View Vacancy - Corporate Services - Finance Controller - (20/23 PTA)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
FCDO Services
Finance

Main purpose of job:

The Financial Controller will be an integral part of the Finance team as well as working on a regular basis with other Corporate Services Departments.  Working closely with colleagues to deliver a pro-active, customer focused, service in South Africa. 

The Financial Controller will provide all aspects of financial services from processing to statement of financial position for the British High Commission in South Africa. The Finance Controller will support the Financial Manager to ensure that post meets its financial obligations functioning within the financial compliance parameters as set by the FCDO.

This position requires accuracy and attention to detail, excellent communication skills (verbal and written), problem solving and a keen sense of pro-activeness.


Roles and responsibilities:

The below roles and responsibilities are general guidelines. They are not limited to the detail below and are subject to change from time to time with prior consultation.

Provide a quality customer service. This will include duties such as managing the South Africa Accounts mailbox, responding to all account queries within 24 hours and providing pro-active guidance on accounts processes.

Maintaining a professional relationship and working in partnership with the Global Transaction Processing Centre (GTPC). Duties will include regular meetings, communication and resolving queries within the service level agreement timeframes.

Perform the full accounts function for the British High Commission in South Africa and Partners Across Government (General Ledger to Statement of Financial Position). Duties will include submitting invoices to the GTPC for processing, creditors reconciliations, maintaining detailed monthly payment schedules of essential services such as rents, utilities and security, VAT reconciliations to SARS, Bank reconciliations, Journals,  Debtors, Staff advances, Balance Sheet accounts, etc.

Maintain high standards on the Financial Performance and Compliance. Duties will include monitoring reports and addressing invoices on hold, open purchase orders, retrospective purchasing, company credit card reconciliations and accruals.

Banking duties will include managing a professional relationship with the bank, completing balance of payment (BOP) forms, annual bank audit submissions and assisting with internal annual statement IAS and IFRS returns.

Managing the cashbox (NPA). Duties include issuing cash in accordance to policy and ensuring a daily reconciliation is performed, maintaining strict controls, etc.

Maintain a professional relationship with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), monthly submissions and weekly preparation on invoices to ensure they are compliance. These duties includes regular meetings with SARS, daily capturing of VAT updates, monthly processes of VAT returns via on the e-filing system; ensuring compliance of invoices as per the SARS regulations with suppliers and balancing monthly VAT reconciliations.

Familiarising, understanding and apply best practice of all FCDO accounting standards, processed and internal audit requirements.

Filing and safekeeping of all accounting documentation in accordance to the UK Data Protection Act.

Other duties further include assisting with preparations of month end reports, preparing documentation for internal audits, identifying and mitigating risk, reporting fraud.

  • Certificate or Diploma in Bookkeeping
  • 3-5 years bookkeeping / accounting experience
  • Good communication skills are essential (verbal and written)
  • Computer literacy a must

3-5 years Financial Controller experience / working in a diplomatic environment 


Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together
18 May 2023
Administrative Officer (AO)
Permanent
36.5 hours
Africa
South Africa
Pretoria
British High Commission
1
R 264,704.80 (per annum)
1 July 2023

Learning and development opportunities (and any specific training courses to be completed):

Training will be provided.

The British High Commission pays in full for the Key Care Plus option on Discovery Health for staff including spouses/partners and dependants.

  • Once you have successfully completed your probation the British High Commission will contribute 9 % of your monthly salary to a Provident Fund.
  • Annual leave entitlement of 25 days
  • Working hours per week of 36.5
  • Please complete the application form in full as the information provided is used during screening.
  • Please check your application carefully before you submit, as no changes can be made once submitted.
  • The British High Commission will never request any payment or fees to apply for a position.
  • Employees recruited locally by the British High Commission in Pretoria are subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local employment law in South Africa.
  • All candidates must be legally able to work and reside in the country of the vacancy with the correct visa/work permit status or demonstrate eligibility to obtain the relevant permit. 
  • The responsibility lies on the successful candidate to:
  • Obtain the relevant permit
  • Pay fees for the permit
  • Make arrangements to relocate
  • Meet the costs to relocate 
  • The British High Commission do not sponsor visas/work permits except where it may be local practice to do so. 
  • Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary may have their salaries reduced by the equivalent local income tax amount.
  • Information about the Civil Service Success Profiles can be found on this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles. Please note:  AA=A1, AO=A2, EO=B3, HEO=C4, SEO=C5
  • Reference checking and security clearances will be conducted on successful candidates.
  • Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6/12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate”.
Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.