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Project Accountant

Location of position

MTN
South Africa
Gauteng
Johannesburg
Innovation Centre

Job mission

To account for Network Group project accounting functions per allocated project, monitor and track project budget in order to realize maximum business benefits.

KPA duties

Task Complexity:
Project Accounting Administration
• Ensure that each Network Group project is accounted for in accordance with IFRS.
• Recommend improvement to existing project accounting policies, processes and procedures to enhance effectiveness, efficiency and performance
• Ensure that Network Group adhere to the financial policies, processes and procedures.
• Recommend changes and modification to systems as required to ensure timeliness, accuracy and efficiency.
• Manage and monitor the raising of requisitions for Network Group Capital projects. Ensure that the distribution on each requisition is in line with IFRS, Capex project toolkit, and Oracle Projects.
• Submit the relevant reports of Network Group to the Senior Project and operational accountant, to consolidate for the monthly financial pack for finance consolidation.
• Submit the relevant reports of Network Group to the relevant CPM –PM’s, GM’s and CTO.
• Assist business in preparing capital project documentations
• Analyse financial goals of the projects and ensure delivery of all the financial objective of the projects.
• Ensure that internal labour per Network group project is capitalised and supporting documentation is in place.

Cost Control
(This function will have a direct reporting into the Project area and an indirect reporting line to Project Office for the whole planning cycles )
• Assist Network Group with budget inputs and forecast reviews as requested by business finance.
• Assist in the implementation of new Network group budgets and forecast. Ensure that all approved adjustment is reflected on the effected project budgets.
• Control Network department budgets and ensures that the project budgets is not overspend.
• Track Network Group budget vs. actual for CPM projects
• Understand and report on all major variances from the Network group budgets.
• Control and report on spend vs. forecasts to budget. Analyse cash flow for Network Group department and inform finance accordingly.
• Ensure that Network Group comply with all business rules related to the financial cost per project (OPEX and CAPEX).
• Control costs through the recommendation of lower cost options / more effective processes and procedures
• Identify areas where money is lost and recommend ways to reduce expenditure where possible
• Check invoices per project and reconcile with commitments.
• Monitor and accrue all work schedules not yet invoiced
• Manage all administrative tasks related to project accounting environment
• Manage material resource planning with materials planner and logistics to ensure equipment is ordered on time

Project Accounting Query Resolution
• Address problems relating to project accounting on a case by case basis, ensuring an optimal balance between the response to the situation, the cost of that response, and the core purpose of the organisation
• Deal with problem situations that arise timeously and efficiently
• Follow clear and linear procedures to diagnose and solve accounting-related problems that are not always obvious
• Provide information and knowledge as required to resolve problems
• Generate different options for the known problem, evaluate possible methods to resolve the problem, and select the most appropriate solution in terms of enhanced effectiveness and efficiency, and reduced cost
• Tailor solutions to suit the problem (within defined parameters)
• Take action to prevent the reoccurrence of problems
• Make use of available resources to solve the problem
• Identify external parties to assist with problem solving as required
Information Management
• Ensure time sheets are processed for each project
• Update progress tracking information and reports at project portfolio level
• Provide regular information to all relevant project/programme managers
• Ensure support documentation received is in compliance with requisition format and requirements
• Request and submit copies of missing backup documentation
• Maintain complete project files for the entire duration of the project. Act as point of contact for year end audit requirements

Reporting
• Conduct reporting on project accounting status and quarterly forecasts
• Assist business finance in quarterly forecast with regards to project costs.
• Identify and prepare relevant information and data for reporting purposes
• Make assessments of and draw solutions from qualitative data. Make logical deductions and draw conclusions that can be motivated


Customer Satisfaction:
• Consider the implications of actions to be taken for the customer / the effect of actions on the customer
• Understand the immediate consequence and impact of activity on the customer
• Report and escalate issues as and when required to the responsible person to ensure continuous Operational Support
• Respond to customer queries in line with set guidelines
• Escalate unresolved queries timorously
• Ensure that customer specifications are met and that the customer is satisfied with the end service and/or product
• Deliver first time right service excellence

Supervisory / Leadership / Managerial Complexity:
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• Directing, guiding and influencing staff to enable effective supply
• Staff development and training
• Mentoring and couching of staff
• Improve customer satisfaction

Role Complexity:
• Financial interface with Finance and Business Finance
• Assist with compiling budgets

Educational requirements

• Accounting-related degree

Experience required

• At least 1-2 years accounting experience

Skills required

Knowledge:

• Broad understanding of the MTN business
• In-depth understanding of accounting principles
• Knowledge of the business plan and objectives
• An understanding of Finance terminology and processes (e.g. budget, expenditure, investment, loan, cash-flow, working capital, forecasting, variance analysis, cost)
• Knowledge of current and relevant legislation

Skills / physical competencies:

• Technical / professional excellence
• Relationship building
• Analytical skills – weighing up the pro’s and con’s; making sense of information
• Feedback skills
• Computer literate
• Problem solving skills
• Budgeting skills
• Communication skills
• Influencing skills
• Time management skills (specifically the ability to prioritise)
• Ability to meet deadlines

Behavioural qualities:

• Team orientation – working in an integrated team environment
• Resilience – maintaining composure and dealing effectively with stress
• Service orientation
• Strong detail focus - attention to detail and accuracy
• Action-oriented
• Diplomacy and tact
• Operate with integrity (high ethics)
• Perseverance
• Compliant
• Methodical and systematic
• Independent-minded
• Reliable and dependable

Other information
Reference No: NWG/FG/GF/002
Position Type: Permanent
Affirmative Action: Open to All
Salary:
Additional: Training:
• Systems training (Oracle)
• Computer training (MS Office with Advanced MS Excel)

Applications close 19 Mar 2012.