Africa Region Reconciliations Administration Specialist

This role offers an exciting opportunity within the financial services sector, focusing on ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial data across the Africa region. The successful candidate will be instrumental in maintaining robust reconciliation processes, a critical function for any large financial institution. This position is based in Cape Town and is an integral part of a broader team dedicated to meticulous financial operations.

About the role

The core of this position revolves around the day-to-day execution of reconciliation activities. This involves not only performing the reconciliations but also delving into any discrepancies that arise. You'll be tasked with analysing these "breaks" in the data, understanding their root causes, and actively participating in their resolution. This also means collaborating effectively with various internal teams to ensure a smooth and accurate process for handling exceptions and maintaining a clear audit trail. Your work will directly contribute to the financial health and compliance of the organisation within its African operations.

Your responsibilities will encompass a range of crucial tasks designed to uphold financial accuracy and efficiency:

• **Execute Daily Reconciliations:** Perform routine reconciliation tasks for various financial instruments and accounts.
• **Break Analysis and Resolution:** Investigate and analyse discrepancies or "breaks" identified during the reconciliation process.
• **Exception Handling:** Manage and track exceptions, ensuring they are resolved promptly and accurately.
• **Stakeholder Collaboration:** Liaise with internal departments and potentially external partners to gather necessary information and facilitate the resolution of issues.
• **Audit Trail Maintenance:** Document all reconciliation activities and resolutions meticulously, ensuring compliance with audit trail requirements.
• **Process Improvement:** Contribute to the enhancement of reconciliation processes and systems.
• **Risk Management:** Support the identification and mitigation of operational risks associated with financial data.

What they're looking for

The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in financial operations, coupled with excellent analytical and interpersonal skills. A formal education in Finance or Accounting is expected, along with practical experience in a similar role.

We are seeking an individual with:

• A Matric certificate, Diploma, or First Degree in Finance and Accounting or a related field.
• 1 to 5 years of experience in reconciliations, ideally within a banking or financial operations environment.
• A solid understanding of financial instruments and financial markets.
• Demonstrable experience (3-4 years) in investigating, categorising, and tracking reconciliation breaks and exceptions.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with clients and stakeholders to resolve queries efficiently.
• Experience in documenting reconciliation activities and adhering to compliance and audit trail requirements.
• A sound understanding of the systems, processes, and procedures vital for accurate and effective reconciliations.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, and the ability to perform effectively under pressure and meet deadlines are essential. Excellent communication and organisational skills, along with the ability to manage time effectively, will be key to success in this role.

In South Africa, roles like these within established financial institutions often serve as a pathway to more senior positions in financial control, operations management, or compliance. While specific remuneration varies significantly based on experience and the employing organisation, positions requiring this level of specialised financial knowledge and responsibility typically attract competitive salaries, often ranging from R25,000 to R40,000 per month for an individual with 3-5 years of relevant experience, though this can be higher for more senior or specialised roles. Major banks and financial services groups are the primary employers for such positions.

Matric, Diploma or First Degree
Field of Study: Finance and Accounting

Experience Required

• 1–5 years' experience in reconciliations within a banking operations environment.
• Strong knowledge of financial instruments and financial markets.
• 3–4 years' experience investigating and categorising reconciliation breaks, assigning and tracking exceptions, and escalating issues where appropriate.
• 3–4 years' experience building and maintaining effective relationships with clients and stakeholders to obtain required information and resolve queries efficiently.
• 3–4 years' proven experience documenting break-resolution activities and maintaining compliance with audit trail and exception-handling requirements.
• 3–4 years' relevant reconciliation experience, with a sound understanding of the systems, processes, and procedures required to perform reconciliations effectively and accurately.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational and time-management abilities.