Job Purpose
The Accounting Lead oversees the day-to-day accounting operations across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Inventory transactions. The role ensures accuracy, compliance with internal controls, timely completion of reconciliations, and effective coordination of the month-end close process. The Accounting Lead reviews and validates transactional outputs to safeguard financial integrity within a manufacturing and distribution environment.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Operational Oversight – AR, AP & Inventory

• Supervise daily accounting operations across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and inventory processing activities.

• Review and validate transactional postings, reconciliations, and supporting documentation prepared by Accounting Assistants.

• Oversee execution of order-to-cash and procure-to-pay cycles in accordance with established controls.

• Monitor AR aging, AP balances, and inventory movement reports, ensuring timely follow-up and escalation of material matters.

• Oversee processing of local, foreign, and intercompany transactions within the ERP system.

• Ensure proper maintenance and control of supplier, customer, and intercompany master data.

Operational Control & Accountability

• Maintain oversight of the AR and AP control environment, ensuring reconciliations are completed, variances investigated, and documentation standards upheld.

• Review and sign off on designated balance sheet reconciliations and control accounts prior to submission to the Accountant.

• Monitor transactional cut-off procedures to support accurate period reporting.

• Track completion of month-end checklists and ensure timely submission of required schedules.

• Identify recurring discrepancies or control weaknesses and escalate recommendations for corrective action.

Month-End & Reporting Coordination

• Coordinate month-end close activities across the accounting team.

• Confirm completeness and accuracy of reconciliations and schedules prior to escalation.

• Ensure supporting documentation is organised and audit-ready.

• Escalate technical accounting matters requiring judgment or policy determination to the Accountant.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Enforce adherence to internal controls, segregation of duties, and Company accounting procedures.

• Review unusual or high-risk transactions and escalate as appropriate.

• Monitor compliance with VAT documentation and statutory transactional requirements.

Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise and guide assigned team, ensuring effective workload allocation and deadline adherence.

• Provide coaching on reconciliation standards, documentation quality, and ERP utilisation.

• Promote accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement within the accounting team.

• Conduct performance evaluations and development initiatives.

Systems & Process Governance

• Oversee effective utilization of ERP modules across AR, AP, and inventory functions.

• Monitor accounting data integrity and coordinate resolution of system-related discrepancies.

• Support standardisation and documentation of accounting procedures.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Liaise with Sales, Procurement, Warehouse, and Operations to resolve transactional discrepancies and ensure alignment of financial records with operational activities.

• Coordinate with other departments to support timely submission of documentation required for month-end close.

• Support resolution of supplier and customer queries requiring cross-departmental clarification.

• Escalate operational issues impacting financial reporting to the Accountant.

Qualifications & Experience required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• Minimum ACCA Level 2 (Applied Skills) or equivalent professional stage; significant relevant experience may be considered in lieu of partial qualification.

• Minimum of 4–6 years’ experience in accounting, with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory or senior accounting role.

• Experience within a manufacturing or distribution environment preferred.

• Strong ERP system experience required.

Skills & knowledge required

• Demonstrated supervisory capability within a structured finance environment, including oversight of transactional accounting staff and workflow coordination.

• Strong reconciliation and analytical expertise with the ability to review, validate, and challenge underlying transactional data.

• In-depth operational knowledge of Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, inventory accounting, and intercompany processing.

• Sound understanding of internal controls, segregation of duties, and compliance requirements within a manufacturing or distribution setting.

• High level of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment in supervising financial processes.