Crystal Okkers
Payroll Accountant
Cape Town
Summary
Results-driven Payroll Accountant with rich experience in payroll processing and auditing. Known for strong problem-solving abilities and teamwork, successfully managing payroll for over 2000 employees while ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple countries.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Payroll Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
09.2024 - Current
- Payroll Processing for 9 entities with over 2000 employees across multiple African Countries
- Review and validate monthly payroll instructions to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Collaboration with HR to resolve employee inquiries regarding payroll discrepancies and benefits.
- Maintaining payroll records, including tax documents and employee data, in compliance with regulations.
- Reviewed timekeeping data for accuracy before processing bi-weekly payroll runs.
- Streamlined payroll procedures, reducing processing time through improved workflow efficiency.
- Supported audits by providing necessary documentation and explaining payroll processes to auditors.
- Ensured accurate and timely payments for 3rd Party Vendors.
- Finalization of month-end closing processes by preparing journal entries related to payroll transactions.
- Perform monthly payroll balance sheet reconciliations for South African and African operations.
Financial Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
03.2020 - 09.2024
- Analyzed and released monthly journals on fleet cost management across distribution centres.
- Administered monthly accounting and journal processing for travel cellphone labor provisioning and foreign exchange charges.
- Managed purchase orders while directing auto-accrual account processes for head office and distribution centres.
- Managed purchase order receipting and monitored accrual balance trends.
- Balanced inter-divisional loan accounts across head office and manufacturing plants.
- Validated weekly employee expense claims ensuring adherence to company policies.
- Facilitated preparation and processing of foreign supplier payments
- Assessed and reconciled foreign exchange gains and losses.
- Administered monthly diners club reconciliations and payments.
- Balanced foreign supplier statements while addressing discrepancies.
- Verified supplier invoices accurately while ensuring timely processing.
- Conducted monthly balance sheet reconciliations.
- Provided financial guidance to IT and marketing departments.
- Facilitated month-end and year-end financial reporting processes
Sales Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
07.2016 - 02.2020
- Executed annual rebate and discount budget calculations
- Conducted analyses and presentations to support rebate budget reviews.
- Reviewed documentation for rebate and discount claims to verify eligibility and correctness.
- Formulated templates for rebate submissions adopted by sales department.
- Evaluated rebate requests in accordance with approved trading terms and agreements.
- Certified accuracy of rebate balance sheet accounts through reconciliation with management systems.
- Analyzed and addressed reconciliation differences and system discrepancies.
- Reviewed journal entries and executed system corrections as necessary.
- Analyzed contracts obtained from team members and verified correctness.
- Administered system updates arising from modifications in customer structure.
- Administered rebate accounting services to Botswana operations.
- Coordinated promotional invoice verification in conjunction with payment processing.
- Assisted sales and finance teams in handling rebate-related reporting and queries.
Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
10.2014 - 06.2016
- Facilitated preparation and reconciliation of general expense accounts throughout business operations.
- Coordinated preparation and reconciliation of general expense accounts to support accurate financial reporting.
- Executed variance analysis between actual and budgeted expenditure
- Administered monthly provisions related to IT costs, bonuses, royalties, and operational accruals.
- Analyzed marketing overhead reports to identify trends and inform budget allocation decisions.
- Prepared departmental and food services reporting packs to provide insights for management review.
- Updated Profit & Loss and Hyperion reporting files.
- Finalized monthly statistics reporting submissions for South Africa
- Maintained Net Sales Value and Volume reporting files.
- Constructed flash reporting templates in conjunction with management reports.
- Directed updates to departmental budgeting templates and processes.
- Disbursed marketing budgets across various brands and products.
- Developed Hyperion budget templates.
- Supported departments in resolving accounting and reporting inquiries.
- Consolidated monthly executive reporting packs for senior leadership
Education
Bachelor of Accountancy - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
Western Cape, South Africa 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Honors in Management Accounting -
University of South Africa
Western Cape, South Africa 04.2001 -
Skills
Payroll processing
Account reconciliation
Payroll system implementation
Payroll auditing
Year-end reporting
Adaptability
Payroll discrepancy resolution
Payroll policy enforcement
Payroll journal entries
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving abilities
General ledger accounting
Timeline
Payroll Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
09.2024 - Current
Financial Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
03.2020 - 09.2024
Sales Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
07.2016 - 02.2020
Accountant
Lactalis South Africa
10.2014 - 06.2016
Bachelor of Accountancy - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Honors in Management Accounting -
University of South Africa
04.2001 -