UNDERSTAND THE APPOINTMENT

Match the appointment to the work inside your finance function.

An accounting title does not fully describe the role. One accountant may prepare reconciliations and reporting schedules; another may review work, manage several entities or provide analysis to operational leaders. Set out the responsibilities the new person will own, the reporting cycle and the level of independence expected. Describe where the role sits between transaction processing, reporting and financial management.

The business context matters alongside qualifications. Explain the accounting platform, the number and complexity of entities, the stock or project environment where relevant and the support available from colleagues. For a South African team with regional or international reporting, clarify deadlines and working relationships. Candidates should understand both the technical work and the coordination needed to deliver it.

Which profile does your team need?

The job title should reflect the responsibilities, seniority and contribution you expect. These are some of the appointments we can discuss within this area.

Financial accountants
Management accountants
Project accountants
Group accountants
Assistant accountants
Financial controllers

Three decisions that sharpen the brief.

Separate preparation from review

List the accounts, reports and reconciliations the person will prepare, review or approve. Explain the oversight available and how exceptions are escalated. Clear responsibility helps distinguish an assistant accountant, independent accountant and controller-level brief.

Describe the operating complexity

Include relevant entities, systems, transaction flows and reporting relationships. Where inventory, projects or group reporting are important, explain why. Candidates can then connect their experience to your environment without relying on an identical previous job title.

Plan the reporting handover

Set out key deadlines, recurring tasks and the records available to the new hire. For temporary cover, prioritise the responsibilities that must continue without interruption. Make time for introductions and system access when considering a start date.

A MORE RELEVANT SHORTLIST

What matters in the search.

Accounting responsibilities

Explore reporting, reconciliations, month-end and the areas the person has owned in previous roles.

Systems and business context

Consider your finance platform, business model and level of reporting complexity.

Qualifications and review

Agree relevant qualification and reference checks, alongside the practical evidence discussed in interviews.

MAKE THE CONVERSATION COUNT

Use the reporting cycle to explore practical experience.

Ask a candidate to explain a month-end process they owned, including reconciliations, review points and how unresolved items were handled. Explore the checks they performed and how they communicated an issue that affected reporting. Distinguish preparing a schedule from reviewing or approving it so the evidence matches the level of the vacancy.

A short fictional exercise can support discussion of accuracy, investigation and explanation. Use information that does not reveal confidential financial data. For more senior roles, explore how the candidate prioritised the team’s work, improved a process or explained financial information to non-finance colleagues. Agree qualification and reference checks separately from the interview assessment.

Ready to talk through the role?

Share your priorities, working arrangements and timing. We can discuss the brief and the recruitment approach with you.

Discuss your hiring needs

Bring us a clear starting point.

You don’t need a perfect job description. These details help us start the conversation.

Financial or management accounting responsibilities
Accounting systems and reporting requirements
Essential qualifications and level of independence
Team structure, location and remuneration range

Tell us about your role

Your hiring questions, answered.

Can we specify a professional qualification?

Yes. Explain the qualification required and the responsibility it supports. Verification requirements are agreed as part of the recruitment brief.

Can you help with temporary finance cover?

We can discuss cover for a defined period, project or operational need alongside permanent recruitment.

Do you also recruit finance managers?

Finance management sits within our accounting and finance specialism. Share the scope, leadership responsibilities and experience you require.

Should systems experience be essential?

Explain which parts of your finance system the role will use and whether training is available. Prior experience can matter when the person must work independently from the start, but familiarity with a product alone does not demonstrate sound accounting judgement. Consider systems knowledge alongside the responsibilities and support available.

How do we distinguish financial and management accounting needs?

Describe the outputs and their audience. Financial accounting may focus on records, reconciliations and reporting, while management accounting may emphasise planning, costs and decision support. The roles can overlap. A clear list of responsibilities helps establish which balance of experience your team needs.

Recruitment across South Africa.

Epitome is based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. Tell us where your team works and whether the role is office-based, hybrid or remote so we can align the search with your requirements. Include regular site attendance, travel or collaboration hours when these affect the appointment.

We can discuss the role as an ongoing appointment or a defined assignment. Explore the permanent recruitment and contract and temporary staffing approaches, then agree the scope and terms before proceeding.

Explore accounting & finance

MAKE A MORE INFORMED HIRE

Go deeper into the role.

Hiring an accountant: match the role to your finance operationClarify reporting, controls and transaction responsibilities before assessing accounting candidates.

Recruit accounting talent for your business.