Chief Financial Officer

President Hotel; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

The President Hotel Bantry Bay in Cape Town seeks an ambitious Chief Financial Officer with strong commercial acumen and hands-on leadership in hospitality finance. This role emphasizes operational excellence, team-building, and talent development within a luxury hotel context.

You will drive budgets, forecasts and strategic financial planning, partner with executives and the Board, and lead capital projects while embedding governance and risk management across the finance function.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Experience engaging with executives, boards, owners or investors.
• Proven success building finance teams and leading procurement.
• Hospitality financial knowledge; direct hotel experience preferred.
• Budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cash flow and controls.
• Knowledge of procurement governance, compliance, audit readiness and risk management.
• Experience with capital projects, funding or corporate transactions is advantageous.
• Use of technology/analytics/AI to improve efficiency and decision making.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop an accountable finance, accounting and procurement team with clear responsibilities and performance standards.
• Modernise and integrate systems, improve data quality and reduce manual work while ensuring staff adoption.
• Own budgets, forecasts, management accounts, cash flow and working capital.
• Strengthen purchasing, supplier management, stock controls and payment processes.
• Maintain financial controls, compliance, audit readiness and risk management, with reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
• Partner with operational leaders to improve revenue, margins and cost discipline while supporting guest service and employee experience.
• Lead investment appraisals, financial feasibility and capital planning, monitoring expenditure, cash flow and risks.
• Support funding negotiations, acquisitions and partnerships, including due diligence and adviser coordination.
• Manage banking relationships and covenant compliance.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Cash flow management

Procurement governance

Systems modernization

AI analytics

Stakeholder engagement

Education

CA(SA)/CIMA/ACCA

Tools

ERP systems

Procurement software

Job description

Help shape the next chapter of Cape Town's Most Loved Hotel. The President Hotel Bantry Bay, Cape Town seeks an ambitious, entrepreneurial and hands‑on Chief Financial Officer who combines commercial acumen, operational excellence and a genuine passion for people and hospitality.

Minimum Requirements

• CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.
• 8-10 years' progressive financial leadership experience, including engagement with executives, boards, owners or investors.
• Proven success developing finance teams, overseeing procurement and leading systems modernisation and process improvement.
• Sound hospitality financial and operational knowledge; direct hotel experience is preferred.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, cash flow, working capital and financial control capabilities.
• Knowledge of procurement governance, statutory and tax compliance, audit readiness and risk management.
• Property development, capital project finance, funding or corporate transaction experience is advantageous.
• Practical use of technology, automation, analytics or AI to improve efficiency, decisions or controls is a strong advantage.

The Leadership Qualities We Seek

• We are looking for an ambitious, entrepreneurial, and highly capable financial leader who combines commercial acumen with operational excellence and a genuine passion for people and industry.

The successful candidate will demonstrate

• Change management and innovation:- A proven ability to lead transformation, embrace technology and successfully implement meaningful improvements.
• Entrepreneurial and commercial thinking:- An ownership mentality, with the ability to identify opportunities, drive profitability and create sustainable business value.
• Financial and operational discipline:- A strong understanding of productivity, efficiency, financial performance and operational excellence.
• Ambition and drive:- A strong desire to achieve exceptional results, continuously improve and challenge conventional thinking.
• Inspirational and trusted leadership:- A leader of integrity who builds confidence, earns respect, and fosters a high-performance culture.
• Emotional intelligence and collaboration:- An approachable, authentic and low-ego leadership style that builds strong relationships across all levels.
• Empowerment and delegation:- The ability to attract, develop and empower exceptional people, fostering accountability and independent decision-making.
• Strategic thinking and execution:- The ability to use common sense principles to see the bigger picture while maintaining a relentless focus on implementation and measurable outcomes.
• Courage and decisiveness:- The confidence to make difficult decisions, challenge established practices and take ownership of results.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and develop an accountable finance, accounting and procurement team with clear responsibilities and performance standards.
• Modernise and integrate systems, improve data quality and reduce manual work while ensuring staff adoption.
• Own budgets, forecasts, management accounts, cash flow and working capital.
• Strengthen purchasing, supplier management, stock controls and payment processes.
• Maintain financial controls, compliance, audit readiness and risk management, with clear reporting to senior leadership and the Board.
• Partner with operational leaders to improve revenue, margins and cost discipline while supporting guest service and employee experience.
• Lead investment appraisals, financial feasibility and capital planning, monitoring project expenditure, cash flow and risks.
• Support funding negotiations, acquisitions and partnerships, including due diligence and adviser coordination, subject to approvals.
• Manage banking relationships and covenant compliance.

Why Join The President Hotel

Set between the Atlantic Ocean and Lion's Head in Bantry Bay, The President Hotel offers 349 rooms and apartments, diverse dining spaces and Cove Wellness Spa. Join our journey toward luxury and contribute directly to hotel performance, property investment and future growth.

As a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a Green Key certified property and winner of the 2026 GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Sustainability, we value responsible operations, local culture and exceptional hospitality.

We offer a competitive salary, company contributions toward benefits, additional company perks and a welcoming team culture that values your contribution and supports professional growth.

Our warmth starts with our people. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fair recruitment, inclusion and a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and has the opportunity to grow.