Senior Accountant
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. This role is suited for senior-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
Senior Technical Accountant (CPG / U.S. GAAP)
Work Location:South Africa (Remote)Schedule:Full-Time (~40 hours/week, aligning with U.S. Eastern Time business hours)Employment Type:Independent Contract (Eligible for permanent conversion based on performance)
About the Role
We are seeking a highly skilled, hands-onSenior Technical Accountantto join our team as a subject matter expert and mentor. In this role, you will elevate our overall accounting function by ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, guiding technical accounting treatment, and strengthening internal controls.
This is an ideal role for an ambitious professional who thrives in a high-growth environment, enjoys diving deep into inventory and cost accounting, and takes pride in building scalable processes while developing other accounting team members.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Accounting & Financial Oversight
* Serve as the resident expert on U.S. GAAP, offering clear guidance on accounting treatment, complex transactions, and best practices.
Serve as the resident expert on U.S. GAAP, offering clear guidance on accounting treatment, complex transactions, and best practices.
* Own and lead the month-end close process, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to tight deadlines.
Own and lead the month-end close process, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to tight deadlines.
* Prepare and review complex journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and monthly financial statements.
Prepare and review complex journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and monthly financial statements.
* Manage U.S. sales tax compliance and reporting requirements.
Manage U.S. sales tax compliance and reporting requirements.
Inventory & Cost Accounting
* Manage cost accounting, inventory valuations, variance analysis, and cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) reconciliations specific to our CPG/manufacturing operations.
Manage cost accounting, inventory valuations, variance analysis, and cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) reconciliations specific to our CPG/manufacturing operations.
* Partner with cross-functional teams (Operations, Supply Chain) to maintain accurate inventory records and controls.
Partner with cross-functional teams (Operations, Supply Chain) to maintain accurate inventory records and controls.
Leadership, Coaching & Process Improvement
* Review the work of junior/mid-level accountants, providing constructive feedback, coaching, and mentorship.
Review the work of junior/mid-level accountants, providing constructive feedback, coaching, and mentorship.
* Identify operational bottlenecks, implement robust internal controls, and build scalable, repeatable accounting processes.
Identify operational bottlenecks, implement robust internal controls, and build scalable, repeatable accounting processes.
* Support multi-entity accounting and system enhancements within our ERP framework.
Support multi-entity accounting and system enhancements within our ERP framework.
Required Qualifications & Experience
* Experience:5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with direct experience supporting aU.S.-based company.
Experience:5+ years of progressive accounting experience, with direct experience supporting aU.S.-based company.
* Industry Focus:Background inCPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), Manufacturing, or Cost Accountingis required.
Industry Focus:Background inCPG (Consumer Packaged Goods), Manufacturing, or Cost Accountingis required.
* Technical Expertise:Advanced understanding ofU.S. GAAP, inventory accounting, and U.S. sales tax.
Technical Expertise:Advanced understanding ofU.S. GAAP, inventory accounting, and U.S. sales tax.
* Month-End Leadership:Proven track record of owning/leading month-end closes and performing high-level balance sheet reconciliations.
Month-End Leadership:Proven track record of owning/leading month-end closes and performing high-level balance sheet reconciliations.
* Review & Mentorship:Strong experience reviewing financial statements and coaching accounting personnel.
Review & Mentorship:Strong experience reviewing financial statements and coaching accounting personnel.
* Systems & Excel:Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (vlookups, index/match, pivot tables, complex modeling) and hands-on experience with modern ERP/accounting systems.
Systems & Excel:Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (vlookups, index/match, pivot tables, complex modeling) and hands-on experience with modern ERP/accounting systems.
* Communication:Exceptional written and verbal English skills, with the ability to communicate technical accounting concepts clearly to non-finance partners.
Communication:Exceptional written and verbal English skills, with the ability to communicate technical accounting concepts clearly to non-finance partners.
Preferred Qualifications
* Certifications:CPA, CA (Chartered Accountant / SAICA), CIMA, or CGMA designation preferred.
Certifications:CPA, CA (Chartered Accountant / SAICA), CIMA, or CGMA designation preferred
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
Even without a listed salary, international remote roles typically pay 2-3x more than equivalent local positions in South Africa due to the exchange rate advantage.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 748 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →