Accountant – Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Company: Excellerate JHI
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
Job Type: Contract (Maternity Cover)
Industry: Real Estate Services
Function: Accounting / Auditing
Experience Level: Mid–Senior

Introduction

The role of Accountant – Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover) at Excellerate JHI is a specialised finance position within one of South Africa’s leading real estate services organisations. Based in Sandton, this role sits within a high-performance environment that combines financial accuracy, operational discipline, and exposure to property management finance systems.

Excellerate JHI is a well-established property services group that operates at both local and international standards. The company provides integrated real estate solutions including property management, leasing, valuation, asset development, and advisory services. This means the accounting function is not isolated but directly linked to real estate operations and client financial management.

This position is ideal for a finance professional with strong accounts payable experience, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage high-volume transactional environments while maintaining strict compliance with financial regulations.

Purpose of the Role

The main purpose of this role is to manage and oversee the accounts payable function within the property management finance department. This includes ensuring that all supplier invoices are correctly processed, verified for VAT compliance, and accurately recorded in the financial system.

The accountant will also be responsible for payment processing, reconciliations, supplier query resolution, audit support, and maintaining strong financial control across all transactions.

In simple terms, the role ensures that all outgoing financial obligations of the company are correctly recorded, verified, and paid in line with internal policies and external regulations.

About the Working Environment

Excellerate JHI operates in a dynamic real estate environment where financial operations are closely linked to property assets, tenants, and service providers. This means the accounting function is highly transactional and requires precision, speed, and strong organisational discipline.

The company promotes a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. Employees are expected to contribute to a high-performance environment while maintaining ethical financial practices and strong governance standards.

Although this is a maternity cover contract, the role still carries significant responsibility and exposure to senior financial processes within the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Accounts Payable Management

A core responsibility of this role is managing supplier invoices and payments:

Processing supplier and intercompany invoices accurately
Ensuring all invoices are received and properly recorded
Verifying invoice correctness before processing
Matching invoices to purchase orders and supporting documentation
Ensuring timely payment runs are prepared and executed

Accuracy is critical, as errors in accounts payable can impact supplier relationships and financial reporting.

2. VAT and Compliance Verification

The accountant must ensure compliance with tax regulations:

Verifying that invoices meet VAT requirements
Ensuring correct tax treatment of transactions
Applying proper accounting standards in line with IFRS
Maintaining compliance with financial policies and procedures

This ensures that the organisation remains compliant with South African tax laws and audit requirements.

3. Supplier Query Resolution

A key part of the role involves communication and issue resolution:

Handling supplier queries and disputes
Investigating invoice discrepancies
Resolving payment issues efficiently
Maintaining good relationships with vendors

Strong communication skills are essential in this area, as delays can affect service delivery and operations.

4. Reconciliations and Financial Control

The role includes detailed reconciliation work:

Preparing creditors reconciliations
Conducting intercompany reconciliations
Reviewing supplier balances and variances
Ensuring financial accuracy across ledger accounts

This ensures that all financial data is properly aligned and accounted for.

5. Payment Processing

The accountant will manage payment cycles:

Generating weekly payment runs
Reviewing and approving payment batches
Ensuring timely settlement of supplier accounts
Maintaining payment schedules and checklists

Payment accuracy is essential for maintaining trust with suppliers and avoiding financial penalties.

6. Reporting and Documentation

The role requires strong administrative discipline:

Maintaining accurate financial records
Preparing monthly financial reports and summaries
Compiling audit documentation for internal and external audits
Ensuring proper filing and record-keeping systems

Audit readiness is a key expectation in this role.

7. General Ledger Maintenance

The accountant will support ledger accuracy:

Maintaining general ledger integrity
Processing journal entries where required
Ensuring correct allocation of expenses
Monitoring financial system accuracy

This ensures the reliability of financial statements and reporting.

8. Vendor Management and Compliance Monitoring

Additional responsibilities include vendor oversight:

Managing vendor master data
Monitoring BEE certificates and compliance documents
Ensuring vendor records are up to date
Supporting procurement compliance reporting

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must meet the following essential criteria:

BCom degree with Accounting III (non-negotiable)
2–5 years’ experience in accounting or finance roles
Experience in property management or real estate environment (advantageous)
Experience working with SAP systems
MDA system experience

Technical Skills Required

The ideal candidate should have strong technical abilities, including:

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Intermediate Microsoft Word proficiency
Strong Outlook/email management skills
SAP financial system experience
Understanding of accounting software systems

Financial Knowledge Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate strong understanding of:

IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards)
VAT legislation and tax principles
Accounts payable processes
Financial reconciliations and reporting
Capital expenditure processes
Corporate financial governance standards

Key Competencies

The role requires a strong combination of technical and soft skills:

High attention to detail
Strong organisational skills
Ability to meet strict deadlines
Analytical and problem-solving ability
Strong communication skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Integrity and confidentiality in financial matters
Ability to work collaboratively across teams

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate should be:

Highly accurate and detail-focused
Structured and disciplined in approach
Reliable under pressure
Professional in communication
Able to manage multiple financial tasks simultaneously
Strong in prioritisation and planning
Ethical and trustworthy

Career Context and Opportunities

Although this is a fixed-term maternity cover role, it provides valuable exposure to:

Real estate finance operations
Large-scale accounts payable environments
Corporate financial systems (SAP, MDA)
Audit preparation and compliance processes

Professionals in this role often progress into:

Senior Accountant positions
Financial Controller roles
Property Finance Specialist positions
Corporate Finance Management roles

Conclusion

The Accountant – Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover) at Excellerate JHI is a highly structured and detail-driven finance role within the real estate industry. It requires strong technical accounting skills, excellent system knowledge, and the ability to operate efficiently in a fast-paced corporate environment.

This role is particularly suitable for finance professionals who enjoy transactional accounting, supplier management, reconciliations, and financial control within a large property services organisation.

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