Financial Accountant

The role

As a Financial Accountant at DLA Piper in Johannesburg, you will work in an established ambitious organization that is constantly evolving internationally and growing its people to meet the challenges. You will work and interact with internal stakeholders such as lawyers, HR, IT, Business Development, other departments as well as with colleagues in our international network of offices, external parties such as banks, authorities and accountants.

You are responsible for a range of duties from supporting the commercial development of the firm to the management and maintenance of detailed accounting and regulatory records, production of statutory accounts and maintaining a range of external relationships.
The ideal candidate has an extensive experience in book keeping and everyday operational finance matters, with approx. 5+ years of practical working experience in an accounting department of a law firm and the desire to add value to the service offering of the team.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Finance Manager and while being autonomous in your work your tasks cover but are not restricted to:
Commercial

• Providing financial support for the local management team, which will include assistance with monitoring of the annual budget and provision of variance updates, interpreting centrally provided financial data on KPIs including around billing and cash
• Working with local teams to ensure cost control and accurate accounting of costs
• Working with local management and central credit control for debt management
• Interpreting centrally provided financial data on KPIs including around billing and cash

Accounting, Control & Compliance

• Maintaining the local accounting records, processing month end journals, providing monthly analysis on figures and preparing the annual consolidation package for the two entities in Ireland
• Partner accounting – ensuring that Capital, Interest, and partner drawings are accurately reflected in the Partnership accounts
• Assisting to establish an adequate system of internal control and compliance with Group accounting policies on a range of issues
• Processing of monthly payroll and recording in accounting records
• Assisting to comply with Law Society of South Africa accounting rules or equivalent company requirements around client money management
• Submitting local tax and regulatory reporting, VAT, PAYE and annual returns

Risk management

• Assisting in the maintenance of the local business and financial Risk Logs

Projects

• Involvement in various internationally driven projects
• The above list is not exhaustive and there will be opportunity to develop your skills depending on your abilities

ABOUT YOU

• You will possess approx. 5+ years of relevant experience and appropriate accounting qualification
• You have excellent knowledge of Excel
• You have gained experience in a finance function of an International organisation
• You have a strong knowledge of local accounting rules, VAT legislation and preferably of International Financial Reporting Standards
• Has a strong knowledge of local statutory reporting requirements
• Experience with SAP will be an advantage
• You have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and are fluent in English
• You are a self-starter, who is able to work on their own initiative as well as being part of a team, and you have a strong client service orientation
• You feel comfortable operating in sometimes ambiguous situations, demonstrating a flexible and collaborative personal working style
• You feel comfortable multi-tasking and working to conflicting timescales on multiple priorities in a robust and fast-paced environment
• You possess the interpersonal skills and experience to work with colleagues throughout the International firm

ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.