Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic
Lauren Brownlee

Lauren Brownlee

Chartered Accountant CA(SA)

Summary

Accomplished Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with 19 years of extensive experience in finance, accounting, and taxation, specializing in the management of clients, companies, trusts, and complex structures. Proven track record in delivering precise financial reporting and providing strategic advice at the board level, complemented by exceptional communication and analytical skills that foster strong client relationships. Proficient in leveraging advanced systems such as Xero, CaseWare, and Syspro to optimize processes and enhance operational efficiency. Detail-oriented with a history of collaborating within financial teams to effectively manage diverse financial functions, tax management, and reporting while maintaining a focus on accuracy and supporting dynamic business needs.

Overview

22
22
years of professional experience

Work History

Accountant CA(SA)

Ravensberg Advisory and Consulting (Pty)Ltd
10.2024 - Current
  • Prepare the monthly management accounts for Group entities, Client group structures Including and foreign Individuals, Companies and Trusts
  • Analytical review of profit & loss, balance sheet and Interco loans
  • Drafting Financial Statements in line with accounting standards and manage review audits
  • Audit file preparation for range of clients
  • Cash Flow management
  • Manage all FICA and docfox for all related parties
  • Submission of annual tax returns, provisional tax returns, VAT 201 for all of entities
  • Daily client payments
  • Manage various projects
  • Assist and manage Bookkeeper with high level queries and reconciliations
  • Client relationship Management
  • Manage process of exporting vehicles for two entities
  • Preparation of Valuations
  • Client relationship management
  • Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.
  • Maintained up-to-date knowledge on professional accounting standards to manage financial recordkeeping.
  • Handled day-to-day accounting processes to drive financial accuracy.

Accountant CA(SA) -Contract Position

Cloudworx
09.2023 - 12.2023
  • Running the full accounting function for various clients on XERO, DEAR, Cin7Core and KarbonPay.
  • EMP201 and EMP501 submissions for all clients
  • Submission of annual tax returns, provisional tax returns, VAT 201 for all of clients
  • Client relationship management
  • Working on Xero and finding new ones to automate the processing.
  • Handled day-to-day accounting processes to drive financial accuracy.
  • Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.

Group Financial manager

Cape Point Vineyards
11.2022 - 01.2023
  • Employing junior finance team members and building a new finance team.
  • Overseeing the full financial management function for the group including monthly Management Accounts, Budgets, Cashflow forecasts, Management reports
  • Review Payroll and submissions
  • Submission of annual tax returns, provisional tax returns, VAT 201 for all of entities
  • Drafting Financial Statements and manage review audits
  • Review and release payments
  • Variance analysis on income statement and balance sheet
  • Staff supervision
  • Improving systems and controls
  • Catch up the backlog


Financial and Commercial Manager for Robinson Family Office

Robinson Liquors
09.2020 - 10.2022
  • Prepare the monthly management accounts for all the Trusts, CC's and Companies (over 10 entities)
  • Analytical review of profit & loss, balance sheet and Interco loans
  • Assist with Budgets and forecasts
  • Cash Flow management and projection
  • Manage all company secretarial duties, submission on CIPC annual returns, change of directors, registering new companies and all other company secretarial duties for the group
  • Submission of annual tax returns, provisional tax returns, VAT 201 for all of entities
  • Drafting Financial Statements and manage review audits
  • Review and release payments
  • Manage Insurance claims for the Group
  • Manage various projects
  • Manage the applications for liquor licenses for all 30 stores
  • Taking over the family office from previous outside accountants, putting the accounts on systems, automating processors, dealing with huge date in order to put all the history on the Syspro from previous accountants.
  • Working with KPMG in working on tax efficient ways for the family office, including reviewing and submission of tax
  • Streamlined internal processes by identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to increase efficiency.
  • Managed and analyzed budgets, P&L, balance sheets and sales reports.

Financial Manager

Robinson Liquors
04.2018 - 08.2020
  • Management of 10 staff
  • Review and approve payments (daily)
  • Review and prepare monthly management accounts for 30 entities in the Group
  • Review monthly VAT 201
  • Running audits and dealing with queries and drafting Financial Statements
  • Review and prepare monthly discounts received
  • Performance reviews of staff
  • Financial Analysis
  • Resolving queries from board
  • Automating processes

Financial Manager

Firefly Capital
12.2017 - 02.2018
  • Manage the finance team (four bookkeepers)
  • Running the payroll for two companies
  • Managing and maintaining the entire financial accounting system and all accounting processes for the Group
  • Budgets and forecasts
  • Cash Flow management and projection
  • Scrutinise and manage accounts
  • Review and prepare monthly management accounts for entities in the Group
  • Submission of annual tax returns, provisional tax returns, EMP201, VAT 201 for the Group of entities
  • Running audits and dealing with auditors and drafting Financial Statements
  • Review and release payments
  • Manage property development, costs cash flows and funding
  • Valuations


Regional Tax accountant

Fugro Survey Africa (Pty) Ltd
07.2017 - 11.2017
  • Support and review entity controllers on proper booking of tax entries, including preparation of monthly balance sheet reconciliations
  • Preparation / Review and analysis of tax related disclosures in external financial statements, including preparation of quarterly tax reports for the entities in the Africa region
  • Assist in maintenance and improvement of tax calculation model and supporting instructions
  • Working with the Regional Tax Manager on specific tax related projects in the region
  • Preparation of deferred tax computations and analyses in support of associated internal reporting requirements
  • Review and/or prepare the direct/indirect tax returns for the entities in the Africa region including supervision of external advisors dealing with outsourced tax returns
  • Control of direct/indirect tax compliance process
  • Monitor tax audits and be the contact point for tax related external audits.
  • Preparation of supporting documentation in support of Transfer Pricing reporting requirements in Africa
  • Contribute to further development of the Group tax control framework
  • Continuously looking for improvements regarding the tax accounting and compliance process.
  • Initiate and drive improvement projects, setting up new control / measurement systems to manage overall tax compliance in the Africa region
  • Assist with quarterly close for tax reporting and other tasks when necessary
  • Key Responsibilities
  • Tax Accounting and Reporting:
  • Tax Compliance and Audit Management:


Accountant CA(SA)

ENSAfrica, Cape Town
04.2015 - 06.2017
  • Preparation of financial statements
  • Provisional taxation, IT12 returns, VAT 201
  • Identify risks and implementation of controls and procedures
  • Management of accounting staff
  • Client queries and resolutions
  • Authorising payments, investments and escrow agreements
  • Income Projections
  • Tax
  • Managing investments and properties held in Trusts
  • Catching up backlog from previous accountant
  • Attending client meetings and board meeting


Assistant Manager

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services (previously Close Fund Services)
07.2012 - 03.2015
  • Produce financial statements, management accounts in accordance with IFRS, UK GAAP and other related laws for UK & US Companies
  • Checking and authorising payments (as an A or B signatory)
  • Facilitating meetings between Board members, clients and auditors and regularly reporting
  • Manage; coach and performance manage some junior staff members
  • Review Financial statements performed by other staff members
  • Project manage client audit process
  • Assisting the Administration team with accounting related queries
  • Client queries and resolutions
  • Assisting other members of the team, provide training to new members of staff
  • Take full responsibility for portfolio of clients, ensuring service excellence
  • Provide training in terms of accounting issues to team
  • Error investigation and reporting on financial information (including reconciliations)
  • Project involvement and project management of new clients as required
  • Risk identification and escalation (actively identify and report high risk areas and gaps in processes)
  • Management of people, Motivating and leading a team
  • Conducting performance reviews and objective setting
  • Establishing relationships with new clients and taking responsibility for the team's performance.
  • Ensuring the take on of new funds running smoothing without minimal errors
  • Completed courses in Management and leadership skills, interview skills
  • Received Employee of the month award December 2008 and July 2011


Supervisor: Financial Reporting (Promotion)

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services (UK Based)
07.2010 - 07.2012
  • Produced financial statements, management accounts and other financial related information for 30 – 40 clients
  • Providing close supervision to junior and senior team members
  • Facilitating meetings between Board members, clients and auditors and regularly reporting
  • Reviewed NAV calculations
  • Error Investigation and reporting
  • Risk identification and escalation
  • Project involvement and project management as required


Senior Client Accountant

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services(UK Based)
09.2007 - 06.2010
  • Traveled to Guernsey for training (from the 10th September 2007 to the 31st October 2007)
  • Produced financial statements, management accounts and other financial related information for 30 – 40 clients
  • Reviewed work performed by other staff members and provided constructive feedback and coaching
  • Client queries and resolutions
  • Assisting other members of the team, provide training to new members of staff when required
  • Take full responsibility for portfolio of clients, ensuring service excellence
  • Checking and signing off of valuations
  • Reviewing and signing off new funds fee calculation spreadsheets


Financial Manager, Private Equity (Contract position )

Sanlam Investment Management
01.2007 - 08.2007
  • Financial Accounting for the GensecNSA Fund -includes payments, distributions, processing drafting of financial statements and tax
  • Managing distributions, drawdowns, cash flow management
  • Daily pricing after distributions and drawdowns
  • Monthly valuations on unlisted SPV's
  • Monthly reporting – SPE scorecard, variances, budgeting, estimates monitoring cash, managing assets flows and internal reporting to SPE team
  • Board reporting (EXCO and OPCO)
  • Calculation of Fee income
  • Risk Management
  • Liaison with auditors


Trainee Accountant (Article Contract)

PKF (INC) LTD
01.2004 - 12.2006
  • Agreed upon audit procedures
  • Forensic audit
  • Preparing financial statements: applying SA GAAP, IFRS, IAS, consolidations, passing journals, taxation computation
  • Performing the audits from planning to completion


Education

CA(SA) Registered as a member - Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Management

SAICA
SAICA
01.2008

Part 2 – Board exam - Accounting, Auditing And Tax

SAICA
SAICA
01.2005

Part 1 – Board exams - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

SAICA
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2004

BAccounting Honours - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

University of Stellenbosch
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2003

BAccounting - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

University of Stellenbosch
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2002

Skills

  • Technical Skills
  • Financial systems
  • Financial Management
  • Auditing
  • Client relationship management
  • Qualified Accountant
  • Experienced in Finance, accounting and taxation
  • Time management

References

Craig Robinson (Ultra Liquors) Cell : 083 452 4968

Gareth Price (Cloudworx) 084 569 2428

Dave Garrard (Furgo) 060 564 6236

Lazarus, Naidoo (Kleinwort Benso) 073 434 9848

Timeline

Accountant CA(SA)

Ravensberg Advisory and Consulting (Pty)Ltd
10.2024 - Current

Accountant CA(SA) -Contract Position

Cloudworx
09.2023 - 12.2023

Group Financial manager

Cape Point Vineyards
11.2022 - 01.2023

Financial and Commercial Manager for Robinson Family Office

Robinson Liquors
09.2020 - 10.2022

Financial Manager

Robinson Liquors
04.2018 - 08.2020

Financial Manager

Firefly Capital
12.2017 - 02.2018

Regional Tax accountant

Fugro Survey Africa (Pty) Ltd
07.2017 - 11.2017

Accountant CA(SA)

ENSAfrica, Cape Town
04.2015 - 06.2017

Assistant Manager

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services (previously Close Fund Services)
07.2012 - 03.2015

Supervisor: Financial Reporting (Promotion)

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services (UK Based)
07.2010 - 07.2012

Senior Client Accountant

Kleinwort Benson Fund Services(UK Based)
09.2007 - 06.2010

Financial Manager, Private Equity (Contract position )

Sanlam Investment Management
01.2007 - 08.2007

Trainee Accountant (Article Contract)

PKF (INC) LTD
01.2004 - 12.2006

CA(SA) Registered as a member - Accounting, Auditing, Taxation, Management

SAICA

Part 2 – Board exam - Accounting, Auditing And Tax

SAICA

Part 1 – Board exams - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

SAICA

BAccounting Honours - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

University of Stellenbosch

BAccounting - Accounting, Auditing And Taxation

University of Stellenbosch

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Lauren BrownleeChartered Accountant CA(SA)