Senior Accountant - South Africa based

WELCOME!

We are looking for a highly organised, analytical, and commercially minded Senior Accountant to join our growing distribution business.

The ideal candidate has strong experience managing accounting operations in a fast-moving business and is comfortable taking ownership of financial accuracy, reporting, reconciliations, cash flow visibility, and day-to-day accounting processes. This role requires excellent attention to detail, sound commercial judgement, strong communication, and the ability to work independently in a remote environment.

Who We Are

We are a US-based national distribution business supplying compliant hemp products and vaporisation hardware to independent retailers across the United States — smoke shops, specialty CBD stores, and convenience channels — with licensed partners internationally. The company operates a lean, modern business model involving US-based manufacturing partners, overseas suppliers, third-party logistics providers, and a small senior team that uses technology and AI aggressively to operate efficiently. This is a full-time, remote position based in South Africa, employed through an employer-of-record arrangement, working closely with the US leadership team.

Overview

We are seeking a sharp, detail-oriented Senior Accountant to manage accounting operations for our US-based distribution footprint. Reporting directly to our incoming fractional CFO, you will play a key operational role in managing distribution accounting practices, intercompany transactions, tax compliance, and financial reporting across our portfolio of consumer brands. You do not need to be a traditional ERP rigid processor; we leverage our proprietary AI platform, to interface with our core backend systems. We are looking for an agile financial professional who understands complex distribution business models and thrives in a tech-forward, high-growth environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Distribution Accounting: Oversee US distribution accounting practices, ensuring adherence to GAAP standards across inventory, sales, royalties, and revenue recognition.

• Financial Operations & Reporting: Handle intercompany transactions, taxation reporting, compliance programs, and monthly closes in direct coordination with executive leadership.

• CFO Support & Operational Alignment: Serve as the core accounting partner to executive financial leadership, supporting strategic operational fixes, audits, and financial framework updates.

• AI & Systems Utilization: Utilize an internal AI platform to manage day-to-day financial workflows, data mapping, and reporting without needing to work directly inside legacy backend ERP interfaces.

• Cross-Entity Oversight: Manage clean ledger separation and accurate tracking of service costs across multiple business entities.

Requirements

• Based in South Africa.

• 5+ years of relevant accounting experience, ideally within a distribution, consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, retail, or international business.

• Professional accounting qualification or progress towards a recognised qualification is preferred.

• Strong understanding of bookkeeping, general ledger accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, reconciliations, and month-end close.

• Experience preparing management accounts and financial reports for senior stakeholders.

• Comfortable working with foreign currency transactions and international suppliers or customers.

• Strong spreadsheet skills, including the ability to analyse data, build models, and identify discrepancies.

• Experience with accounting software, ERP systems, payment platforms, and cloud-based business tools.

• Excellent attention to detail, numerical accuracy, organisation, and follow-through.

• Strong written and spoken business English.

• Comfortable working independently in a remote environment and communicating with a US-based leadership team.

• High level of integrity, discretion, accountability, and ownership.

Bonus Points

• Experience working for a US-based company or supporting US financial operations.

• Experience in wholesale distribution, inventory accounting, CPG, e-commerce, or retail.

• Knowledge of landed costs, import and export transactions, freight costs, or third-party logistics accounting.

• Experience with multi-entity or multi-currency accounting.

• Experience supporting audits, tax filings, and external financial advisers.

• Advanced Excel or Google Sheets skills, including lookups, pivot tables, data validation, and reporting automation.

• Demonstrated use of AI tools or automation to improve accounting workflows and reporting.

Details

• Fully Remote | Based in South Africa

• Salary: $4600-$4900 monthly, based on experience

• Schedule: US East Coast business hours

Benefits of Joining Our Team

• Meaningful responsibility and the opportunity to take ownership of a core business function.

• Direct exposure to international distribution, manufacturing, supply chain, fulfilment, and retail operations.

• Opportunity to improve and modernise accounting processes in a growing business.

• Collaborative and supportive working environment.

• Professional growth and career development opportunities.

• Exposure to modern accounting technology, AI tools, and automation.

• Opportunity to provide financial insight that directly influences business decisions.