Assistant Finance Manager

CFS Recruitment; Pongola; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Cogent luxury lodge in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal seeks an Assistant Finance Manager to support the Finance Manager with daily financial operations, including creditors, debtors, reconciliations, reporting and budgeting.

You will handle stock control, cash management, and payroll support, collaborating with department heads to ensure costs stay within budget and financial controls are maintained. Experience in hospitality is a plus.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of finance or accounting experience.
• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, Financial Management or a related field.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and general computer skills.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to meet financial deadlines.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Experience in hotel, lodge, resort or hospitality environment is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support daily financial operations, processing transactions, journals, reconciliations, and month-end/year-end procedures.
• Manage supplier invoice processing and reconciliations, assist with payment preparation, monitor debtor accounts and support banking, cash-ups and petty cash controls.
• Assist with departmental stock takes and cost monitoring for lodge expenses.
• Assist with management accounts, financial reports, budgets, forecasts and cash-flow monitoring; highlight variances and cost-control opportunities.
• Ensure financial procedures and authorization controls are followed and maintain audit-ready documentation.
• Work with Heads of Department to provide accurate financial information for operational decisions and budgets.

Skills

Finance experience

Analytical ability

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Integrity & confidentiality

Education

Diploma or Degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PMS or POS systems

General computer skills

Job description

ASSISTANT FINANCE MANAGER

Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal | Luxury Safari Lodge

An excellent opportunity for a finance professional to build their career within a five-star safari lodge environment.

We are looking for an experienced and detail-driven Assistant Finance Manager to support the Finance Manager with the accurate and efficient management of the lodge’s financial function.

This is a hands-on finance role covering accounting, creditors and debtors, reconciliations, reporting, stock and cost control, budgeting, cash management and payroll support.

THE ROLE

Finance & Accounting
Support daily financial operations, transaction processing, journals, reconciliations and month-end and year-end procedures while maintaining accurate financial records.

Creditors, Debtors & Cash Management
Manage supplier invoice processing and reconciliations, assist with payment preparation, monitor debtor accounts and support banking, cash-ups and petty cash controls.

Stock & Cost Control
Assist with departmental and monthly stock takes, investigate variances and work closely with operational departments to monitor food, beverage, housekeeping and other lodge costs.

Reporting & Budgets
Assist with management accounts, financial reports, departmental expenditure analysis, budgets, forecasts and cash-flow monitoring. Highlight significant variances and opportunities for improved cost control.

Controls & Compliance
Ensure financial procedures and authorisation controls are followed, maintain audit-ready documentation and assist with internal and external audits.

Operational Support
Work closely with management and Heads of Department to provide accurate financial information and ensure operational decisions remain aligned with budgets and financial controls.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

You’ll bring:

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, Financial Management or a related field.
• 3–5 years’ relevant finance or accounting experience.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial controls.
• Practical experience with creditors, debtors, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and general computer skills.
• Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to meet financial deadlines.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.

Previous experience within a hotel, lodge, resort or hospitality environment is highly advantageous. Luxury lodge experience, stock and cost control, payroll accounting and exposure to hospitality accounting, PMS or POS systems will be an added advantage.

The successful candidate must be comfortable working within a remote safari lodge environment and able to support the operational demands of a five-star property.

THE DETAILS

Location: Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal
Environment: Luxury Safari Lodge
Remuneration: Market related depending on experience
Start Date: ASAP