Senior IFRS Specialist at Ellahi Consulting

Core Purpose of the Role

• To support the Group Finance Manager in delivering the consolidation and reporting activities for the company.
• This includes updating reporting systems to ensure IFRS compliance. The Senior IFRS specialist will also support the business with Technical Accounting opinions for significant transactions and drive accounting update training for finance managers.

Academic Qualifications

• CA (SA)
• Valid Driver’s License

Work Experience

• Minimum of 3-4 years post-Articles experience in related functions/areas

Knowledge

• Understanding of the business context
• Well-developed business/commercial acumen
• Well-developed financial acumen
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge across all areas of the company
• Stay abreast of IFRS and public reporting developments, proactively expanding and deepening practical understanding of IFRS application

Skills

• Project management skills
• Well-developed written comprehension and reasoning skills
• Well-developed communication skills for consulting with stakeholders, making presentations, and facilitating discussions
• Well-developed internal resilience (EQ) and interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking skills to work with complex and multiple sources of information
• Computer, technology, and systems skills (Advanced MS Office)

Key Deliverables and Outputs

Financial Reporting and Technical Accounting

• Manage the day-to-day financial year-end process and internal/external audit relationships together with the group FM
• Prepare and analyze financial statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with relevant accounting standards
• Conduct regular financial reviews and provide insights to financial managers
• Support the group FM in overseeing the consolidation process for the company's financial statements
• Assist in the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts, and financial plans
• Monitor and analyze variances between actual financial results (year on year/interim variances)
• Identify areas of improvement in financial processes and implement best practices
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
• Prepare Annual Financial Statements and financial reporting elements of the Integrated Annual Report

Operational

• Liaise with investor relations and review/contribute to investor presentations
• Provide technical accounting guidance to the company and defend these positions to external auditors/JSE as required
• Identify areas within the finance team where technical training is needed and facilitate such training at least annually
• Create and maintain internal accounting policies and controls based on best practices
• Assist with statutory reporting requirements to shareholders (e.g., provisional and interim reports, annual financial statements, integrated report)
• Assist with ad hoc consolidation tasks and take ownership of certain complex areas of disclosure (e.g., IFRS 3/9/15/16 disclosures)
• Run ad hoc reporting projects to drive efficiencies, standardization, and implement new accounting standards/guidance consistently across the division
• Coordinate technical accounting efforts across the business, providing support in determining accounting implications of proposed transactions/contracts
• Responsible for technical accounting support fundamental to external reporting, including audit committee reporting, interim and annual financial statements, and integrated annual reporting
• Monitor and support initiatives to improve key business metrics, margins, and drivers
• Manage the business' external audit process
• Review and provide accounting technical opinions on diverse transactions/contracts
• Execute ad hoc assignments as required by Exco and/or Board/finance teams
• Prepare reports and presentations for Audit Committee, Exco, Board, and investor communications
• Manage and implement new accounting standards projects across the business

Stakeholders (Internal & External Customers, Suppliers, Shareholders, Communities)

Internal Stakeholders

• GM Finance, Finance Manager Car Sales, Group Controller, Senior Taxation Manager, Finance Risk, Senior Manager Corporate Finance and Treasury, Assurance
• Board and Audit Committees, Risk, Internal Audit, Human Capital, Legal, and IT

External Stakeholders

• Bankers, Lenders, SARS

Employees

• Mentor team members in areas of professional specialization
• Manage multi-disciplinary project teams