Senior Specialist: Real Estate at Vodafone Global Enterprise

Role Purpose/Business Unit:

• The Senior Specialist: Real Estate (RE) Contract Management will be a member of the team managing the transactional sub-processes of the end-to-end RE contract management and accounting processes in a timely and accurate manner, in accordance with defined operating procedures, policies, SOX, compliance, IFRS16 and business partner service level agreements. 
• The Senior Specialist: RE Contract Management is responsible for the accounting treatment of lease accounting; ensuring timeous payments and recoveries. The individual will enjoy problem solving and striving to improve the metric of the operational process. The incumbent will be a member of the wider FinOps and RE teams. They will be required to have excellent communication skills and to be able to interact with people from different environments, internal to Vodacom as well as external stakeholders, e.g. Vodacom Business units, Vodacom regional teams, Vendors/Landlords/Property owners, Vodacom Subsidiaries and other Vodafone Markets.
• A culture of continuous process improvement will be essential to ensure world class operational performance.
• Manage the relationship with the Shared Services performing activities on behalf of the Vodacom South Africa;
• Accountable for completeness and accuracy of accounting and reporting related to RE contract management of rental & utility expenses and recoveries;
• Support the rest of all relevant stakeholders with RE related requests and queries submitted to the Shared services;
• Establish a close relationship with the other teams across Finance Operations, Finance Business Partners, Facilities, Franchise & Dealer management teams, Retail Trade Partners/Dealers/Franchisees, Regional and National Property teams;
• Interact with the Global Process members, peers in the Shared Services and RE process team members;
• Advise all relevant stakeholders on RE related transactions, IFRS16 accounting, processes, and reporting; and
• Identify opportunities to optimize RE related cash flows. 

Your responsibilities will include:

Daily and monthly activities

• IFRS16 and IAS17 accounting, processes, and reporting specifically month end reporting in accordance with financial calendar and including activities performed by the shared services
• Monitor sub-processes related to rental & utility payments 
• Completeness and accuracy of accounting and reporting related to RE contract management charges including electricity & other utility expenses and recoveries. Ensure timely payment and resolution of escalated queries relating to contract payments
• Perform monthly variance analysis and reports and provide valid reasons on variances identified. 
• Analyse reported data for key trends and anomalies, exception reporting to be investigated and resolution of exceptions 
• Work with other team members and key stakeholders across all business units to ensure all RE issues are resolved in a timely manner.  Such as ensuring the accurate and complete accounting treatment of all RE related transactions by analysing financial transactions, identifying cost drivers and key vendors, reporting on spend

Compliance and control 

• Establishing adherence to the relevant Group policies 
• Ensure compliance with SOX controls
• Ensure that all Vodacom and Vodafone compliance requirements are met
• Work with other departments to ensure all cross department issues are resolved

Interim and Year End Reporting 

• Responsible for separate and consolidated statutory packs and other reporting requirements as part of the interim and year-end close process. 
• Responsible for both the separate and consolidated interim and annual financial statements. 

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• BCom: Accounting essential 
• Minimum of  5+ years’ relevant experience with a strong background in financial reporting
• IFRS16 knowledge

Job Related Skill:

• Analytical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Innovative 
• Adaptability 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• Business leadership and transformation
• Effective communication
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ownership and drive for impact
• Attention to detail & quality conscious
• Planning and Organising.
• Disciplined & Deadline driven.

Job Knowledge: 

• Working knowledge of Accounting principles especially IFRS 16
• Experience in financial reporting and statutory reporting requirements
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office, especially Advanced Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• SAP ERP and HFM
• SOX 

Leadership Competency 

• Ability to engage effectively with management, business partners, auditors 
• Manage deliverables from other departments
• Ability to train and manage resources on related activities
• Manage external relationships with key suppliers