Specialist | Group Finance

Job description

Overview

Allan Gray is an investment management firm focussed on building long-term wealth for our clients. The Allan Gray group consists of many legal entities, in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Bermuda and Guernsey. Together, these businesses provide various investment products to individuals, retirement funds, insurers, medical schemes, trusts and companies. We design our products and fees so that they tie our success to that of our clients. The group’s orientation is long-term, particularly the investment philosophy and relationships with its clients and employees. 

Group Finance: variable remuneration team

The finance function at Allan Gray is centralised so the broader finance team manages the financial affairs for all group entities, company secretary activities, tax administration, regulatory compliance, payroll and the group’s various remuneration schemes. 

The variable remuneration team (specialist plus, in time, administrator) will be responsible for the full functioning of the various remuneration schemes offered by Allan Gray.  This includes accounting, tax, regulatory, and various reporting requirements. 

The environment requires a focus on high quality delivery of work against deadlines, high pressure environment and an ability to respond and provide support to staff, senior management and board members across the business in addressing queries. 

Responsibilities

This role is a good match for an experienced accountant that is looking to specialise in share schemes, with a mix of interesting problem solving, opportunities for engagement with staff, together with more traditional accounting and board reporting functions. You will be responsible for the team’s overall performance against deliverables. 

Key tasks may include the following and not limited to:

The specific responsibilities comprise:
•    Administration of the Allan Gray remuneration schemes:
o    Awards
o    Distributions
o    Maintenance of unitholder information
•    Identify and implement system improvements to support efficiency and accuracy of administration
•    Accounting (AFS), regulatory and tax submissions
•    Calculation of variable remuneration costs for inclusion in group AFS
•    Reporting to participants – in group forum and individually
•    Reporting to Boards and Remco on various dimensions and considerations, including projections
•    Working with payroll team to ensure completeness of their remuneration information
•    Working with People Ops to ensure completeness of their remuneration information
•    Engaging with and responding to queries from external auditors on the schemes
•    Drive technical accounting and tax considerations 

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and other items may be added as appropriate for the scope of responsibilities. 

You will also be required to assist with the broader finance team if the need arises. 

Key competencies

•    Ability to pay attention to detail and to detect errors
•    Deadline driven with a strong work ethic
•    Aptitude for numbers and routine work
•    Strong excel / word / powerpoint skills
•    Engage with senior management; strong communication skills are important
•    Think outside the box and help structure solutions

Qualification and experience

•    Bachelor’s degree in accounting (Bcom, BAccSc, BCompt or relevant)
•    More than 3 years of relevant work experience

Please include your Matric and University transcripts with your application.

Location

1 Silo, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.

Closing Date and important details relevant to role

•    3 months' notice period (both parties)
•    Based in Cape Town, with days in office as per the parameters of Allan Gray’s work from office policy