Financial Controller (Hospitality)

Bright Placements; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World-class hospitality environment

Competitive remuneration package

Private game reserve lifestyle

Job summary

Bright Placements is seeking a highly skilled Financial Controller for a prestigious 5-star private game reserve in Paterson, Eastern Cape. You will lead daily finance operations while shaping commercial strategy.

Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will supervise AP, oversee cash flow, monthly reporting, budgeting, and VAT compliance, and develop the finance team. This hands-on leadership role requires close collaboration with lodge managers.

Qualifications

• Must have degree or diploma in accounting/finance.
• Minimum 3–5 years of progressive finance experience, 1–2 years in supervision in luxury hospitality.
• Strong IFRS, VAT knowledge and tax compliance.
• Experience with hotel financial management systems and banking platforms.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly reports and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Provide analysis of financial data for strategic decisions.
• Lead budgeting and reforecasting with department heads.
• Manage daily cash usage and payments loading to banking platforms.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts and prepare journal entries.
• Oversee VAT reconciliations and SARS submissions.
• Supervise Accounts Payables Clerk and manage guest ledger.
• Establish robust internal controls and liaise with auditors.
• Provide financial coaching to senior managers.

Skills

Meticulous

Initiative-taking

Leadership

Integrity

Education

Relevant Degree or Diploma in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Sage 300/Accpac

Protel

Opera PMS

Micros POS

Materials Control

Online banking platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our prestigious 5-star private game reserve in Paterson, Eastern Cape is seeking a highly skilled and commercially minded Financial Controller to join our executive finance team.

This is a mid-level; hands-on leadership role designed for a finance professional who can balance high-level commercial strategy with meticulous daily operations. Reporting directly to the Finance Manager, you will be the engine room of the department—safeguarding financial integrity, driving profitability, and providing guidance/information to department heads and lodge managers, while simultaneously owning the daily transactional workflows, reconciliations, and banking functions. You will also supervise the Accounts Payables.

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.

   
   

   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 operational processes.

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.

What We Offer

• A competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience.


• The opportunity to work in a world‑class hospitality environment in one of the world's most beautiful private game reserves.


• A dynamic and rewarding role with significant responsibility and impact on business success.