Accounting & Assurance Director

Sumer

Director of Professional Services at 123 Consulting, managing and growing a client portfolio and delivering high-quality accounting, financial reporting, and assurance services.

Posted 6/2/2026full-timeJohannesburg • 🇿🇦 South AfricaLeadWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

**Client Relationship & Advisory**
- Act as the primary relationship partner for a portfolio of SME clients across various industries, building trusted advisor relationships.
- Proactively identify client needs, risks, and opportunities, providing practical, value-added advice
- Participate in client meetings, board meetings, and strategic discussions as required
- Support business development initiatives, including proposals, pitches, and onboarding of new clients
**Financial Statement Preparation & Reporting**
- Oversee and review the preparation of annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS for SMEs and other applicable frameworks
- Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting for SME clients
- Provide technical guidance on complex accounting matters
- Review management accounts and provide insights on performance, cash flow, and profitability
**Independent Reviews & Assurance**
- Lead and sign off independent reviews in accordance with ISRE 2400
- Ensure compliance with professional standards, ethical requirements, and regulatory obligations
- Manage review engagements from planning through to completion and reporting
- Liaise with clients to explain review findings and recommendations clearly and professionally
**Leadership & Team Management**
- Lead, mentor, and develop managers, supervisors, and junior professional staff
- Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Review work performed by teams, providing constructive feedback and technical coaching
- Assist with resource planning, workflow management, and capacity optimisation
**Practice Management & Governance**
- Contribute to firm strategy, governance, and decision-making at director/partner level
- Ensure compliance with SAIPA / ACCA / SAICA requirements and firm quality control policies
- Manage risk, including client acceptance, continuance, and ethical considerations
- Monitor engagement profitability, billing, and recoveries

Requirements

What you’ll need

- Strong knowledge of IFRS for SMEs and South African accounting standards
- Proven experience in financial statement preparation and conducting independent reviews (ISRE 2400)
- Sound tax knowledge relevant to SMEs (income tax, VAT, provisional tax)
- Ability to interpret and explain financial information to non-financial stakeholders
**Commercial & Relationship Skills**
- Strong client-facing and relationship management capabilities
- Commercially astute with a deep understanding of SME business environments
- Ability to identify cross-selling and value-added service opportunities
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
**Leadership & Personal Attributes**
- Proven leadership experience within a professional services or accounting firm
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical judgement
- Results-driven with strong organisational and time management skills
- Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively at leadership level
**You’ll be a qualified Professional Accountant or Chartered Accountant with either SAIPA / ACCA / SAICA

Benefits

Comp & perks

At Sumer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment, not just as buzzwords, but as the heartbeat of our team. Our recruitment practices reflect this commitment, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds. We prioritise creating an environment where every candidate feels respected and supported throughout the hiring process.
**Everyone is unique and we understand that each individual may have distinct needs to showcase their best selves during interviews. Our commitment is to offer personalised support for all.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

IFRS for SMEsfinancial statement preparationindependent reviewsISRE 2400tax knowledgeincome taxVATprovisional taxfinancial reportingmanagement accounts

Soft Skills

client-facing skillsrelationship managementcommercial acumencommunication skillsleadershipintegrityprofessionalismorganisational skillstime managementautonomy

Certifications

Professional AccountantChartered AccountantSAIPAACCASAICA