Head of Accounting - Cape Town

Overview

At Ten our goal is simple, to become the most trusted service business in the world.

We are already the global market leader for lifestyle management and concierge services, providing services from a strong global office network with over one thousand employees.

We deliver our service through a combination of Ten’s proprietary, unique technology-enabled platform and the expertise of our highly trained lifestyle managers. Ten is growing quickly and has ambitious plans to innovate and to keep inspiring and to continue to improve the lives of millions of members. Will you help take us there?

As Head of Accounting, you will lead on managing the Shared Service Finance Team and supporting them with various accounting tasks as part of the broader Global Finance Operations.

Your role involves ensuring completeness, compliance and accuracy for ledgers across entities processed by local accountants in the shared service centre, and overseeing the delivery and management of all audit requests at a Group level and locally. The priority for this role is the management of the finance team to ensure accurate and compliant financial records are maintained and all audit requirements are timeously delivered.

You will work closely within the Global Finance Team, working closely with the operations teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Local Team Management

• Lead and manage a local team of accountants, ensuring accurate ledgers are maintained and compliance requirements are adhered to at all times
• Own the tracking of key finance team tasks and the team’s continuous delivery thereof
• Ensure quality of key financial controls and governance

Global Month-End Close & Reporting

• Manage the month-end close process, including ledger locking and unlocking; data integrations into reporting tool; intercompany matching; month-end reviews; and team’s attending to queries raised.
• Coordinate and execute month-end review of income statement and detailed balance sheet [including sub-ledgers] – driving consistency, efficiency and accuracy
• Oversight of monthly closure of bank, including reconciliations and revaluations
• Ensuring accountants maintain detailed subsidiary ledgers, including but not limited to asset registers [and monthly accounting of depreciation], debtors, creditors and members accounts
• Coordinate the review of the Group balance sheet performed by the Finance Management Team

Audit & Statutory Compliance

• Manage the Group audit, aligning between the finance team and the external auditors and ensuring all deliverables are submitted timeously and at the requisite level.
• Act as key contact for local audits, and support the regional accountants with preparing local financial statements and executing on local audits, ensuring timely completion with no audit issues.
• Assist in statutory accounts preparation, tax computations and regulatory filings for multiple jurisdictions.
• Assist with ad-hoc group postings and maintaining holding company ledgers and postings

Process Improvement & Business Partnering

• Champion automation: macros, Power-Query, ERP workflows to reduce manual journals and close timelines.
• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis, cost centre reports and KPI dashboards to Operations and Regional MDs.
• Coach shared-service accountants on reconciliation standards, month-end deadlines and best-practice documentation.
• Resolve technical accounting issues raised by regional accountants.
• Assist the finance management team with payment reviews and approvals across multiple jurisdictions.
• Participate in finance projects (M&A, new entity set-up, system upgrades) by providing technical accounting input.

Other Responsibilities

• Support the Group Financial Controller in key tasks and team management
• Supporting Finance on projects and tasks
• Supporting Ops teams by providing necessary reports and analysis
• Any other tasks and projects required by the wider finance team, on an ad-hoc basis

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:

As Head of Accounting, you will be expected to role model the behaviors associated with our Ten Standards and our core business values of Member Focused, Trustworthy, and Pioneering. This means approaching your work every day with a positive, solution-oriented, and supportive attitude. You will also be expected to breakdown complex technical issues into manageable steps, demonstrating strong project management abilities when handling multiple tasks, and effectively present solutions to both internal and external audiences.

We encourage diverse philosophies, cultures and experiences.

We appreciate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment for our employees. This idea unites the teams at TEN. All aspects of our relationship, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline or terminate, will be based on merit, competence, performance and business needs.

Requirements:
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, or Finance
• Professional Accreditation preferable: Registered CA(SA), CIMA or Associate General Accountant AGA (SA)
• Minimum of 3 years of practical work experience in accounting or finance roles
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in managing people
• Preferable: Experience of shared service / finance operations management in a global / multi- site organisation
• Experience in creating and maintaining robust controls within centralised finance operations

ROLE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Strong leadership and management skills driving “Best in Class” approach
• Passion for automation and building efficient processes
• In-depth knowledge of accounting principles (IFRS), financial regulations, and taxation laws
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate findings effectively to non-financial stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including procurement, sales, and engineering
• Proficiency in advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Power Query knowledge preferred
• Strong ethical standards and integrity, with a commitment to upholding the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality in financial matters
• Self-motivation, excellent communication, teamworking, and interpersonal skills
• An analytical mind, keen eye for detail and desire to probe further into data
• Deliver to tight deadlines, for example, month end closures
• Experience in a Hospitality / Travel industry beneficial
• Knowledge of financial systems in particular Microsoft Dynamics Business Central General Ledger (Previously Navision) beneficial

Guidelines for Hybrid/Home Office:

• This role is Cape Town–based and requires candidates to commute to the office at least 2 days per week. Please note this is a non-negotiable requirement.
• A secure home office at your confirmed address, free from background noise or other distractions when working remotely
• Internet service must meet minimum requirements and minimum speed check must be completed

Benefits:
Our people are at the heart of the business, and we have a culture of recognition and reward - both through regular appraisals but also annual Extra Mile Awards where we celebrate those who have gone that extra mile in their role. We also encourage all our staff to incorporate their aspirations and interests into their career at Ten and we are there every step of the way in supporting development.

Rewards designed around you:

• A competitive salary depending on experience
• Flexible work arrangements including Hybrid work possibilities; with up to 60% Home Office.
• Paid time away from work. Our employees enjoy a competitive paid time off package, including a day each year to volunteer time for a good cause that is important to you.
• Paid Sabbaticals. One (1) month paid Sabbatical after every 5 years of Service, without tapping into annual leave
• Extra Rewards. Lucrative Ten Loyalty Rewards program.
• Remote Working Holidays - possibilities to Travel and Work!
• Employee Discounts. Access to lots of great travel and entertainment discounts as our clients’ members would!
• We also offer a company contribution towards medical aid, and transport home for those working a late shift (applies to those who don't have a car).
• ICAS Employee Health and Wellness (EHWP) services which are confidential and free for all employees to use.
• Safe & secure offices in the Foreshore with complimentary off-street parking.

Who Are We

Ten is a leading lifestyle and concierge company helping our clients discover, organise, enjoy and get the most from life. We partner with global financial institutions and other premium brands to attract and retain wealth and mass affluent clients. Established in the UK in 1998 and with over 25 years of experience, Ten operates in over 20 cities worldwide, in over 26 languages, with 65% of our workforce globally distributed and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange ('TENG'). We were the first concierge business to be awarded the B Corp certification in the UK in 2023.

Ten’s strategy focuses on four key areas: deliver a world-class member experience, invest in technology, expand contracts with new and existing clients as well as develop our foothold in new markets by leveraging our market-leading service proposition.

At Ten, you’ll be part of a global, dynamic, and inclusive team, with diversity at its core and endless opportunities for growth.

Join us and experience a workplace where you can truly thrive. https://tenlifestylegroup.com/ten-tv/

Commitment to Diversity

We encourage diverse philosophies, cultures, and experiences. We appreciate diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment for our employees. This idea unites the teams at TEN. All aspects of our relationship, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or terminate, will be based on merit, competence, performance and busin