Position Summary
The Financial Controller is responsible for the overall financial management, control, reporting and compliance of the hotel. The role ensures accurate financial reporting, effective cash flow management, strong internal controls, budgeting, forecasting and strategic financial support to the branch manager.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
- Oversee all accounting and finance functions of the hotel.
- Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial records.
- Prepare monthly management accounts within agreed deadlines.
- Produce annual financial statements and support year-end audits.
- Monitor revenue, expenditure and profitability.
- Review balance sheet reconciliations monthly.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
- Manage fixed asset registers and depreciation schedules.
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead the annual budgeting process.
- Prepare monthly and quarterly financial forecasts.
- Monitor departmental budgets against actual performance.
- Identify financial risks and recommend corrective actions.
- Analyse trends affecting occupancy, ADR, RevPAR and profitability.
- Present financial performance reports to management.
Cash Flow & Treasury
- Manage daily cash flow requirements.
- Monitor bank balances and cash forecasts.
- Authorise supplier payments.
- Manage banking relationships.
- Ensure effective working capital management.
- Monitor debtors and creditor ageing.
Hospitality Revenue Management Support
- Reconcile daily revenue from:
- Accommodation
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Conferences
- Spa
- Events
- Other revenue centres
- Review occupancy reports and revenue statistics.
- Verify room revenue against Property Management Systems (PMS).
- Monitor cash variances.
- Review Income Auditor reports.
- Investigate revenue discrepancies.
Internal Controls & Compliance
- Maintain strong internal financial controls.
- Ensure compliance with company policies and SOPs.
- Monitor procurement controls.
- Conduct regular financial risk assessments.
- Ensure compliance with tax legislation and statutory requirements.
- Coordinate internal and external audits.
- Implement recommendations arising from audit findings.
Financial Analysis
- Analyse profitability by department.
- Produce variance analysis reports.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction.
- Evaluate capital expenditure proposals.
- Support pricing and commercial decision-making.
- Prepare financial business cases where required.
Payroll Oversight
- Review payroll before processing.
- Ensure payroll accuracy and statutory compliance.
- Reconcile payroll control accounts.
- Monitor labour costs against budget.
- Review overtime and staffing costs.
Inventory & Cost Control
- Oversee stock control processes.
- Monitor food and beverage costs.
- Review inventory variances.
- Approve stock adjustments.
- Ensure monthly stock counts are completed.
- Analyse wastage and shrinkage.
Procurement & Supplier Management
- Review supplier contracts.
- Ensure procurement policies are followed.
- Monitor supplier performance.
- Approve purchase orders within delegated authority.
- Manage payment terms and supplier reconciliations.
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor and develop the finance team.
- Conduct performance reviews.
- Identify training and development needs.
- Promote accountability and continuous improvement.
- Foster collaboration across departments.
Strategic Support
- Provide financial advice to the General Manager.
- Participate in Executive Committee meetings.
- Assist with strategic planning.
- Support business growth initiatives.
- Evaluate investment opportunities.
- Identify operational efficiencies.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Financial Performance
- Monthly reporting completed accurately and on time.
- Budget adherence.
- Gross profit improvement.
- EBITDA performance.
- Cash flow management.
- Working capital optimisation.
Compliance
- Statutory submissions completed on time.
- Internal control compliance.
- Zero material financial control failures.
Revenue Management
- Accurate daily revenue reconciliations.
- Revenue leakage minimised.
- Improved departmental profitability.
- Occupancy and revenue reporting accuracy.
Operational Excellence
- Reduction in unnecessary expenditure.
- Supplier payment compliance.
- Inventory variance within acceptable limits.
- Effective cost control initiatives.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Diploma or similar in Accounting, Finance or Commerce.
Experience
- Minimum 2-5 years' financial management experience.
- Minimum 1-3 years in the hospitality or hotel industry.
- Experience with hotel financial reporting.
- Experience managing finance teams.
- Budgeting and forecasting experience.
- Audit experience.
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel.
- Financial modelling.
- Accounting software.
- Hospitality Property Management Systems (PMS).
- ERP systems.
- Payroll systems.
- Inventory management systems.
- Strong financial reporting capability.
Experience with one or more of the following is advantageous:
- Opera PMS
- Micros POS
- Sage
- Pastel Evolution
- Xero
- Oracle Hospitality
- SAP
- Power BI
Pay: R7 500,00 - R10 000,00 per month
Work Location: In person
