Vacant Post – SKA Mid – Management Accountant

Contract type: Permanent
Job Level: Skilled / Middle Management
Work Location: Cape Town, Western Cape
Closing Date: 03 April 2023

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope is an international effort by more than a dozen countries to build the world’s largest, most advanced radio telescopes in South Africa and Australia. Both South Africa and Australia are co-host members of the SKA Observatory (SKAO), a UK-based intergovernmental organisation responsible for the construction and operation of the SKA telescopes.

The first phase of the SKA will consist of two telescopes:
South Africa will host the mid-frequency telescope (SKA-Mid). SKA-Mid will comprise up to 197 dishes spread along spiral arms spanning 150 km in the Karoo, Northern Cape. The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), a facility of the National Research Foundation, is responsible for managing all radio astronomy initiatives and facilities in South Africa, including the MeerKAT Radio Telescope, a precursor to the SKA telescope.

Australia will host the SKA’s low-frequency telescope (SKA-Low). SKA-Low will comprise up to 131,072 antennas in clusters along spiral arms spanning 65 km at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) in WA.

The Management Accountant will support the end-to-end management of the SKAO ZAF financial ledger and all related monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting activities. The role will be responsible for ensuring complete and accurate invoicing of the partnership costs which will be billed from SARAO to SKAO under the agreement for bilateral collaboration between the two organisations. The role holder will also help to ensure that local finance and procurement activity is compliant with the SKAO Finance Policy, Procurement Policy, and associated procedure notes.

Key Responsibilities:
* Work with the SKA Mid Finance and Procurement Manager to oversee the day-to-day work of the SKA-Mid finance team, which includes staff from SKAO and SARAO.
* Manage the SARAO staff in the SKA-Mid finance team, including responsibility for career development and performance management.
* Act as the primary liaison between SKAO and SARAO finance teams, working collaboratively to address issues and deliver for both organisations.
* Build strong relationships with stakeholders across both SKAO and SARAO.
* Prepare or review SKAO ZAF financial ledger postings (accruals, prepayments, bank reconciliations, etc)
* Prepare and or/review monthly management accounts and balance sheet reconciliations including relevant commentary and associated queries from SKAO HQ.
* Preparing and/or reviewing the monthly invoice for partner staff charges from SARAO and ensuring completeness and accuracy of the charges.
* Review and approve ZAF ledger requisitions and purchase orders, supplier invoices, and perform bank authorisations as required in line with the internal delegation of authority.
* Prepare budget and forecasts for ZAF ledger income and expenditure, including the monthly SKAO ZAF ledger cash flow forecast.
* Support the management of South Africa located fixed assets, including the initial capitalisation of assets, calculation of depreciation, and identifying and recording disposals.
* Ensure local finance and procurement activity is carried out in compliance with the SKAO Finance Policy and Procurement Policy.
* Support SKAO and SARAO with queries relating to external or internal audit.
* Work alongside the SKAO HQ ERP System Manager to continuously improve the ERP system, finance processes and controls.
* Maintain / develop financial process documentation related to financial management procedures
* Train finance and non-finance staff as required.
* Undertake any other reasonable duties, such as assisting with other business systems, as directed by the SKA Mid Finance and Procurement Manager or the CFO.

Key Requirements:

Qualification:
* Minimum 5 years’ relevant work experience in Finance/Accounting roles,
* Recognized degree graduate (NQF7) in Finance/Accounting, Business Management or another relevant subject.
* Recognized Finance or Accounting professional certifications will be an added advantage.

Experience:
* Experience of end-to-end management of a financial ledger including reporting to regulatory and statutory authorities.
* Exposure to finance ERP Systems (ie Unit 4).
* Experience supporting requestors and procurement colleagues in traditional ‘procure to pay’ cycle activities.
* Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, proactively collaborating, consultative and sharing of resources to accomplish team objectives.
* The potential to manage a small team, developing an inclusive, high-performing culture.
* Strong attention to detail, both in preparing own work and reviewing work of others to ensure a high standard of accuracy.
* Knowledge of and experience of accounting under IFRS accounting standards.

Knowledge:
IFRS & IAS

Additional Notes:
Desirable skills:
Experience of remotely reporting to an international group finance function.
Experience within a multi-currency, multi-ledger ERP system environment.
Experience of reporting to and co-ordinating activities with colleagues who are working remotely, ideally both locally and internationally.
Experience of planning, preparation and implementation of financial process documentation related to financial management procedures

Skills/Ability/Competencies:
Teamwork and Collaboration: Cooperates with others to achieve organisational objectives and may share team resources to do this. Collaborates with other team as well as industry colleagues.

Influence and Communication: Uses knowledge of other party’s priorities and adapts presentations or discussions to appeal to the interests and level of the audience. Anticipates and prepares for others’ reactions.

Resource Management/Leadership: Sets up and maintains effective and efficient work teams and manages performance and resources, to achieve objectives. Chooses appropriate management strategies and communication styles to maintain high levels of motivation and productivity. Gives feedback for development purposes and provides support and direction for improvement.

Judgement and Problem Solving: Investigates underlying issues of complex and ill-defined problems and develops appropriate response by adapting/creating and testing alternative solutions.

Independence: Plans, sets, and works to meet challenging standards and goals for self and/or others. Recognises where endeavours will make the most impact or difference, decides on desired outcome and sets realistic goals to reach this target.

Adaptability: Copes with ambiguity or situations that lack clarity. Adapts readily to changing circumstances and new responsibilities (which may include activities outside own preferences) in the interests of achieving team objectives. Recognises the need for and undertakes personal development because of changes.

Organisational Values
The SKA-Mid Senior Electrical Engineer will be expected to demonstrate the SARAO and SKAO’s values, and to work actively to instill those behaviors in all SKA-Mid staff in South Africa.

SKAO’s values are:
Diversity and Inclusion
Excellence
Collaboration
Creativity and Innovation
Sustainability

SARAO’s values are:
Passion for Excellence
World-class service
People-centered
Respect
Integrity and Ethics
Accountability

Both SARAO and SKAO value and respect difference and are committed to building an inclusive culture by creating an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work. We believe that you will do your best at work if you have a work / life balance. Some roles lend themselves to flexible options more than others, so if this is important to you, please raise this during your interview, as we are open to discussing flexible working opportunities during the hiring process.

Information:
The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities.

Applications:
Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by logging to https://ess.nrf.ac.za/Account/Recruitment and apply online. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant’s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.

Closing Date: 03 April 2023
The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only