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WSP is one of the most diverse consulting firms in Africa, and the largest environmental consulting firm globally. To further our strategic business execution plan, we are seeking leaders who share our guiding principles – we value our people and our reputation; we are locally dedicated with international scale; we are future-focused and challenge the status quo; we foster collaboration; we have an empowering culture and hold ourselves accountable.
Job Description
The Purpose of the Role:
To partner with the relevant business unit in ensuring that revenue and operating cost is reported in line with IFRS standards and WSP policy. Provide commercial and financial oversight in supporting the business unit while monitoring performance to approved budgets. Maintain appropriate communication channels between finance and the business unit while supporting the Commercial Finance Manager.
Key Responsibilities:
The incumbent would ideally have had significant experience in all or some of the requirements as noted below which are core to our business:
Commercial :
- Work closely with the Divisional head and Group Finance team to develop a strategic financial plan.
- Elevate finance departments to provide and communicate insight into performance.
- Assist accounts receivable in managing working capital to ensure DSO targets maintained.
- Provide commercial/financial insight into bid preparations.
- Provide commercial support to enhance project profitability and margins ensuring appropriate direct labour multipliers are maintained.
- Improving systems to monitor order-book and provide insight into forward workload — Assist with client contract negotiations and take ownership of Commercial aspects.
- Assist BU in managing resource utilisation across regions/disciplines.
Essential Job Functions :
- Analyse financial data, extracts and define relevant information; interpret data for the purpose of determining past financial performance and/or to project financial probability.
- Oversee the development of budgets, forecasts, contracts, revenues, and other monthly related reporting. Analyse budgets, trends/patterns and project expenditure.
- Oversee the preparation of working papers and approved budgets; review expenditure against budgets / contracts at a project level. Ensure reports are prepared and managed to maintain balanced accounts.
- Develop financial reports for forecasting, trending, and results analysis.
- Keep abreast of laws and regulations that apply to this particular function or field of professional expertise, maintain up-to-date compliance.
- Confer with appropriate internal and external administrative offices to ensure that required procedures are followed. Provide instruction and answer questions relating to budget procedures, serve as liaison between the group office and unit areas. Identifies budget issues, provide alternative solutions, and resolve problems.
- Maintain clear communication channels between BU and Support and take ownership for any guidance/resolution- Monthly review of project multipliers, cost to complete anomalies and taking appropriate action.
Monthly review of WIP schedule ensuring WIP is based on effort and managed within acceptable limits (aging).
Ownership and preparation of monthly BU packs according to prescribed reporting standards.
Review of monthly balance sheet recons.
Review aged debtors reports and outline key actions with respective stakeholders.
Scope of Responsibility :
Know the formal and informal goals, standards, policies and is sensitive to the interrelationship of both people and functions within the department.
On a regular and continuous basis, exercise administrative judgement and assume responsibility for decisions and impact of quality of service within the functional area.
Provides leadership and direction to project accountants.
Provides support to Commercial Finance Director by taking ownership and accountability for respective BU responsibilities.
Take initiative in refining systems and processes to achieve overall responsibility.
Plan and direct the commercial activities of a Division. Includes the regular and continuous management of the function - Attend to ad-hoc requests from divisional COO's.
Communication :
- Exchanges non-routine information using tact and persuasion as appropriate requiring good oral and written communication skills - Maintain transparency across communication with stakeholders.
Qualifications
- B Com Honours in Accounting with more than 9 years relevant experience.
- Experience in consulting sector/professional services an advantage.
- Able to collate, analyse and evaluate data to enable business decision making.
- Self-starter keen to challenge accepted wisdom and drive change.
- Strong and confident communicator.
- Flexible working style to align with rapid growth and ongoing change.
Key Competencies and Generic Skills:
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Able to see big picture while not losing sight of the detail.
- Good interpersonal skills, work well with teams, and have strong organisational skills.
- Confident, forward-thinking and be able to facilitate relationships - An excellent work ethic, with integrity and above average resilience.
- Good time management, with the ability to multi-task and achieve goals, deliverables and strict deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Good knowledge of accounting systems and process.
- Advanced level of Microsoft Excel.
- Strong capabilities in business partnering.
Health and Safety :
- Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behaviour consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you.
- Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm.
- Embracing, displaying and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is maintained at all times.
Additional Information
What's in it for you?
What if we can have work-life balance? What if we can be rewarded in ways that support our individual needs? What if we can be accepted for who we are? Here at WSP – we can!
WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important – be that our families, our friends or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time or having flexible start and finish time will help with this let us know as part of your application.
As well as rewarding you with competitive pay, WSP offers standard benefits including first class medical cover, generous days annual leave, and paid professional subscriptions.
Be you, be happy - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects and maximizes the contribution individuals can bring to WSP. We recognize the benefits that people with varying backgrounds and experiences can bring. Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
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