy and consistency.
• Prepare and maintain the segment report (including the various ratios per segment) and ensure that all changes are incorporated timeously. Assess all results reported for reasonability.
• Obtain signoff from clusters for external reports and follow up on any queries.
• Meet with graphic designers to for design of the external reports. Ensure signoff of the designs by all the relevant internal parties
• Assist in preparing reports to the GACC and the Board.
• Keep up to date with changes in accounting standards (IFRS) and other regulatory requirements

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 & Skills:  

• Analytical skills
• Communication (verbal and written)
• Report writing skills
• Microsoft Office ‐ Excel, PowerPoint
• Technical accounting knowledge
• Specialist knowledge and skills
• Negotiation skills
• Using Analyst and creating templates
• Understanding Group Structure

Competencies:

• Deciding and initiating action
• Learning and researching
• Commercial thinking
• Relating and networking
• Adapting and responding to change
• Persuading and influencing
• Creating and innovating

Education

• Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Accounting (Required)