Assistant Manager, Accounting (Real Estate) – South Africa

Role summary.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Accounting Assistant Manager to join our Real Estate department in Cape Town. This key management role offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic and professional environment, reporting to senior leadership based in Jersey/South Africa. Strong leadership capabilities and the ability to operate independently are essential, as the role also involves the supervision and development of junior staff in the South African office.

Key responsibilities.

• Support the Manager or above by running a large portfolio of varied clients in a managerial capacity, ensuring that financial statements are prepared on a timely basis and liaising with admin teams to ensure deadlines and other requirements.
• Review annual financial statements prepared in accordance with FRS 102 or IFRS.
• Co-ordinate audits for client entities.
• Prepare or review management accounts, NAVs and annual financial statements, in accordance with FRS 102 or IFRS, for more complex client groups.
• Prepare or review and submit VAT/CIS returns where applicable.
• Ensure that current accounting standards and best practice principles are applied to the accounts production process and kept current as such standards and principles develop.
• Ensure that bank accounts and property manager reports have been reconciled in accordance with the Company’s procedures and that all reconciling items are satisfactorily resolved.
• Attend board meetings to present accounts and other client meetings to provide technical accounting support.
• Ensure overall control of the accounting services provided to the allocated portfolio of clients, raising potential issues and roadblocks to the Directors as early as possible.
• Provide on the job coaching and supervision to accounting team members.
• Maintain and develop good relationships with client personnel.
• Develop and maintain good staff relations generally in the Firm.
• Demonstrate strong accounting technical knowledge when dealing with admin teams, client personnel and auditors.
• Ensure that all work is conducted in accordance with Company internal procedures.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and security in terms of client affairs and papers.
• Monitor your own performance against personal and development targets.
• Monitor the performance of any staff allocated to you and bring any concerns to the attention of the relevant Director.
• Identify areas where further training is required and bring these to the attention of the Directors.
• Ensure compliance with the Company’s professional conduct, quality and ethical standards.
• Keep up-to-date with current industry issues, e.g. changes in legislation, relevant accounting standards.
• Establish credibility with clients.
• Oversee the quality of client services provided by direct reports.
• Be responsible for building and maintaining productive working relationships with clients.
• Establish, build and maintain relationships with external contacts.
• Ensure accuracy of billing.
• Ensure time sheets are up to date at all times.
• Produce and manage fee estimates and quotations where required.

Expected skills / experience.

• At least 2 years’ experience working in a similar organisation.
• Experience in managing a team.
• Hold a suitable professional qualification (CA(SA), SAIPA, ACCA)
• Strong communications skills to engage at all levels and develop internal and external business relationships.
• Previous Real Estate accounting and experience.
• Preferably, candidates should have experience with Yardi.