Bookkeeper

Duties and Responsibilities

This role is responsible for providing comprehensive bookkeeping support to Orchard Agri (Pty) Ltd by maintaining accurate financial and stock-related records, processing transactions, performing reconciliations, preparing VAT returns, and supporting month-end and year-end financial processes. The position ensures the integrity of financial information and contributes to effective financial control, reporting, and compliance within the business.

Key Responsibilities:

1. General Bookkeeping and Ledger Control

• Process and record daily financial transactions accurately and timeously in the accounting or ERP system.
• Maintain accurate general ledger and subsidiary ledger records up to trial balance.
• Prepare and post journals, accruals, prepayments and month-end adjustments.
• Prepare monthly trial balances and supporting schedules.

2. Creditors / Accounts Payable

• Reconcile supplier statements and creditor accounts.
• Prepare payment schedules and assist with payment processing.
• Follow up and resolve supplier queries in a professional and timely manner.

3. Debtors / Accounts Receivable

• Allocate customer payments and reconcile debtor accounts.
• Monitor outstanding balances and assist with follow-up on overdue accounts.
• Prepare debtor age analyses and related schedules where required.

4. Bank, Cashbook and Cash Reconciliations

• Perform daily and monthly bank and cashbook reconciliations.
• Reconcile petty cash, credit card transactions and related supporting documentation.

5. Stock, Inventory and Costing Support

• Support stock control processes and assist with reconciling inventory records to financial records.
• Assist with basic costing, data capturing and stock-related financial checks.
• Support accuracy of inventory-related data in Sage Pastel or similar ERP/accounting systems.

6. Fixed Assets

• Maintain the fixed asset register.
• Process depreciation journals and maintain depreciation schedules.
• Track additions, disposals and supporting documentation.

7. VAT and Statutory Compliance

• Prepare VAT reconciliations and supporting schedules.
• Assist with or submit VAT201 returns where required.
• Maintain accurate and audit-ready statutory and financial records.

8. Month-End, Reporting and Audit Support

• Complete balance sheet reconciliations and month-end supporting schedules.
• Prepare reports and schedules for management, auditors and accountants.
• Assist with audit preparation, documentation and queries.

Key Skills and Competencies:

• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Honest, reliable and consistent work ethic.
• Integrity and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Professional communication skills; Afrikaans and English will be advantageous.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in Accounting/ Bookkeeping/ Finance or a related field.
• Experience: 3-5 years’ experience in bookkeeping, preferably with experience with up to trial balance.

Technical Skills:

• Must be proficient in Sage Pastel or a similar accounting/ERP system.
• Must have strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience in a stock-driven, manufacturing, agricultural equipment, machinery, parts or retail/wholesale environment will be advantageous.
• Previous experience with stock/inventory environments, fixed assets, bill of materials (BOMs), job costing or payroll administration will be advantageous.

Expected outputs and performance standards:

• Accurate and timely processing of financial transactions.
• Bank, creditor, debtor, stock and balance sheet reconciliations completed within agreed timelines.
• Month-end files, trial balance and supporting schedules prepared accurately and on time.
• VAT and statutory records maintained in an organised and audit-ready manner.
• Accounting and ERP records kept accurate, complete and up to date.

Work Location: In person