Company: Leading South African Property Management Group
Industry: Real Estate, Property Management & Financial Services
Location: Bryanston, Sandton, Gauteng (Hybrid: Office days at The Campus, Bryanston + Remote work)
Opportunity Type: CIMA Graduate Internship / Financial Controller Trainee
Position Type: Full-Time Contract / Internship
Salary: R15,000 – R18,000 Gross per Month
Benefits: Pension Fund Contribution Included
Work Eligibility: South African Citizens Only
Posted Date: 27 July 2026
Closing Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
About the Opportunity & The Financial Control Team
Our client is an established property management group overseeing residential, commercial, and multi-unit developments. Operating from their corporate offices at The Campus in Bryanston, the Property Management Financial Control Support Team manages complex monthly billing, levy administration, utility allocations, and financial reporting across diverse property portfolios.
As a Financial Controller – CIMA Intern, you will work under the direct supervision of the FC Support Manager. This role provides intensive practical exposure to management accounting, corporate budgeting, financial reconciliations, and property operations—offering a solid stepping stone for CIMA-track finance professionals.
Key Responsibilities & Daily Workflow
In this role, your core performance obligations will span five key operational pillars:
1. Monthly Levy Statement Run & Debtors Control
- Billing & Processing: Load and update standard, recurring, and special levy batches across property portfolios.
- Utility Allocation: Capture and reconcile monthly electricity, water, and gas meter readings, applying manual calculations where needed.
- Cashbook & Debtors Management: Process debtor account receipts, manage non-H2H cashbooks, request ABSA investment account statements, and handle pro-rata occupational charges.
- Debit Orders & Interest: Process debit order batches alongside Finance, record bank charges/interest, and charge interest on overdue accounts (unless authorized by Portfolio Specialists).
- Reconciliations: Perform detailed reconciliations for current accounts, suspense accounts, and control accounts.
2. Monthly Financial Reporting Process
- Document Management: Scan, link, and archive supplier invoices and financial vouchers.
- Report Generation: Extract monthly financial reports from the ERP system according to priority rankings.
- Accuracy Verification: Audit calculations, accruals, and ledger entries for completeness before submitting to Portfolio Specialists.
3. New Developments & Take-Ons
- Phase Handovers: Coordinate welcome packs, handovers, and developer billings for new building take-ons.
- Developer Reconciliations: Assist with developer account recons, management fee calculations, and unit registrations.
4. Property Budgeting & Maintenance Reserves
- Budget Maintenance: Update administrative budgets and 10-year long-term maintenance budgets within the system (Propall adjustments).
5. Audit Support & General Reconciliations
- Audit Resolution: Assist cells with system/process queries on trial balances, cashbooks, and audit requests.
- Special Reconciliations: Reconcile legal files, insurance claims, and creditor invoice loads.
Candidate Profile & Minimum Entry Requirements
To qualify for this opportunity, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Qualification: A completed CIMA-aligned financial qualification (e.g., BCom Accounting, BCom Management Accounting, Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting, or equivalent CIMA accredited qualification).
- Citizenship: Must be a South African Citizen.
- Experience Level: Entry-level graduate / intern. Previous bookkeeping experience—specifically in property management, body corporates, or HOA environments—will be advantageous.
- Language Skills: Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- Remote Work Setup: Must have a reliable backup power solution (UPS/Inverter) and stable fiber internet for non-office remote work days.
Essential Knowledge & Technical Skills
- Accounting Principles: Solid understanding of bookkeeping practices, general ledgers, trial balances, and debit/credit logic.
- Numerical Capability: Ability to carry out complex property allocations, pro-rata calculations, and ledger reconciliations.
- Software Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically intermediate to advanced MS Excel). Knowledge of property accounting software (e.g., PropSys, MDA Property Manager, or Propall) is beneficial.
- Attributes: High attention to detail, deadline-driven, strong stress management, and a “completer/finisher” mindset.
Career Advice for CIMA Applicants
- Highlight Property/ERP Exposure: If you have worked with property management systems or managed body corporate/HOA accounts during your studies or past roles, highlight this prominently on your CV.
- Detail Your Excel Abilities: Statement runs and budget tracking depend on strong spreadsheet skills. Explicitly list your Excel capabilities (e.g., VLOOKUPs, SUMIFS, Pivot Tables, Reconciliation Worksheets).
- Emphasize Hybrid Readiness: Confirm in your application or cover note that you have a functioning home office setup (internet + backup power) to support the hybrid work schedule smoothly.
Sample Interview Preparation Questions
Technical & Property Finance Questions
- Question (Reconciliations): “How do you approach reconciling a suspense account or clearing unreconciled entries on a month-end debtor control statement?”
- Question (Pro-Rata Calculations): “How would you calculate pro-rata levies for a tenant or owner moving in midway through a billing cycle?”
Behavioral & Operations Questions
- Question (Deadline Management): “During a month-end statement run, you face tight deadlines alongside unexpected data errors. How do you prioritize your tasks while maintaining 100% accuracy?”
How to Apply
- Prepare your updated CV, Certified SA ID, and CIMA-Aligned Academic Transcripts/Qualification in PDF format.
- Submit your application online before the closing date.
- Closing Date: 14 August 2026