Head of Department: Outsourced Accounting

In brief

**Overview** Recruitify is seeking an experienced Head of Department: Outsourced Accounting. This role involves leading and overseeing a team of accountants to ensure the delivery of high-quality, commercially relevant accounting and management reporting services to clients. The successful candidate is expected to combine strong technical accounting and financial reporting skills with effective people management, client relationship management, and operational oversight. The position is office-based, and the incumbent will report directly to the partners of the practice. **What you will do** * Manage, mentor, and oversee the outsourced accounting team, including coaching and developing team members. * Review and oversee monthly accounting processing performed by the team, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and appropriate accounting treatment. * Thoroughly review monthly accounting files and raise review notes where clarification, correction or further investigation is required. * Review and analyse monthly management accounts prepared for clients and ensure that reports are relevant, accurate and useful for decision-making. * Meet with clients to discuss management accounts, business performance, key financial trends and areas requiring attention. * Respond to and resolve client queries efficiently and professionally. * Manage competing priorities effectively, balancing staff management, technical reviews, deadlines and client requirements. * Ensure all outsourced accounting clients receive their annual financial statements within a maximum of six months after financial year-end. * Monitor client profitability and financial performance for provisional tax purposes and identify matters requiring attention. * Assist clients with the preparation of financing packs and other financial information required by lenders and financial institutions. * Oversee and assist with FICA-related reporting and compliance requirements where applicable. * Travel locally, as well as to other provinces when required, to meet with and check in on clients and maintain strong client relationships. * Make responsible and effective use of technology and automation to improve efficiency, turnaround times and service delivery. * Ensure the accounting team consistently delivers a professional, efficient and value-adding service to clients. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * Minimum 3 years’ post-article experience SAICA in a financial reporting environment. * At least 8-10 years' experience across all areas of administrative tax. * Strong experience in the preparation and review of management accounts and annual financial statements. * Experience dealing with SARS verification, disputes, and queries. * Proven experience supervising, reviewing and coaching accounting staff. * Strong communication and client-facing skills. * Solid technical accounting and financial reporting knowledge. * Working knowledge of, and strong practical skills in, Pastel Partner, QuickBooks and Xero are essential. * Experience with other accounting, reporting, workflow or practice management software will be considered beneficial. * Ability to manage multiple clients, deadlines and priorities effectively. * Willingness and ability to travel locally and occasionally to other provinces as required. * A CASA designation will be highly advantageous but is not essential. * Bilingual fluency in Afrikaans and English is essential for this role. * A strong team player who enjoys working collaboratively and developing others. * A self-starter who takes ownership of their responsibilities and does not require extensive oversight or day-to-day supervision. * Highly detail-oriented, with a fine eye for detail and a strong commitment to quality. * Able to apply their technical knowledge and professional judgement to a wide variety of businesses and industries. * Comfortable managing staff, deadlines and multiple client portfolios simultaneously. * Confident and professional when dealing directly with clients and able to handle client queries with ease. * Commercially minded, with the ability to interpret financial information and identify issues, trends and opportunities. * Technologically capable and willing to use appropriate technology responsibly to improve efficiency without compromising professional judgement or quality. * Proactive, organised and capable of working independently while still contributing positively to the broader team. * Comfortable reporting directly to the partners of the practice and taking responsibility for the performance and delivery of the outsourced accounting department. **Who should apply** The ideal candidate is an experienced, detail-oriented, and commercially minded individual with a strong background in financial reporting and administrative tax. They should possess excellent technical accounting knowledge, effective people management skills for coaching and developing accounting staff, and strong client relationship management abilities. This person should be a proactive self-starter comfortable managing multiple clients, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously, capable of applying sound commercial judgment across diverse businesses. They must be technologically capable, bilingual in Afrikaans and English, and willing to travel as required, while also being a strong team player who can work independently and report directly to partners. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/head-of-department-outsourced-accounting-recruitify Source: myjobmag

Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.

At a glance

• At least 8 years of experience.

• Sage / Pastel
• Xero
• Bilingual (English & Afrikaans)
• Afrikaans

Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.

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