Bookkeeper

We are looking for a highly organised, professional, and proactive Bookkeeper to oversee daily office operations and lead the financial administration functions for a design and branding company. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role is a permanent position focused on ensuring a high level of operational efficiency while meticulously managing bookkeeping, compliance, and payroll processes to maintain the business's overall financial health. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in optimising internal workflows and managing multiple deadlines independently. Candidate must be available immediately. Responsibilities Bookkeeping & Financial Operations Full-Function Creditors Management: Manage the end-to-end accounts payable process, including 3-way matching (Invoices vs. POs vs. Delivery Notes), processing supplier invoices, monthly reconciliations, investigating discrepancies, and resolving disputes. Prepare payment runs, load ad hoc payments onto the banking system, and track due dates to avoid penalties. Full-Function Debtors Management: Generate and accurately issue customer invoices, credit notes, and monthly statements. Maintain client records, monitor credit terms, handle incoming bank allocations, and actively follow up on overdue accounts via calls and emails. Financial Accounting & Reporting: Perform regular bank reconciliations, manage daily credit card transaction processing, maintain financial ledgers, and prepare monthly/quarterly financial statements. Risk & Compliance: Maintain audit-ready financial records, manage VAT regulation compliance, and actively support year-end audit processes. Payroll & Statutory Administration Time & Attendance Tracking: Reconcile weekly and monthly staff timesheets via the clocking system, calculating hours worked, overtime, and shift allowances. Ensure valid leave forms, sick certificates, and absenteeism documents are properly captured. Payroll Processing: Run and execute payroll using SAGE VIP, review reports for discrepancies, and generate payslips for staff. Statutory Submissions: Prepare and reconcile monthly EMP201 and bi-annual EMP501 submissions, pay monthly deductions (SARS PAYE, UIF, SDL, provident funds, and MEIBC) by the 7th of each month, and issue annual IRP5 certificates. Office Management & Operational Support Daily Operations: Oversee the smooth running of the physical office, including managing stationery and cleaning material ordering, logging machine/tools orders, and coordinating building repairs. Administrative Clerical Work: Sign off authorized expenses, assist in managing the office budget, coordinate work quality, attend weekly staff meetings, and assist with general company communications. Fleet Management: Maintain records for company vehicle services and ensure timely license renewals. Process Improvement: Continuously review, streamline, and optimize office procedures and internal reporting workflows by adopting new digital tools or automated systems. Requirements Qualifications & Experience Education: A relevant business-related degree or diploma is highly preferred. Experience: Minimum of 10 years of solid experience working as a bookkeeper with a proven track record of comprehensive financial management. System Expertise: Advanced proficiency using accounting packages/CRMs (e.g., Sage Pastel, Quick Easy, SAGE VIP Payroll) and secure banking platforms. Digital Literacy: Strong everyday proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, and an advanced understanding of Excel). Advantageous: Prior experience working within e-commerce systems or dealing with stock-related issues. Core Competencies & Skills Financial Acumen: Sound commercial understanding with deep functional knowledge of accounting practices and VAT regulations. Execution & Autonomy: Proven ability to work entirely independently, multitask, prioritise workloads, and meet strict monthly deadlines. Problem Solving: Logical, proactive thinker with a strong preference for continuous improvement, process optimization, and a willingness to upskill (e.g., exploring practical AI tools). Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication and professional customer service skills to effectively resolve customer disputes, navigate supplier queries, and collaborate with internal sales and warehouse logistics teams