Chief Accountant - Africa

Location:
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Business:
Global Shared Services
Position type:
Full Time
Contract type:
Permanent Employee
Job ID:
6654
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Overview

About us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About GSS

As the internal support organization for DNV and DNV owned companies, we deliver shared services within Human Resources, Finance, IT and Real Estate & Procurement to DNV globally. Our mission is to enable DNV to grow, succeed with its business goals and improve competitiveness. Customer experience is at the core of everything we do. GSS is responsible for many of the tools, processes and daily routines that create the backbone of DNV. 

About the role

Purpose of the role:

  • With the purpose of conducting a standardized, high quality and cost-efficient support function, GSS (Global Shared Services) Finance has re-organized its Middle Eastern and Africa operations into a center responsible for defined finance processes and transactional tasks in Pune, India. The Chief Accountant will be based in Cape Town, South Africa joining a team of 2 other Chief Accountants covering countries throughout Africa.
  • The Chief Accountant oversees, reviews and evaluates the corporate compliance program on the local level, which includes internal control procedures and policies. The Chief Accountant ensures that management and employees comply with local rules and regulations and that corporate and company policies are being followed.
  • The Chief Accountant is accountable to GSS management, in all compliance matters as listed in the job purpose. Accountability is achieved through providing stewardship on compliance matters for BA (Business Area)/GSS management in the Region.

Key Accountabilities:

  • Responsible for all statutory reporting and compliance for certain African legal entities such as Nigeria, Ghana and Morocco.
  • Drive standardization of accounting processes and recording of transactions in collaboration with the GSS center.
  • Drive standardization of the chart of accounts and cost center structure for the legal entities.
  • Work with Business Controllers and GSS to standardize daily, weekly, monthly and annual reporting.
  • Monitor share capital development and dividends and makes sure that equity rules and dividend payment rules are followed and are legally compliant (eg. thin capitalization rules, limits to dividends, WHT on dividends, dividend reporting).
  • Ensure compliance with Group accounting standards, International Accounting Standards, Statutory and Tax rules.
  • Oversee tax compliance, support in tax reviews, support in preparation of tax reports and tax calculation for annual group and statutory accounts.
  • Oversee compliance to statutory rules, act as the main support in annual audits and preparation of annual statutory accounts and notes.
  • Coordinate and facilitate in Internal Control matters.
  • Prepare companies for Internal Control visits and participate in Group Internal Control visits.
  • Main contact point for general accounting processes and group reporting, which includes providing input to specific accruals and provisions, Intercompany invoicing, investments and asset reviews, revenue recognition and questions on non-standard or complex journal entries.
  • Take active steps to reconcile and pay all Intercompany balances in line with GSS Finance goals and KPI’s, taking into account local exchange control regulations.
  • Acts as main contact point towards auditors and outsourcing partners including tax advisors and local accounting service providers.
  • Perform Cash management tasks for the legal entity including opening Group Treasury-approved bank accounts, closing previous bank accounts and ensuring bank reconciliations are up to date. Ensure there are joint bank signatories for each bank account.
  • Support key strategic projects e.g. Finance system rollouts.

What we offer
  • Flexible work arrangements for better work-life balance
  • Generous Paid Leaves (Public Holidays, Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave, Moving House, Examination Leave, Family Responsibility Leave)
  • Medical benefits (Medical Examinations, Eye Tests, Audiometric Tests)
  • Pension and Insurance Policies (Private Medical Insurance)
  • Additional Benefits (Communication, Accommodation/Home Security, Memberships (professional/academic institutions, Gym & Sport Membership, Car Allowances)

*Benefits may vary based on position, tenure/contract/grade level*

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

About you

Qualifications:

 Required education and level:

  • Professional Accounting qualification – Chartered Accountant South Africa CA(SA), or equivalent. Preferably Big 4 audit firm experience.
  • Educational degree in Finance.
  • 5 years of experience working as Finance or Compliance Manager.
  • Experience in a global Finance organization in an international company. Good understanding of all key business processes across functional areas. Experience working in Oracle is an advantage.

Characteristics of successful employee:  

  • Fluent in English - written and verbal communication skills.
  • Sharp judgment and good communication skills.
  • Positive attitude, customer centric mindset and the willingness to go the extra mile to meet organizational goals.
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documentation and various financial reports.
  • Energetic and approachable fostering positive atmosphere and building strong relationships with key stakeholders. 
  • Ability to work virtually/remotely having limited or no face-to-face interaction with most stakeholders.
  • Solution oriented, willing to take initiative to solve problems.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team with minimal supervision.
  • Attentive to detail and deadlines.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
  • Proven ability to learn and understand new software/accounting systems.
  • Strong ethical focus.

Essential:

On appointment the candidate must have: 

  • Proven ability to produce clear written reports and communicate verbally in English.
  • Experience on audits and tax compliance.
  • Experience using MS Office suite packages.
  • Demonstrable ability to deliver complex tasks and solve problems under tight timelines.
  • Good organisation and time management skills.
  • Adaptability and ability to cope with a wide variety of tasks.
  • Strong analytical skills.
  • Strong commercial acumen.
  • Strong ethical focus.
  • Tenacity and resilience.
Security and compliance with statutory requirements in the countries in which we operate is essential for DNV. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates as part of the offer process, in accordance with applicable country-specific laws and practices.

Benefits

Please note, benefits may depend on your contract type, please confirm with your recruiter.

Profit Share

You’ll be part of our global profit share scheme that means we all share in our success as a business. If we profit, so do you. This will be part of our Total Compensation approach each year and depends on our year-end results.

Insurance

Taking care of you with travel, life, and accident insurance.

Pension Schemes

We care about your long-term financial security and prioritize pension and retirement benefits to reflect our caring values.

Professional Development

We believe in the 70/20/10 learning model, where 70% of your learning comes from performing your everyday tasks and working on different projects, new areas and initiatives to gain new skills. 20% from working with others and mentoring and the rest from formal education.

Hybrid Working

Adapting to the changing world of work around the world.

Purpose-led organization

You become part of a world-leading company where we know and live our purpose; to safeguard life, property, and the environment, with the opportunity to tackle global change through your work.

Supportive and caring culture

We offer opportunities to connect through social and professional networks. Our largest community CONNECT, organizes after-work events and informal meetings throughout the year.

Attractive rewards

We focus on work/life balance and offer employees flexible working hours and workplace, annual vacation allowance, competitive pension, insurance, and a global profit share scheme.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At DNV, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not only an ethical choice, but also a business decision.

Diversity, fairness, and a sense of belonging are a source of strength for our people, our business, and our customers, and help us to deliver on our purpose, vision, and values.

Learn more

Working here

Since 1864 we’ve been dedicated to safeguarding life, property and the environment. Today we remain at the forefront of new technologies and techniques to help our customers transform for a more sustainable future.

At DNV you can expect to deliver career and industry defining work. You’ll be given the time to build your network, the resources to support your development, and the freedom to satisfy your curiosity and desire to learn.

Learn more

Application Process

FAQs

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page. We’ve put together answers to the questions we’re asked most often to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. Whether you're curious about our recruitment process, benefits or career growth and development, you should find the information below.

How can I find job openings that fit my skills and interests?

Explore our official job search page where you can use filters such as job type, location, and department to find roles that best match your qualifications and career aspirations.

What’s your application process like?

You can apply directly through our careers page by submitting your CV and any other documents we require (i.e. university diplomas/transcripts; visas; previous employment reference letters). Make sure your application is fully completed, and you tailor it to the specific job listing. 

Is your recruitment process designed to be inclusive and accessible?

Yes, it is. We're an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all candidates. We’re happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. Share the details of what you need within your application.

What types of interviews might I undergo?

Depending on your role, our interview process may include initial phone screenings, video conferences, and in-person interviews, focusing on both your technical abilities and our shared values. You can ask your recruiter specifically about the interview process for your role. 

How long does the hiring process typically take from application to decision?

The timeline can vary but we make every effort to reply to each candidate as soon as possible and keep everyone up-to-date with where they are in the recruitment process.

How do I know if a recruitment contact is legitimately from your company?

Official communication will come from our verified company email addresses. Carefully check any suspicious looking emails and if you have any doubts, don’t engage.

Are there any fees involved in your recruitment process?

No, we do not charge any fees at any stage of our recruitment process. All applications and interviews are free of charge, we will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments – please be wary of any requests for payment as these are likely scams.

What should I do if I suspect a job scam?

If you encounter suspicious job postings or recruitment practices, do not provide personal information and contact your recruiter as soon as possible. We take these matters seriously. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments part of our recruitment process.

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Disclaimer

Please beware of recruitment scams that pretend to be from DNV or its employees. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments as part of our recruitment process.