Junior Accountant

About the role

Houst is hiring a Junior Accountant in Cape Town to support day-to-day accounting and the operational side of finance. You will keep the books accurate up to trial balance across several group entities and work closely with the Operations team so clients pay on time, suppliers are paid correctly and automated transactions post correctly. The role reports to the Finance Manager and is hybrid, 2-3 days a week, with on-site interviews at the Cape Town office. Only candidates currently based in Cape Town will be considered.

Key responsibilities

• Run the full accounting cycle up to trial balance for several group entities in Xero.
• Prepare monthly bank, balance sheet and intercompany reconciliations, and post journals and accruals.
• Support the month-end close so management accounts are accurate and on time.
• Identify and implement process automation to improve accounts payable efficiency, and develop and maintain financial controls.
• Keep Xero tidy: chart of accounts, contacts, tracking categories and clearing accounts.
• Act as the main finance contact for Operations, resolving billing, payment and data questions.
• Issue invoices, track aged debtors, chase overdue balances and report on collections.
• Check supplier invoices against approvals, prepare payment runs and make sure payments go out on time, to the right party and in the right currency.
• Document manual processes and suggest automation, and provide financial support and insights to internal stakeholders.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or a directly related field; diplomas or certificates without a degree will not be considered.
• Proven finance/accounting experience, typically 2+ years.
• Experience with invoice processing, payment runs and bank reconciliations.
• Experience supporting month-end close and preparing financial reports.
• Background in financial controls and compliance frameworks, and exposure to multi-currency environments and international payments.
• Attention to detail and curiosity about why transactions go wrong.

Required skills

• Strong understanding of accounting principles and standards (e.g. IFRS or GAAP).
• Proficiency in accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks or Pastel.
• Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, reconciliations).
• Ability to identify and implement process improvements, especially automation.

What we offer

• Salary of R18,000-R20,000 per month depending on experience.
• 23 days of paid holiday plus public holidays, and an extra day off on your birthday.
• Hybrid working model.
• Mental health support coverage and a laptop for business use.