Product Control Specialist, GM, AR

This role offers an exciting opportunity for a skilled financial professional to join a leading African financial services group and play a critical part in the control and reporting of Global Markets (GM) activities across Africa Regions. The position is based in Johannesburg and focuses on ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial data for a dynamic business unit.

About the Role

The core of this position revolves around the meticulous management of financial controls for the Global Markets division, specifically within the Africa Regions. You will be responsible for both daily and monthly oversight of the Balance Sheet and Income Statement, ensuring that all financial reporting is robust, standardised, and accurately reflects the business's performance. This involves a deep dive into the valuation and risk management principles that underpin the Global Markets operations.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Country CIB Finance Head, providing a clear line of accountability within the local finance structure. Additionally, there will be a dotted reporting line to the GM Africa Regions Product Control Team, fostering collaboration and alignment with broader regional strategies. This dual reporting structure ensures comprehensive support and oversight.

Your responsibilities will encompass a wide range of critical financial control functions. You will be instrumental in:

• **Daily and Monthly Controls:** Managing and executing daily and monthly controls over the Balance Sheet and Income Statement for the Global Markets business. This is the bedrock of the role, ensuring that financial figures are accurate and reliable.
• **Standardisation and Governance:** Ensuring that control processes are standardised, governed effectively, and consistently applied across the region. This includes actively reviewing and managing these processes to maintain high standards.
• **Revenue Reporting and Attribution:** Overseeing the accurate reporting and attribution of Global Markets revenues. This requires a strong understanding of how revenues are generated and how they should be accounted for.
• **Balance Sheet Substantiation:** Driving the substantiation of balance sheet accounts, ensuring that all balances are supported by underlying transactions and documentation.
• **Month-End Reporting Support:** Providing crucial support during the month-end closing process, contributing to the timely and accurate production of financial statements.
• **Valuation and Risk Mechanics:** Developing and maintaining an in-depth understanding of the valuation and risk management mechanics pertinent to the Global Markets business. This knowledge is vital for effective control and analysis.
• **Stakeholder Engagement:** Collaborating closely with various stakeholders, including Finance, Risk, Front Office, and Operations teams, to ensure seamless financial reporting and robust control environments.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, you will need a solid foundation in finance and accounting, coupled with practical experience in product control or related fields. Key requirements include:

• A postgraduate degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, or Accounting. A Chartered Accountant (SA) qualification is highly preferred.
• Between three and seven years of relevant experience, ideally gained in product control, auditing, or investment banking.
• Specific experience of 3-4 years in Product Control, Auditing, or Credit Derivatives is highly desirable.
• A strong grasp of information flows between front-office trading systems and the general ledger.
• Sound knowledge of banking principles, with a preference for candidates who have experience in Investment Banking.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, coupled with the ability to manage relationships with various stakeholders effectively.
• Proficiency in financial accounting, financial analysis, financial and accounting control, reconciling financial records, and statistical/mathematical analysis.
• Strong behavioural competencies such as the ability to articulate information clearly, challenge ideas constructively, pay close attention to detail, persuade others, embrace change, analyse information effectively, interpret data accurately, manage tasks efficiently, provide insightful feedback, pursue goals with determination, and work collaboratively as part of a team.

In South Africa, roles like this typically offer competitive remuneration packages, reflecting the specialized skills and responsibilities involved. Common employers for such positions include major banking groups, investment firms, and financial services companies. Career progression often leads to more senior product control roles, finance management positions, or specialised finance advisory functions within the financial sector.

• Post-graduate degree in Business, Commerce, Finance, or Accounting (CA (SA) preferred).
• 3 to 7 years of experience in product control, auditing, or investment banking.

Experience Required

• Manage daily and monthly Balance Sheet and Income Statement controls for the Global Markets (GM) business.
• Ensure standardisation, governance, review, and control processes are consistently applied and effectively managed.
• Oversee the reporting and attribution of GM revenues, balance sheet substantiation, and month-end reporting activities.
• Develop and apply a strong understanding of the valuation and risk management mechanics within the Global Markets environment.
• Partner with stakeholders across Finance, Risk, Front Office, and Operations to ensure accurate financial reporting and control.
• Operate within the country finance structure, with a direct reporting line to the Country CIB Finance Head and a dotted reporting line to the GM Africa Regions Product Control Team.
• 3-4 years' experience in Product Control, Auditing, or Credit Derivatives.
• Strong understanding of information flows between front-office systems and the general ledger.
• Sound banking knowledge, with preference given to candidates who have exposure to Investment Banking 
• Strong analytical,  problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Articulating Information
• Challenging Ideas
• Checking Things
• Convincing People
• Embracing Change
• Examining Information
• Interpreting Data
• Managing Tasks
• Providing Insights
• Pursuing Goals
• Team Working
• Thinking Positively

Technical Competencies:

• Financial Accounting
• Financial Analysis
• Financial and Accounting Control
• Reconciling Financial Records
• Statistical & Mathematical Analysis