Project Accountant – CSD needed at South African Reserve Bank

Brief description

• The main purpose of this role is to oversee, monitor and co-ordinate financial management activities across the Corporate Services Department’s construction programmes to ensure proactive and effective planning, coordination, accurate central document repository, execution, progress monitoring and reporting.

Detailed description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following key performance areas:

• Prepare estimates, budget and manage expenditure within the approved budget.
• Centrally coordinate all financial management aspects of the CSD Programmes.
• Effectively communicate with Programme and Project Managers (PM), Controls Lead, and any other relevant stakeholders regarding project financial matters.
• Collaborate with Financial Services Department in the creation and set up of a suitable project accounting structure, linked to the relevant financial processes and activities, in the Oracle ERP accounting system.
• Maintain detailed records of all financial management artefacts for the project in a central document repository, structured appropriately to meet all audit and governance requirements.
• Oversight, tracking and attestation of services delivered in accordance with approved milestones, deliverables, contracts, review and approval of supplier invoices prior to payment, in close collaboration with Programme and Project Managers.
• Centrally coordinate the compilation of a detailed programme budget by liaising with all key stakeholders.
• Ongoing budget, variance, forecasting and expenditure management.
• Generate monthly variance reports for management approval.
• Prepare budget motivations as and when required.
• Generate and distribute regular, accurate financial status reports to key stakeholders.
• Prepare financial reconciliations and distribute for management approval.
• Recommend and implement agreed process improvements to the financial management activities.
• Provide support of auditor requirements, which may include research and reconcilement.
• Perform additional assignments, as directed by the Controls Lead.
• Communicate and coordinate with the project teams.

Qualifications
Job requirements

To be considered for this position, candidates must be in possession of:

• a Bachelor’s Degree (NQF7) in accounting.
• Intermediate to advanced computer literacy, including experience in word processing, spreadsheets and accounting software.
• Five to eight years of financial management experience, with at least 2-3 years in a construction environment

Additional details

• knowledge of Oracle ERP Accounting Software or other accounting platform will be beneficial.
• a thorough knowledge of standard contract terms, including hourly, lump sum, not-to-exceed and how they are applied in the billing process.
• ability to work well with others under deadline situations and respond to changes in priorities.
• good written and verbal communication skills and strong analytical skills.
• ability to work independently, take initiative, set priorities and see projects through to completion.
• employ problem-solving skills and analysis, and report problems to Controls Lead, as necessary.
• strong proactive service orientation.
• knowledge of the project structure in a client/consultant business environment