Group Accountant – Manufacturing

The Group Accountant will manage the complete financial accounting function, multi-entity consolidations, and end-to-end payroll processing for the manufacturing group. This role requires a knowlegable operator of the SYSPRO ERP system and advanced MS Excel functionality to streamline production costing, statutory compliance, and accurate financial reporting.

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Group Consolidations & Financial Accounting

• Multi-Entity Reports: Prepare monthly consolidated management accounts and annual financial statements for all manufacturing operations and subsidiaries.
• Intercompany Balancing: Reconcile intercompany loans, trade balances, and eliminate internal group transactions monthly.
• Costing & Variance Analysis: Oversee product costings, factory overhead allocations, and Bill of Materials (BOM) variances using SYSPRO.
• Audit File Compilation: Manage the year-end financial close and prepare comprehensive audit working papers for external auditors.

2. Full-Function Payroll Management

• Payroll Processing: Oversee and execute the end-to-end monthly payroll for salaried staff and fortnightly payroll for factory wage earners.
• SARS Statutory Returns: Compile, verify, and submit monthly EMP201 (PAYE, UIF, SDL) and VAT201 returns via eFiling.
• Bi-Annual Reconciliations: Manage the mid-year and year-end EMP501 reconciliation process using SARS e@syFile.
• UIF & COIDA Compliance: Ensure accurate electronic submissions to the Department of Labour and manage annual return of earnings.

3. Data Systems & Optimization

• SYSPRO Maintenance: Utilize SYSPRO Financial, Work in Progress (WIP), and Inventory modules to extract data and audit records.
• Advanced Excel Reporting: Build complex financial models, pivot tables, VLOOKUPs/XLOOKUPs, and macros to analyze raw manufacturing data and forecast cash flows.

 

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• Formal Education: A completed BCom Accounting degree or equivalent tertiary finance qualification.
• Years of Experience: Minimum 5 years of progressive financial accounting experience, specifically within a manufacturing, production, or heavy industrial environment.
• Payroll Track Record: At least 2 years of direct experience managing full-cycle payroll and statutory submissions within South Africa.

 

Technical Skills & Competencies

• ERP Software: Advanced, hands-on user proficiency in SYSPRO is an absolute requirement for this role.
• MS Office: High-level mastery of MS Excel for complex data parsing and reporting.
• Legislative Knowledge: Up-to-date, functional understanding of the South African Income Tax Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), and SARS operational procedures.
• Logistics & Mobility: Valid South African driver’s licence and reliable personal vehicle, as travel between manufacturing sites around Pretoria may be required.