Accountant – Payroll Specialist

SUMMARY:
SM2 Talent is a boutique talent recruitment firm with a professional team that comes with a wealth of experience, high integrity and the utmost respect for our clients and what they do. We take the client and candidate’s interest and growth opportunities to match a culture fitted technical skilled candidate to the client.

POSITION INFO:

Preference will be given to candidates who are available immediately

Contract period: 3-4 months

Job Title – Accountant – Payroll Specialist

Reporting to Senior Accountant

Education and/or Experience

• BCom Accounting Degree or related financial qualification
• 5 years’ relevant experience in a financial accounting role
• Experience in financial reporting and analysis
• Previous experience in a Shared Services environment advantageous
• Previous experience in a payroll related role advantageous

Summary

This position entails a multitude of accounting activities including general ledger preparation, reconciliation preparation and review, audit preparation and tight deadlines. The Payroll accountant will have contact with the Payroll department, Controllers and other departments within the organization as well as external vendors which requires strong interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal. Responsibilities include the ability to ensure that work is accurately completed in a timely manner and to ensure the financial results are reliable, accurate and complete.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Ensure completeness and accuracy of payroll data files received from Payroll department.
• Prepare and upload monthly and weekly payroll journals.
• Confirm and process all standard / routine payroll journals, interfaces and adjustments prior to performing preliminary general ledger close.
• Prepare all accruals related to contract labour workers.
• Follow up on the status of all employee loans and process appropriate journals.
• Ensure that the month end checklists are actioned ensuring the timely reporting of all monthly financial information, and update these where applicable.
• Prepare payroll reconciliations to compare payroll data to payroll related general ledger journals processed.
• Prepare the payroll related Balance Sheet reconciliations monthly and advise on any risks and/or opportunities and assess for any process improvements. Ensure appropriate support\comments for financial controller reviews.
• Respond to GL queries raised by the Controllers
• Monthly general ledger reconciliations review and follow up on outstanding items.
• Prepare monthly head count and FTE calculations.
• Maintain and manage the salary clearing account ensuring timeous clearing of items.

Other duties

• Support the Controllers – Financial and Business as well as accountants
• Assist internal and external auditors with annual and quarterly audits.
• Ensure an accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and year end close and ensuring that the payroll journals and recons have been prepared with the expected quality.
• Leave pay provision processing at year end
• Find ways to align payroll processes for all business entities
• Perform Ad hoc duties for senior management
• Maintenance of payroll mapping files

Qualifications (skills, knowledge and abilities required)

• Broad knowledge of the accounting treatment and financial impact of payroll related inputs eg. Monthly and weekly payrolls, bonuses and 13th cheques, workers fund, Workers Compensation Assistance (WCA), loans to employees, contract labour employee wages, accruals and provisions.
• Broad knowledge of reconciliation procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of company’s accounting policies and procedures.
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Able to identify and solve problems.
• Ability to analyse financial data
• Acting professionally
• Delivering objectives
• Ability to deal with changing circumstances
• High attention to detail, accuracy and good analytical skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Deadline-oriented
• High regard for integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to work with a team
• Effective communication

Computer Skills

• Intermediate to advanced: MS Word, Power Point and Outlook
• Advanced MS Excel skills including Vlookups and Pivot Tables
• Intermediate to advanced: SAP ERP systems, Cargowise Financials
• Language Skills
• English is essential
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate and present financial data to senior management
• Mathematical Skills
• Intermediate to advanced mathematical skills
• Must have strong financial acumen

If you would like to be considered, please apply directly melissa@------

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.