Large Hotel in Pretoria is looking for an experienced and commercially focused Chief Financial Accountant to lead their finance function. The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational financial leadership; ensuring accurate reporting; strong internal controls; effective cost management and sustainable profitability. As a member of the hotel’s Executive Committee; you will support commercial and operational decision-making.
Duties
Financial Leadership & Planning
- Lead the hotel’s finance function and take responsibility for financial planning, reporting, budgeting, forecasting and treasury.
- Prepare annual budgets, business plans, forecasts and long-term financial strategies.
- Provide the Operations Manager and Executive Leadership Team with financial analysis and practical commercial recommendations.
- Deliver accurate, timely management reporting to ownership and senior stakeholders.
Financial Performance & Controls
- Review the general ledger, balance‑sheet reconciliations and supporting schedules.
- Monitor performance across Rooms, Food and Beverage, Events, Conference and Banqueting, Spa and other revenue‑generating departments.
- Ensure income and expenditure are allocated accurately using correct departmental coding.
- Drive profitability through revenue analysis, cost optimisation and disciplined financial management.
- Oversee cash flow, working capital, capital expenditure and financial risk.
- Review supplier reconciliations, invoices, purchase orders, payments and supporting documentation.
Compliance & Stakeholder Management
- Maintain robust internal controls, governance and compliance with applicable legislation and accounting standards.
- Oversee VAT, PAYE and other statutory reconciliations and submissions.
- Ensure compliance with SARS requirements and applicable tax legislation.
- Manage relationships with auditors, bankers, insurers, tax advisers, hotel owners and other financial stakeholders.
Team Leadership & Strategic Projects
- Lead; mentor and develop a sizeable finance department.
- Set clear standards for performance, accountability and professionalism.
- Contribute to Executive Committee decisions and broader business planning.
- Support capital investments, renovations, acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.
Requirements
- A relevant tertiary qualification in Finance, Accounting, Commerce or a related field.
- A professional accounting qualification such as CA(SA), ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
- At least 8–10 years’ senior financial‑management experience, preferably within hospitality, hotels, resorts or a related industry.
- Demonstrated experience managing a substantial finance function and multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash‑flow management and financial controls.
- Sound understanding of the South African tax and regulatory environment.
- Excellent commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to translate financial information into effective business decisions.
- Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder‑management abilities.
- High levels of integrity, discretion and professional judgement.
- Experience with hotel finance systems, SAP, Opera/OPERA Cloud, accounting/ERP systems and financial reporting platforms would be advantageous.