Investment Accountant - Sandton at Guardrisk

Role Purpose    

• Accurately control and process financial information for an investment portfolio. Prepare financial reports and analysis to enable business processes.

Requirements    

• Degree in Financial Management or Accounting
• Honours Degree in Financial Management or Accounting or Investments (preferred)
• Completed accounting articles (preferred)
• At least 3 years’ experience in investment accounting

Duties & Responsibilities    

• Management of the Investment Accounting function for the Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited, Guardrisk Life Limited and Guardrisk Microinsurance Limited investment portfolios, including Unitised and dedicated investments for cell captive & contingency policy clients
• Accurately, efficiently and timely capturing and reporting of investment related transactions of all investment portfolios
• Review and /or prepare investment related payment documents and obtain the necessary source documentation and authorisation to effect payments timely and with the determined service level agreement levels
• Review and approve the general ledger journal allocations based on levels of authority and policy
• Review all documentation to ensure that the correct level of authority has authorised the document and raise any exceptions with the relevant stakeholder
• Preparation of investment and disinvestment instructions authorised according to the sub delegation of authority,
• Completion of asset manager FICA documentation and safekeeping of confidential information
• Prepare and review investment transactions and reporting of each investment portfolio
• Compile and prepare monthly, quarterly and year end investment and interest reconciliations including completion of the monthly cashbook reconciliations 
• Compile quarterly asset allocation report for submission to the Reserve Bank and asset spreading recons to be used by the balance sheet management department
• Completion of the new instrument data reconciliations to be included in the Group sector tree instrument allocation report
• Identify and report respective investment accounting or reporting issues
• Investigate and resolve any outstanding queries in relation to investment accounting issues
• Portfolio support and management/servicing by working closely with the portfolio accountants, portfolio manager and other colleagues
• Identify and resolve problem sources or escalate to relevant level of authority
• Special Projects relating to Investments assigned within the group
• Meeting company, investment and client accounting, payment and reporting deadlines
• Contribute to the enhancement of the investment systems and processes issues in order to enhance financial management
• Continuously develop own expertise in terms of professional, industry and legislation knowledge
• Contribute to continuous innovation through the development, sharing and implementation of new ideas
• Identify and reconcile discrepancies and problems
• Build and maintain relationships with asset managers, clients as well as internal and external stakeholders
• Participate and contribute to a culture which build rewarding relationships, facilitates feedback and provides exceptional client service within the organisation
• Prepare and provide necessary documentation to complete timely audit both for client and Guardrisk
• Provide authoritative, expertise and advice to clients and stakeholders including asset managers
• Build and maintain relationships with asset managers, clients and internal and external stakeholders
• Deliver on service level agreements made with internal and external asset managers, stakeholders and clients
• Make recommendations to improvement client service within area of responsibility
• Develop and maintain productive and collaborative working relationships with peers and stakeholders
• Positively influence and participate in change initiatives
• Continuously develop own expertise in terms of professional, industry and legislation knowledge
• Contribute to continuous innovation through the development, sharing and implementation of new ideas
• Take ownership for driving career development
• Contribute to the budgeting process and provide the relevant reports and analysis to support the process
• Manage high risk and problematic financial issues in area of accountability and contribute to the development of policy
• Identify solutions to enhance cost effectiveness and increase operational efficiency
• Implement and manage financial risk methodologies, techniques and systems and use to monitor and report on financial activities
• Implement and provide feedback on the effectiveness of financial policy, practice and procedures preventing illegal, unethical or improper conduct
• Investigate reported wilful acts of non-compliance to organisation policy and practice and report on findings

Competencies    

• Business acumen 
• Analytical 
• Collaborative 
• Innovative