Financial Controller

Staff Solutions; Makhanda; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Solutions in South Africa seeks a results-driven Finance Manager with luxury hospitality experience to lead monthly reporting, budgeting, cash management, and financial controls across multiple properties. You will oversee reconciliations, journal entries, VAT/PAYE compliance, and coordination with external auditors, while coaching and developing a small finance team.

The role requires IFRS knowledge, advanced Excel skills, and hands-on experience with hotel finance systems such as Sage

Qualifications

• Education: Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance.
• 3–5 years finance experience with supervisory exposure in hospitality.
• Proficiency in hotel financial systems (Sage 300/Accpac, Protel, Opera PMS, Micros POS).
• Advanced MS Excel skills for data analysis and reconciliations.
• IFRS knowledge and SA VAT legislation familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Prepare accurate monthly financial reports and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Lead budgeting and re-forecasting with department heads and shareholders.
• Manage daily cash usage and bank transfers; load payments for authorization.
• Prepare, process and reconcile VAT and PAYE compliance and SARS submissions.
• Liaise with external auditors and authorities to ensure compliance.
• Oversee Accounts Payable, Receivable, cost control and stock management.
• Provide financial coaching to senior managers to improve financial literacy.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Leadership

Financial analysis

Attention to detail

Education

Degree/Diploma in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Sage 300/Accpac

Protel

Opera PMS

Micros POS

Job description

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly reports and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Provide insightful analysis of financial data to inform strategic decision-making, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Prepare reports, ensuring variances against budget are investigated and explained to the Finance Manager and General Manager.

2. Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist the Finance Manager in leading the annual budgeting process and periodic re-forecasting in collaboration with department heads and shareholders.
• Monitor financial performance against approved budgets, providing detailed variance analysis and recommending corrective actions.

3. Cash Management & Banking (Hands-On)

• Manage daily cash usage and liquidity by executing daily transfers to/from the Call Account to optimize interest earnings.
• Prepare and load all payments (creditors, salaries, and ad-hoc disbursements) on the banking platform for authorization.
• Compile and submit the daily deposit schedule to the Central Reservations Office to ensure accurate allocation of advance payments and deposits.
• Send weekly bank statements to the Group CFO for group-level oversight.

4. Reconciliations, Journals & Statutory Compliance

• Reconcile various Balance Sheet accounts (including bank accounts, accruals, prepayments, and inter-company loans) monthly, resolving discrepancies timeously.
• Prepare and enter monthly Journal Entries (accruals, provisions, depreciation, and reclasses) into the general ledger.
• Prepare, process, and reconcile group and intercompany transactions, ensuring all cross-entity balances are accurately recorded, settled timeously, and fully reconciled monthly.
• Prepare and submit VAT reconciliations (Input/Output) for monthly/bi-monthly SARS submissions, ensuring full compliance with South African tax legislation.
• Ensure full compliance with South African tax legislation (VAT, PAYE), statutory reporting requirements, and relevant labour regulations.
• Liaise with external auditors, local authorities, and government authorities as needed.

5. Accounts Payable, Receivable & Cost Control

• Keep a constant eye on Accounts Payable (AP) age analyses, flagging overdue accounts and high‑risk balances to the Finance Manager.
• Prepare and remit various monthly invoices and proactively follow up on payment thereof.
• Supervise the Accounts Payables Clerk, ensuring they are diligently chasing outstanding debt and managing the guest ledger.
• Monitor departmental expenses and implement cost‑saving initiatives without compromising service standards.
• Oversee stock control, purchasing controls, and cost management across all revenue‑generating and support departments.

6. Operational & Administrative Controls

• Send out weekly exchange rates to all departments (Lodges, Reservations etc,) to ensure rate cards and POS systems are updated for international guests.
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve robust internal control procedures across all departments.

7. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance and operations team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Provide financial coaching and guidance to senior managers to enhance their financial literacy and accountability.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Education: Relevant Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory role within a star hotel or luxury hospitality environment.
• Systems: Advanced proficiency in hotel financial management systems (e.g., Sage 300/Accpac, Protel, Opera PMS, Micros POS, Materials Control) and online banking platforms.
• Excel Skills: Advanced MS Excel skills for data analysis and reconciliations.
• Knowledge: Good understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), South African VAT legislation, and hotel

Personal Attributes

• Meticulous: Zero‑tolerance for errors in reconciliations, payment loading, and reporting.
• Initiative‑taking: A "hands‑on," 'can‑do' attitude with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment; actively hunts for missing invoices and follows up on outstanding payments.
• Leadership: Strong ability to influence, coach, and inspire cross‑functional teams while supervising junior staff.
• Integrity: Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and ethical financial management.