Chief Financial Officer

The President Hotel; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff meals on duty

Strong team culture

Job summary

The President Hotel in Cape Town seeks a mature finance leader to build and lead an accountable finance function aligned with senior hotel leadership.

You will modernise finance and procurement systems, optimise working capital, and drive accurate reporting, budgets and forecasts. You’ll manage risk, ensure tax and compliance, and partner with operations to improve margins across Rooms, Food & Beverage and other departments.

Qualifications

• CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.
• 8–10 years’ progressive financial leadership experience, with a track record of working with executives, boards, owners or investors.
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop accountable finance teams, including procurement.
• Experience leading finance systems modernisation and process improvement.
• Sound hospitality financial and operational knowledge; direct hotel experience is preferred.
• Strong capability in budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, cash flow, working capital and financial controls.
• Knowledge of procurement controls, statutory and tax compliance, audit readiness and risk management.
• Hands‑on commercial leadership, with the ability to prioritise and deliver accurate results in a fast‑paced, changing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with a collaborative and respectful leadership approach.
• Property development or capital project finance experience is advantageous.
• Exposure to funding negotiations, acquisitions, partnerships or corporate transactions is advantageous.
• Practical experience using technology, automation, analytics or AI to deliver measurable efficiency, better decisions or stronger controls is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Building the finance, accounting and procurement team structure, with clear responsibilities, service standards and deadlines.
• Coaching employees, managing performance and developing succession capacity through Considered Leadership, clear expectations, collaboration and respect.
• Modernising finance and procurement systems with IT and operational teams, integrating hotel systems and improving data quality and reconciliations.
• Reducing manual work and spreadsheet dependence while ensuring staff adoption and measurable improvements in efficiency and control.
• Taking ownership of budgets, forecasts, management accounts, cash flow and working capital.
• Strengthening purchasing, supplier management, stock controls and payment processes.
• Maintaining financial controls, statutory and tax compliance, audit readiness and risk management, with clear reporting to the CEO, GM, FinCo and Board.
• Partnering with operational leaders to improve revenue, margins and cost discipline across Rooms, Food & Beverage and other departments.
• Translating financial information into practical decisions that support guest service and employee experience.
• Leading financial feasibility, investment appraisal and capital planning for refurbishment, expansion and property opportunities.
• Monitoring project budgets, committed expenditure, cash flow and forecast costs to completion, identifying risks and variances early.
• Supporting the CEO with funding requirements, lender negotiations and potential acquisitions or partnerships, including financial evaluation, due diligence and adviser coordination, subject to appropriate approvals.
• Maintaining banking relationships and covenant compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial controls

Procurement

Stakeholder mgmt

Hospitality knowledge

Systems modernization

Education

CA(SA) / CIMA / ACCA

Job description

The immediate priority is to build an accountable finance department, develop people and modernise systems and processes. You’ll need the confidence to work with senior stakeholders while remaining actively involved in financial controls, operational improvement and reliable reporting.

Minimum Requirements

• CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA or equivalent qualification.
• 8–10 years’ progressive financial leadership experience, with a track record of working with executives, boards, owners or investors.
• Proven ability to build, lead and develop accountable finance teams, including procurement.
• Experience leading finance systems modernisation and process improvement.
• Sound hospitality financial and operational knowledge; direct hotel experience is preferred.
• Strong capability in budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, cash flow, working capital and financial controls.
• Knowledge of procurement controls, statutory and tax compliance, audit readiness and risk management.
• Hands‑on commercial leadership, with the ability to prioritise and deliver accurate results in a fast‑paced, changing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with a collaborative and respectful leadership approach.
• Property development or capital project finance experience is advantageous.
• Exposure to funding negotiations, acquisitions, partnerships or corporate transactions is advantageous.
• Practical experience using technology, automation, analytics or AI to deliver measurable efficiency, better decisions or stronger controls is a strong advantage.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Building the finance, accounting and procurement team structure, with clear responsibilities, service standards and deadlines.
• Coaching employees, managing performance and developing succession capacity through Considered Leadership, clear expectations, collaboration and respect.
• Modernising finance and procurement systems with IT and operational teams, integrating hotel systems and improving data quality and reconciliations.
• Reducing manual work and spreadsheet dependence while ensuring staff adoption and measurable improvements in efficiency and control.
• Taking ownership of budgets, forecasts, management accounts, cash flow and working capital.
• Strengthening purchasing, supplier management, stock controls and payment processes.
• Maintaining financial controls, statutory and tax compliance, audit readiness and risk management, with clear reporting to the CEO, GM, FinCo and Board.
• Partnering with operational leaders to improve revenue, margins and cost discipline across Rooms, Food & Beverage and other departments.
• Translating financial information into practical decisions that support guest service and employee experience.
• Leading financial feasibility, investment appraisal and capital planning for refurbishment, expansion and property opportunities.
• Monitoring project budgets, committed expenditure, cash flow and forecast costs to completion, identifying risks and variances early.
• Supporting the CEO with funding requirements, lender negotiations and potential acquisitions or partnerships, including financial evaluation, due diligence and adviser coordination, subject to appropriate approvals.
• Maintaining banking relationships and covenant compliance.

Why Join The President Hotel

Join Cape Town’s Most Loved Hotel and be part of our journey toward luxury. Lead the development of a modern finance function alongside senior hotel leadership, with direct influence on operational performance, property investment and future growth.

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. With a history spanning over 260 years, the hotel combines its distinctive heritage with locally crafted interiors, South African art and a thoughtful approach to accessibility and guest comfort.

As part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a Green Key certified property and winner of the 2026 GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Sustainability, the hotel offers an opportunity to contribute to a business committed to responsible operations, local culture and exceptional hospitality.

We offer a competitive salary, company contributions toward medical aid and provident fund, staff meals on duty and an outstanding team culture.