Job Description

Real Estate: Financial Planning AnalystRole Purpose

• The Principal Specialist will be responsible in providing financial analysis and delivering insights on financial reports and forecasting to the various National Property business units within Technology.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders.

This role will be responsible for:

• Preparation of budget, rolling forecast and long range forecast within the Real Estate- towers portfolio, with an extensive knowledge of the accounting standard, IFRS16.
• An expansive IFRS16 forecast that should include the unwinding of assets and liabilities, renewal and modification reassessments and adjustments for changes to lease roll outs.
• Detailed analysis on the cost and income from lease agreements and ensuring completeness and accuracy of the lease portfolio is maintained.
• Key involvement in the delivery of an automated leases and rentals forecasting tool with key data analysis, through close participation with relevant lease management systems.
• Through understanding of cost drivers on leases and rentals, electricity costs.
• Highlighting risk and opportunities on a continuous basis to senior leadership
• A dedicated business partner to the Head of National Property Management, involved in the saving initiatives to drive meaningful financial decision making in the negotiation of lease agreements.
• Managing the various inputs from the business areas to feedback to a centralised FP&A, to enable accurate month end forecasting and accurate financial inputs.
• Continuous tracking and financial performance of strategic projects in comparison to planned roll out.
• Working closely with the Technology Effectiveness and Transformation team on identifying opportunities in National Properties portfolio and tracking the saving plan.
• Verification of the networks sites accountable for energy consumption and ensuring controls are in place for the accuracy of costs recorded.
• Working closely with Finops & National Property Business partners to provide comprehensive commentary for leases and rentals/ electricity/ leased lines on the variance relating to actual versus budgeted and forecasted spend at month end closure.
• Keeping abreast of latest standards and ensuring alignment to the governance, SOX controls and accounting standards are adhered to.
• Participation in benchmarking activities with the relevant Technology business units.
• Understanding of real estate intra group transactions
• Support to key stakeholders, Finops, National Property, Regional Property, Group counterparts, various business units in technology
• Proficiency in the accounting standards and liaison with the Finops IFRS team and internal audit when necessary.
• Adhoc request as required.

Essence of Role Key AccountabilitiesCompliance and control

• Establishing adherence to the relevant Group policies.
• Ensure compliance with SOX controls.
• Work with other departments to ensure all cross-department issues are resolved.

Knowledge and experience

• Proactive Business Partnering
• Accounting Experience or in a similar position
• Excellent working knowledge of MS Office, especially Advanced Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Working knowledge of Accounting principles especially IAS17 & IFRS16
• Financial systems especially SAP
• Analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• Effective communication Verbal and Written
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to challenge the status quo
• Ability to work in uncertainty

Technical / Professional ExpertiseEssential

• Preferably CA (SA) / B.Com graduate, in Accountancy or business related field
• 5+ years relevant financial experience
• Ideally working across multinational environments and stakeholders.
• Extensive IAS17 & IFRS16 knowledge
• Microsoft Office (Excel essential)
• Analytical, Problem Solving Skills
• Effective Communication skills Verbal and written

Desired

• Experience with the SAP RE module
• Preferably HFM knowledge
• Preferably Experience in Telecommunications
• Preferably Experience with Robotics/Automation Skills

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