Graduate Accountant

Location: Cape Town, South Africa Houst is an international property management company operating across more than 20 cities. We work with property owners and accommodation partners to manage short-term rentals, combining technology, operational expertise and financial management to deliver a better experience for our clients. We are looking for a Graduate Accountant to join our Finance team in Cape Town. This is an opportunity for an accounting or finance graduate to develop their practical accounting skills in an international business, working across multiple entities, currencies and financial processes. You will support the day-to-day financial operations of the business, helping to maintain accurate records, complete reconciliations, process payments and support the month-end reporting cycle. You will also work closely with our Operations team to investigate discrepancies, resolve payment queries and ensure financial transactions are recorded correctly. Important qualification requirement: Applicants must hold a completed Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a closely related field. Diplomas, certificates, higher certificates and incomplete degrees will not meet the minimum academic requirement and will not be considered. Workplace: Hybrid, with 2–3 days per week in our Cape Town office. Candidates must currently be based in Cape Town and be available for on-site interviews. Working hours: 09:00–18:00 UK time. For candidates in South Africa, this is 10:00–19:00 (late March to late October) and 11:00–20:00 (late October to late March). What you'll be doing: Accounting and financial administration Assist with maintaining accurate accounting records across multiple group entities using Xero. Record financial transactions, process journals and assist with accruals and adjustments. Complete regular bank, balance sheet and intercompany reconciliations, investigating and resolving discrepancies. Maintain accurate financial records, ensuring transactions are allocated to the correct accounts and entities. Assist with maintaining the chart of accounts, supplier records, customer accounts and clearing accounts. Accounts payable and receivable Review supplier invoices, check supporting documentation and verify that the appropriate approvals are in place. Assist with preparing supplier payment runs, ensuring payments are accurate and processed within agreed timelines. Raise customer invoices, monitor outstanding balances and follow up on overdue payments. Investigate billing and payment queries, working with internal teams to resolve outstanding issues. Assist with monitoring incoming and outgoing payments across different currencies. Month-end and financial reporting Support the monthly financial close process, ensuring transactions and reconciliations are completed accurately and on time. Prepare supporting schedules and documentation for management accounts. Assist with reviewing financial information and identifying unusual transactions or discrepancies. Maintain organised financial records to support reporting, audits and internal reviews. Working with Operations Work closely with the Operations team to resolve billing, payment and transaction-related queries. Investigate discrepancies between operational records and financial transactions. Help ensure automated transactions are correctly reflected in the accounting system. Communicate financial queries clearly and follow issues through to resolution. Process improvement and controls Follow established financial procedures and internal controls when processing transactions and payments. Identify recurring errors, discrepancies or manual tasks that could be improved. Assist with documenting financial procedures and maintaining accurate process records. Look for opportunities to improve the accuracy and efficiency of everyday finance activities. Requirements Essential requirements A completed Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a closely related discipline. A good understanding of fundamental accounting principles, including double-entry bookkeeping, debits and credits, and financial reconciliations. Strong numerical ability and confidence working with financial information. Good Excel skills, including formulas, lookups and the ability to work with spreadsheets. Clear written and verbal communication skills. Desirable experience Previous internship, graduate placement or work experience in an accounting or finance environment. Exposure to accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks or Pastel. Familiarity with bank reconciliations, accounts payable, accounts receivable or month-end processes. Understanding of basic financial reporting and accounting standards. Exposure to multi-currency transactions or working with international businesses. Experience using Excel pivot tables, VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP. Benefits Salary of R18,000–R20,000 per month, depending on experience. 23 days of annual leave, plus public holidays. An additional day off for your birthday. Hybrid working arrangement, with 2–3 days in the Cape Town office. Opportunities to develop your accounting and financial skills within an international business. Exposure to multiple entities, currencies and financial processes. BetterHelp coverage for mental health support. Laptop for business use.