Senior Accountant at Discover Life Ventures Zambia LTD

Our client, a leading player in the retail sector urgently requires the services of a qualified Senior Accountant who will report to the General Manager and be responsible for the supervision of the Debtors and Creditors Administrator.

Key functions include:

Assumes responsibility for the accurate and timely completion of assigned accounting functions.

a. Reviews source documents and records daily transactions.  Balances and posts daily write-ups and journals.

b. Analysis of balance sheets / income statements generated by accounting system and processing of monthly general ledger journals including (but not limited to) the following:

• Raising of monthly accruals (income and expenditure
• Reversal of accruals no longer required
• Amortisation write-offs for letting commissions and tenant installations
• Reallocating to appropriate general ledger accounts
• Bad debt provisions

c. Reconciles general ledger accounts as assigned.

• Reconciles all balance sheet general ledger accounts assigned to Property Management
• Reconciles all the Regional Bank accounts as assigned
• Investigates and identifies all reconciling items appearing in the Balance sheet and or Bank recon
• Ensures that all reconciling items are showing appropriate ageing on the Balance sheet and or Bank reconciliation
• Ensures that all reconciling items 30 days and older are properly and adequately explained with clear action plans and deadlines
• Ensure that reconciling items older than 90 days are kept at minimal and are flagged as priority items in the risk log.

d. Completes various accounting functions in accordance with established policies and procedures, including:

• Prepare monthly financial reports
• Bank reconciliations
• Creditors reconciliation’s
• Preparing trial balances from source document
• Preparing balance sheets and income statements
• Preparing notes to the reports
  Consolidations
• Preparing monthly group consolidation
• Filing copies of final monthly reports
• Filing of VAT & WHT returns
• Maintaining back ups of accounting package data
• Participate in annual audit
• Complete monthly municipal analysis schedules

2. Assumes responsibility for effectively researching, tracking, and resolving accounting problems and discrepancies.

3. Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective communication and coordination with area personnel and with management.

a. Maintains regular contact with other departments to obtain information and/or to correct transactions.

b. Assists accounting personnel as needed.

c. Keeps management informed of area activities and of any significant problems.  Reports the status of all account reconciliations to the Controller.

d. Attends and participates in meetings as required.

4. Assumes responsibility for the integrity of the data produced in the following areas:

• Checks and signs off on all letting commission claims submitted to the landlord
• Check and signs off on all turnover calculations raised on tenants’ accounts
• Checks and signs off on material / complex debtor journals raised (eg exhibition income)
• Performs adhoc checks and audits of data and when required
• Perform petty cash audits
• Checks and signs off on actualization calculations done for rates and insurance

5. Assumes responsibility for accurate, valid and timely payments to creditors:

• Checks and verifies actual physical invoice to the invoice details captured on the system
• Checks and verifies invoice banking details to details appearing on the physical bank account
• Initiates and coordinates cash transfers between bank accounts where necessary
• Authorising EFT payments on bank

6. Assumes responsibility for accurate and timely reporting including the following:

• Monthly reporting
• Prepares accurate monthly management accounts (Income statement and Balance sheet)
  This involves working with Property managers in performing an analysis of variances
• Assists in preparation and review of monthly forecasts prepared by Property manager
• Detailed review the forecasts for the assigned buildings and queries sent to Property managers
• Monitors the monthly movements in the forecasts and ensures that there are valid explanations for   significant movements (up or down)

Quarterly and Half yearly reporting

• Prepares accurate quarterly management accounts/schedules
• Adheres to client’s quarterly and half yearly requirements
• Annual reporting
• Assists in review and coordination of annual budgets prior to asset manager review
• Completing all work required for year end audit process
• Adhoc reporting
• Prepares adjustment accounts for sold buildings within stipulated timeframes as per sale agreement
• Assists with any adhoc reporting as and when required

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Certification:

Accounting degree or equivalent qualifications such as full ACCA, CIMA or ZICA qualifications. A master’s degree will be an added advantage.

Required Knowledge:

Knowledge of basic accounting concepts and procedures including account reconciliation.

Deep knowledge of related computer applications.

Experience Required:

Minimum 5 years of previous accounting experience at a senior level preferred.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer and women are encouraged to apply.