Experienced senior financial controller and bookkeeper with 28 years of professional experience. Skilled in invoice preparation, month-end closing, payment verification, and account reconciliation. Proficient in all aspects of bookkeeping and accounting. Strong leadership abilities in team coaching and leading for accuracy and productivity.
Hi, I’m
Petra Swart
Heathfield,WC
Summary
Overview
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Bounty Foods & Care
FINANCE CONSULTANT
04.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Processing of debtor’s invoices
- Processing of recoveries from principals.
- Processing of creditors invoices, creditors reconciliations, expense reimbursements and processing of payments
- Uploading of new creditors and suppliers’ details and verification of creditors details
- Processing of bank transactions and reconciliations of bank accounts (incl fleet)
- Petty cash disbursements and recons.
- Processing of journals (including stock adjustments)
- Perform administration duties relating to bank and cash management
- VAT reconciliations, submissions to SARS and liaising with SARS on audits, payments and refunds relating thereto
- Ensuring accurate record keeping
- Preparation of weekly and monthly cash flow forecasts and variances against actuals
- Loading payments on the electronic banking system and ensuring all payments are processed and distribute proof of payments where necessary
- Preparation of monthly ledger reconciliations
- Maintaining the fixed asset register and processing depreciation, additions, and disposals
- Preparation of various monthly general ledger reconciliations
- Attending to and performing any additional ad-hoc functions as required.
Top Promotions
PROMOTER
01.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Promoted Woolworths products and Farmhill Cream Cheese, effectively increasing brand awareness and sales.
- Engaged with customers to highlight product quality, benefits, and unique selling points.
- Provided sampling opportunities to drive customer interest and boost purchases.
- Maintained attractive product displays, ensuring proper stock levels and brand representation.
- Delivered exceptional customer service, answering queries and guiding customers in their buying decisions.
- Recorded daily sales performance and customer feedback, reporting valuable insights to management.
- Ensured compliance with Woolworths’ in-store promotional policies and food safety standards.
Africa Cleaning Supplies
FINANCIAL MANAGER
07.2023 - 04.2024
Job overview
- Recording day-to-day financial transactions, receipts, and payments.
- Performing bank reconciliations
- Preparing daily Cash flow reports
- Capturing import invoices
- Capturing import payments
- Paying accounts on behalf of the organization (accounts payable).
- Processing payments on FNB and Investec Bank
- Capturing depreciation journals and keeping asset register up to date
- Posting journal entries to ledger accounts.
- Managing and processing the payroll for 300 staff members, including overtime, advances, fine deductions, and staff accounts. And tax returns.
- Capturing Petty Cash journals
- Overseeing Creditors Clerk
- Attending to and performing any additional ad-hoc functions as required.
CaffeLuxe (Sterling Holdings)
FINANCE CONTROLLER (TEMPORARY POSITION)
02.2023 - 02.2023
Job overview
- Recording day-to-day financial transactions, receipts, and payments. (South African and UK).
- Performing bank reconciliations (South African and Barclays banking in the UK).
- Preparing 6 daily reports for the Owner: Daily Sales Report consisting of Shopify Sales, Takealot Sales, Showroom sales, Online Sales, etc.
- FNB Monthly Expenses.
- Online Sales Tracker.
- Takealot Sales Tracker.
- Takealot Advert Tracker.
- Production Deadline (Excel format, VLOOKUP’s).
- Forecasting funds and receivables every Friday, in MS Excel format.
- Responsible for Revenue Reporting and Inventory Reporting in European Warehouse’s, Costing of landed goods in Pounds or Euros.
- Issuing invoices for money that is owed to the organization (accounts receivable).
- Paying accounts on behalf of the organization (accounts payable).
- Processing payments on Barclays banking in Pounds, Euros, and Dollars.
- Attending to and performing any additional ad-hoc functions as required.
South African Broadband Education Networks NPO
FINANCE CONTROLLER
09.2018 - 12.2022
Job overview
- Recording day-to-day financial transactions, receipts and payments.
- Completing audit reports at the end of the year.
- Completing AFRS for Auditors to check and complete the audit.
- Directly overseeing my PA who assists me creditors and filing.
- Filing source documents for all journal entries recorded.
- Posting journal entries to ledger accounts.
- Preparing trial balances.
- Performing bank reconciliations.
- Preparing cash flow statements and financial reports.
- Issuing invoices for money that is owed to the organization (accounts receivable)
- Paying accounts on behalf of the organization (accounts payable).
- Performing payroll administration duties and tax returns.
- Reporting directly to the Board of Directors.
- Financial info for project, payments of Creditors, Audit reporting, meeting with NSF every quarter.
- Attending to and performing any additional ad-hoc functions as required.
Ampersand Management
ADMIN MANAGER AND SENIOR BOOKKEEPER
05.2001 - 03.2018
Job overview
- Admin Manager: Managing 4 staff members – Debtor’s Clerk, Creditors Clerk, Customer Service Clerk and Admin Clerk
- Managing and processing the payroll for 88 staff members, including overtime, advances, fine deductions, and staff accounts.
- Planning and coordinating administrative procedures and systems and devise ways to streamline processes.
- Assessing the performance of staff members and providing coaching and guidance to ensure maximum efficiency.
- Ensuring the smooth and adequate flow of information.
- Monitoring costs and expenses to assist in budget preparation.
- Organizing and supervising other office activities.
- Ensuring adherence to policies and regulations.
- Identifying cost savings and opportunities for process improvements within the company.
- Senior Bookkeeper: Capturing all receipts, payments, and other financial transactions.
- Filing source documents for all journal entries recorded.
- Posting journal entries to ledger accounts.
- Preparing trial balances and performing bank reconciliations.
- Preparing financial reports.
- Depositing money received by the organisation.
- Issuing invoices for money that is owed to the organisation.
- Paying accounts on behalf of the organisation.
- Payroll administration and filling tax returns.
- Reviewing creditors recons prepared by the Creditors Clerk.
- Bad Debt collection and processing on Pastel Evolution.
Pryce-Fitchen Restaurants
BOOKKEEPER / PA / SECRETARY
09.1998 - 04.2001
Job overview
- Bookkeeper: Recording day to day financial transactions and completing the posting process.
- Verifying that transactions are recorded in the correct ledger.
- Entering data, maintaining records, and creating reports.
- Processing accounts receivable and payable.
- Capturing supplier invoices and reconciling to statement.
- Processing month-end cheques to suppliers.
- Submission of VAT and PAYE.
- Managing the petty cash.
- Personal Assistant / Secretary: Reporting to senior management and performing secretarial and administrative duties.
- Entering data, maintaining databases, and keeping records.
- Managing internal and external correspondence on behalf of senior management.
- Scheduling appointments and organizing functions.
- Copying, scanning, and faxing documents, as well as taking notes.
- Observing best business practices and etiquette.
- Typing and taking dictation.
Ideal Fasteners Co
PA/SECRETARY
09.1996 - 09.1998
Job overview
Tedelex
RECEPTIONIST / INVOICING CLERK
02.1994 - 07.1996
Job overview
Sun Film / Sun Service
PA / OFFICE MANAGER
10.1992 - 04.1993
Job overview
Education
Damelin Management SchoolGardens, CT
Full Bookkeeping Diploma
01.1998
University Overview
South African College of BusinessCape Town, South Africa
No Degree from Financial Management, Financial Statement, Leadership, Payroll
07-2024
University Overview
J G Meiring High School
Matric Certificate
01.1984
University Overview
Skills
- Financial oversight
- Budget management
- Financial budgeting skills
- International payment processing
- Bookkeeping expertise
- Financial reporting accuracy
- Financial reporting
- Detailed account review
- Team support
- Guiding professional development
- Workflow optimization
- Requirements analysis
- Cost management skills
- Administrative support and management
- Payroll processing expertise
- Financial reconciliation skills
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Analyzing variances
- Preparation of financial statements
- Payment reconciliation
- Accounts receivable management
- Financial management
- Comprehensive financial reporting skills
- Organizational strategy
- Client and vendor communication
- Leadership support coordination
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Proficient in MS Office Suite
- Experience with Sage Evolution
- Pastel software proficiency
- Expertise in handling VIP payroll systems
- Experience with SAP systems
- Experience with Kerridge systems
- Proficient in Smartedge
- Xero proficiency
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Payroll management
Additional Information
Additional Information
Additional information required and references will be provided upon request.Professional Attributes
Professional Attributes
- Advanced understanding of bookkeeping and accounting payable/receivable principles.
- Proven ability to calculate, post and manage accounting figures and financial records.
- Data entry skills along with a knack for numbers.
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills.
- High ethical standards.
- Strong leadership qualities.
- Sound knowledge of accounting fundamentals.
- Compliance oriented.
- Proficiency in accounting software.
- Analytical skills.
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Title: SENIOR BOOKKEEPER / FINANCIAL CONTROLLER / FINANCIAL MANAGERLanguages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Afrikaans
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Interests
- Reading
- Walking
- Listening to music
- Watching Rugby
- Puzzles and Crosswords
Certification
- Diploma - Damelin Cape Town - 1998
- Certificate Financial Statements - South Africa College of Business - 2022 - 2024
- Certificate in Leadership - South Africa College of Business - 2022 - 2024
- Certificate in Payroll Practices - South Africa College of Business - 2022 - 2024
- Certificate in Financial Management - South Africa College of Business - 2022 - 2024
Availability
See my work availability
Not Available
Available
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
FINANCE CONSULTANT
Bounty Foods & Care
04.2025 - Current
PROMOTER
Top Promotions
01.2025 - Current
FINANCIAL MANAGER
Africa Cleaning Supplies
07.2023 - 04.2024
FINANCE CONTROLLER (TEMPORARY POSITION)
CaffeLuxe (Sterling Holdings)
02.2023 - 02.2023
FINANCE CONTROLLER
South African Broadband Education Networks NPO
09.2018 - 12.2022
ADMIN MANAGER AND SENIOR BOOKKEEPER
Ampersand Management
05.2001 - 03.2018
BOOKKEEPER / PA / SECRETARY
Pryce-Fitchen Restaurants
09.1998 - 04.2001
PA/SECRETARY
Ideal Fasteners Co
09.1996 - 09.1998
RECEPTIONIST / INVOICING CLERK
Tedelex
02.1994 - 07.1996
PA / OFFICE MANAGER
Sun Film / Sun Service
10.1992 - 04.1993
J G Meiring High School
Matric Certificate
Damelin Management School
Full Bookkeeping Diploma
South African College of Business
No Degree from Financial Management, Financial Statement, Leadership, Payroll
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