EY is a globally integrated professional services organization that provides Assurance, Advisory, Tax and Transaction Services. Within EY’s Assurance service line, the Financial Accounting Advisory Services (FAAS) team delivers high-impact accounting, financial reporting, and regulatory advisory services to clients across Africa and EMEIA.

The Assurance team at EY Johannesburg / Cape Town is seeking a Senior Manager to play a leadership role in managing complex client engagements, driving quality and growth across the FAAS portfolio, and leading client readiness and implementation support for IFRS 18 – Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements, with a specific focus on electricity, energy, and public sector / SOE clients will be beneficial.

Job purpose

The Senior Manager will work closely with FAAS Leadership, Partners and Associate Directors to lead and deliver complex advisory engagements across Africa and EMEIA. The role requires deep technical expertise in IFRS, including IFRS 18, strong client leadership.

The Senior Manager will play a key role in IFRS 18 awareness, gap assessments, implementation support, audit readiness, and stakeholder communication, supporting electricity and SOE clients through complex financial reporting, regulatory, and governance environments.

In addition to delivery responsibilities, the Senior Manager is expected to contribute meaningfully to practice growth, solution development, quality initiatives, and thought leadership within FAAS, particularly in the energy and public sector space.

Client and delivery responsibilities

Manage quality of service delivery

• Lead and oversee multiple, complex FAAS client engagements, ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes in line with EY Global Standards.
• Serve as a senior IFRS subject matter expert across one or more FAAS solutions, including:
• Financial Accounting and Reporting Excellence
• Accounting Processes and Controls
• Regulation, Governance and Financing
• Audit remediation and audit readiness
• IFRS 18 readiness, implementation and transition support
• Lead IFRS 18 engagements for electricity, energy and SOE clients, including impact assessments, gap analyses, implementation roadmaps, management performance measure (MPM) assessments, and audit readiness support.
• Advise clients in the electricity and energy sector on complex accounting matters, including revenue recognition, regulated activities, asset-heavy balance sheets, long-term contracts, government support, and public-sector governance considerations.
• Review and sign off on complex technical deliverables, including IFRS 18 position papers, accounting policies, presentation formats, and disclosure frameworks.
• Identify, manage, and resolve service delivery risks and quality matters proactively.
• Lead and contribute to IFRS 18 and energy-sector technical training, both internally and for clients, including finance teams, audit committees, and boards.

People and leadership responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop Managers, Assistant Managers, and broader engagement teams.
• Act as a technical mentor on IFRS 18 and electricity-sector accounting matters, supporting capability build across FAAS and Assurance.
• Take ownership of performance management, feedback, coaching, and career development of team members.
• Identify high-potential talent and support succession planning within the FAAS practice.
• Foster a strong culture of quality, accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Business development and practice growth

• Actively support Africa and EMEIA FAAS leadership in driving revenue growth, margin management, and strategic initiatives, with a specific focus on IFRS 18 and energy-sector advisory services.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Partners, global FAAS teams, and other EY service lines to originate and deliver cross-service opportunities.
• Lead or significantly contribute to proposals and pitches.
• Support the expansion of key client relationships and development of long-term trusted-advisor status within the energy and public sector space.
• Contribute to energy-sector and SOE thought leadership, solution development, and market-facing initiatives.

Competencies / Skills

• Chartered Accountant (CA) with 6–10 years post-qualification experience, including significant Financial Accounting Advisory / consulting experience.
• Deep technical expertise in IFRS and international auditing standards, with demonstrable experience in IFRS 18, as well as strong knowledge of IFRS 17, IFRS 9, and IFRS 15.
• Proven experience in the electricity and energy sector.
• Proven experience across the following FAAS services and solutions:
• GAAP conversions and implementation of new accounting standards (including IFRS 18)
• Drafting and design of accounting policies, technical position papers, and disclosure frameworks
• Technical accounting research and advisory support
• Consolidation and group reporting support
• Financial statement close, reporting process optimisation, and presentation redesign
• Transaction accounting and financial reporting (IPOs, carve-outs, PPA, restructurings)
• Audit remediation and audit readiness
• Benchmarking services and market analysis
• Advanced data analytics (advantageous)
• Strong leadership and people-management capabilities, with experience leading multiple teams and engagements.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level client presentations and technical writing.
• Ability to operate independently while effectively collaborating across large, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong research skills and ability to interpret emerging accounting standards, regulations, industry practices, and technologies.
• Industry sector specialization in electricity, energy, or public sector / SOEs will be a strong advantage.