Accounting & Assurance Director

123 Consulting are a people-first accounting and advisory firm based in Johannesburg and Somerset West. We are proud to be part of the Sumer Group, a leading accountancy practice across the UK and Ireland. Here at 123, we believe in building long-term relationships with clients and giving our people the chance to thrive in a supportive, professional environment that values initiative, collaboration, and integrity.

We’re seeking a forward thinking and strategic individual to join our senior leadership team as a Director of Professional Services. You’ll play a key role in managing and growing a portfolio of clients whilst ensuring the delivery of high-quality accounting, financial reporting, and assurance-related services. The role combines strong technical expertise with a relationship-partner mindset, acting as a trusted advisor to clients while leading teams to deliver financial statement preparation, independent reviews, and broader professional services in compliance with applicable standards.

Client Relationship & Advisory Act as the primary relationship partner for a portfolio of SME clients across various industries, building trusted advisor relationships.

Requirements

, and regulatory obligations Manage review engagements from planning through to completion and reporting Liaise with clients to explain review findings and recommendations clearly and professionally Leadership & Team Management Lead, mentor, and develop managers, supervisors, and junior professional staff Foster a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement Review work performed by teams, providing constructive feedback and technical coaching Assist with resource planning, workflow management, and capacity optimisation Practice Management & Governance Contribute to firm strategy, governance, and decision-making at director/partner level Ensure compliance with SAIPA / ACCA / SAICA

and firm quality control policies Manage risk, including client acceptance, continuance, and ethical considerations Monitor engagement profitability, billing, and recoveries Strong knowledge of IFRS for SMEs and South African accounting standards Proven experience in financial statement preparation and conducting independent reviews (ISRE 2400) Sound tax knowledge relevant to SMEs (income tax, VAT, provisional tax) Ability to interpret and explain financial information to non-financial stakeholders Commercial & Relationship Skills Strong client-facing and relationship management capabilities Commercially astute with a deep understanding of SME business environments Ability to identify cross-selling and value-added service opportunities Excellent written and verbal communication skills Leadership & Personal Attributes Proven leadership experience within a professional services or accounting firm High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical judgement Results-driven with strong organisational and time management skills Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively at leadership level You’ll be a qualified Professional Accountant or Chartered Accountant with either SAIPA / ACCA / SAICA At Sum