Financial Accountant 6 Month Contract

Robert Walters South Africa Duties & Responsibilities The organisation offers an inclusive, diverse environment where your expertise will be valued and your contributions will directly influence the future of the finance function. With direct access to senior leadership and involvement in high-profile projects, this position provides genuine breadth, ownership, and the chance to broaden your remit beyond traditional practice roles. Flexible working arrangements and a commitment to training and development further enhance this unique career move. Take full ownership of audit preparation and statutory financial statement drafting, becoming the main point of contact for external auditors throughout the process.Play a pivotal role in transitioning to a new ERP accounting system, including data migration, reconciliation, testing, and embedding best practices into business as usual.Join a supportive, international team that values open dialogue, diversity, and professional growth, offering you real influence over how the finance function evolves during an exciting period of expansion. What you'll do:As a Financial Accountant Fixed Term Contract holder, you will immerse yourself in both hands-on technical tasks and strategic projects that are critical to the organisation's continued success. Your days will be varied-ranging from leading comprehensive audit preparations to collaborating closely with colleagues on complex cross-border accounting matters. You will take charge of statutory reporting cycles while also being instrumental in implementing an advanced ERP system that will shape future workflows. Your ability to communicate clearly with non-specialists will ensure that financial information is accessible across departments. By maintaining robust controls and supporting compliance efforts, you will help safeguard operational integrity. If you thrive in environments where your input shapes outcomes and enjoy working within supportive teams committed to shared goals, this role offers you both challenge and reward. Lead all aspects of annual external audit preparation by building and managing the audit schedule, preparing supporting workpapers and reconciliations, acting as the primary day-to-day contact for auditors, and resolving queries through to sign-off.Draft statutory financial statements and supporting notes in accordance with relevant accounting standards, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and readiness for audit review.Own the month-end close process by preparing journals, accruals, prepayments, balance sheet reconciliations, and producing timely management accounts for internal stakeholders.Provide technical accounting guidance across the business by researching treatments for new or unusual transactions and documenting clear accounting positions.Maintain and strengthen internal controls and finance processes while helping embed good practice as the team grows within an evolving organisational structure.Support multi-entity accounting across UK, US, and European entities by managing intercompany balances in a multi-currency environment.Play a central role in the transition to a new ERP accounting system by overseeing data migration, reconciliation activities, process mapping, testing functionalities, and integrating the system into daily operations.Assist with compliance requirements by supporting tax filings (including VAT) and other statutory obligations alongside wider finance compliance responsibilities.Potentially oversee and develop a junior member of the finance team by providing mentorship and guidance as needed. Desired Experience & Qualification What you bring:To excel as a Financial Accountant Fixed Term Contract holder, you will bring proven expertise from both practice-based roles and industry-facing assignments. Your background should include significant exposure to external audits-ideally within professional services-and strong familiarity with statutory reporting requirements. Experience navigating ERP transitions or similar systems projects will allow you to contribute meaningfully from day one. Beyond technical proficiency, your interpersonal skills will enable you to build trust across teams while translating complex concepts into actionable insights for colleagues at all levels. A keen eye for detail ensures nothing is overlooked during critical reporting cycles or compliance reviews. Your natural curiosity drives continuous improvement initiatives while your sense of responsibility fosters dependable support for both peers and leadership alike. This blend of technical acumen and collaborative spirit makes you ideally suited for this influential role. A recognised accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA with substantial post-qualification experience gained within practice settings.Hands-on external audit experience is essential for this position due to its centrality to year-end processes.Proven technical accounting knowledge with demonstrable experience preparing statutory financial statements under relevant standards.Track record of running or significantly supporting year-end audits including full ownership of audit schedules from inception through completion.Experience participating in or leading ERP implementations or system migrations is highly desirable given current project priorities.Background in professional services businesses with exposure to multi-entity or multi-currency environments (UK/US) would be advantageous but not mandatory.Meticulous attention to detail combined with a practical approach to problem-solving ensures accuracy across all deliverables.Excellent organisational skills enabling effective management of competing deadlines during busy reporting periods.Ability to explain complex financial matters clearly-both verbally and in writing-to non-specialist audiences within the business.Integrity paired with intellectual curiosity; willingness to express considered opinions constructively while proposing improvements. What sets this company apart:This organisation stands out as an internationally respected provider of economic analysis within litigation contexts-serving clients involved in some of the most consequential disputes globally. Their exclusive focus on litigation-based economic analysis ensures truly independent assessments free from conflicts of interest. The company's culture is defined by openness, respect for diversity, and commitment to professional development at every level. Employees benefit from direct access to decision-makers within a lean structure that encourages initiative-taking without bureaucratic barriers. Training opportunities are prioritised so that everyone can grow their skillset rapidly; those who demonstrate commitment are rewarded with progression opportunities tailored to individual aspirations. The workplace is welcoming-valuing each person's perspective-and flexible working options are available where possible. Joining this team means contributing directly to high-impact projects while enjoying genuine camaraderie among knowledgeable colleagues who share your passion for excellence. What's next:If you are ready to take on an impactful role where your expertise shapes outcomes during an exciting period of transformation, we encourage you to apply now!