Part-time Finance Lead

Job Description

• This part-time appointment (3 full days per week or 5 mornings per week) oversees the complete accounting and reporting function for an established construction business in Goodwood. The role provides crucial operational oversight, ensuring robust balance sheet controls, statutory compliance, and timely management reporting to support senior executive decision-making.
• Working in close collaboration with the Managing Director and Commercial Director, the position leads core financial cycles, including monthly management accounts, VAT and provisional tax submissions, annual audit preparation, and cash-flow monitoring. Ideally suited to a commercially minded finance professional with exposure to construction industry accounting principles, this opportunity delivers direct strategic impact across ongoing commercial operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Management Accounting & Reporting: Compile and finalise accurate monthly management accounts within agreed deadlines, including income statements, balance sheets, cash-flow statements, and variance analysis against budgets and forecasts.
• General Ledger & Reconciliations: Perform and review monthly balance sheet reconciliations, investigate ledger discrepancies, and maintain orderly audit trails for all accounting transactions.
• Tax Compliance: Prepare and submit monthly VAT returns and provisional tax computations timeously, ensuring all transactions are fully documented and compliant with statutory requirements.
• Audit Facilitation: Prepare comprehensive year-end audit schedules, working papers, and supporting documentation; liaise directly with external auditors and accountants to resolve queries efficiently.
• Financial Planning & Control: Support annual budgeting and forecasting cycles, generate debtor and creditor management reports, and deliver ad hoc financial analysis required by executive management.
• Commercial Support: Maintain oversight of project accounting elements, including work-in-progress, retention amounts, subcontractor financial administration, and working capital management.

Essential Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant financial and accounting experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, VAT returns, and provisional tax computations.
• Proven track record in compiling year-end audit files and liaising with external auditors.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting principles, financial controls, and statutory reporting standards.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous financial accounting experience within the construction industry, including familiarity with construction contracts, job costing, work-in-progress, and retentions.
• Professional accounting designation or equivalent qualification.
• Working knowledge of BuildSmart accounting software.
• Prior experience managing or supervising finance team members.
• In-depth knowledge of South African tax legislation and statutory frameworks.

Required Software Skills

• Microsoft Excel
• Experience with accounting software (Experience with BuildSmart is advantageous)

Work Arrangement

• On-site in Goodwood. Core working hours are 07:30 to 16:30, requiring either three days in the office (full days) or five days in the office on a half-day basis.