Group Financial Controller

Phoenix Recruitment Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Multi-Property Hospitality Group in Cape Town is seeking an experienced Group Financial Controller to lead the group finance function, owning day-to-day accounting, month-end close and cash-flow forecasting. You will provide accurate, timely information to the CFO and senior leadership, oversee intercompany allocations, consolidations and balance-sheet reconciliations, and drive financial controls.

The role requires strong commercial insight, integrity and the ability to escalate concerns to

Qualifications

• A relevant Accounting or Financial Management Degree or Diploma.
• A recognised professional accounting designation would be advantageous.
• Substantial financial-management experience with full responsibility for month-end close and management accounting.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent integrity and attention to detail with the ability to raise concerns early.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day accounting across the group of properties and entities.
• Lead month-end close with journals, accruals and fixed assets.
• Oversee intercompany allocations, consolidations and balance-sheet reconciliations.
• Produce property and group management accounts with variance commentary.
• Prepare concise financial analysis for senior management, owners, boards and lenders.
• Maintain 13-week rolling cash-flow forecast and monitor liquidity.
• Drive cost control and commercial analysis for stock, payroll, overheads and procurement.
• Coordinate budgeting, audit and statutory compliance.
• Lead and develop the finance team across head office and properties.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Integrity

Attention to detail

Education

Accounting or Financial Management Degree or Diploma

Professional accounting designation (advantageous)

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Hospitality property-management systems

Job description

Multi-Property Hospitality Group with Head Offices based in Cape Town is looking for an experienced, hands‑on Group Financial Controller to lead their group finance function.

The successful candidate will take ownership of day-to-day accounting, month-end close, cash-flow forecasting and financial controls, providing accurate, timely information to the CFO and senior leadership. This role requires detailed financial oversight alongside strong commercial insight and the confidence to escape material concerns directly to ownership.

Duties:

Financial Reporting & Month-End:

• Own daily, weekly and monthly financial reporting across properties and entities.
• Lead month-end close, ensuring accurate journals, accruals, payroll postings, provisions and fixed-asset records.
• Oversee intercompany allocations, consolidations and balance-sheet reconciliations.
• Produce property and group management accounts supported by reconciled records and clear variance commentary.
• Prepare concise financial analysis for senior management, owners, boards and lenders.

Cash Flow & Treasury:

• Maintain cash visibility and a rolling 13-week cash-flow forecast.
• Monitor working capital, liquidity, debt facilities, borrowing schedules and lender covenants.
• Oversee banking controls and reconciliations.
• Identify funding pressures and financial risks early and recommend corrective action.

Cost Control & Commercial Analysis:

• Drive cost and working-capital discipline across stock, cost of sales, payroll, overheads, debtors and creditors.
• Monitor capital expenditure, projects, maintenance and logistics-related costs.
• Investigate variances and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Analyse occupancy, average daily rate, RevPAR, revenue trends and other hospitality performance indicators.
• Partner with operational and commercial teams to improve profitability, procurement, stock management and marketing returns.

Budgeting, Audit & Compliance:

• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Coordinate audit preparation and finalisation.
• Oversee VAT, PAYE and other statutory submissions.
• Maintain effective financial controls, supporting documentation and compliance procedures.

Team Leadership & Systems:

• Manage, coach and develop the finance team across head office and properties.
• Set clear standards for reporting quality, deadlines and accountability.
• Improve data integrity, financial systems, reporting efficiency and automation.
• Use advanced Excel and appropriate AI-enabled analysis to support financial insight.
• Escalate material concerns affecting financial integrity, liquidity, assets, compliance, lender relationships or reputation through direct, confidential access to ownership.

Requirements:

• A relevant Accounting or Financial Management Degree or Diploma.
• A recognised professional accounting designation would be advantageous.
• Substantial financial-management experience with full responsibility for month-end close and management accounting.
• Proven experience leading finance teams across multiple entities, business units or properties.
• Multi-property hospitality experience is highly preferred.
• Strong experience in cash-flow forecasting, consolidation, intercompany accounting and balance-sheet control.
• Sound knowledge of budgeting, stock and cost-of-sales analysis, audit and statutory compliance.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong working knowledge of accounting/ERP and hospitality property-management systems.
• Practical knowledge of relevant legislation and reporting frameworks, including VAT, income tax, Companies Act requirements, BCEA, EE, OHSA, COIDA, IFRS and GAAP.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to explain hospitality performance and market trends.
• Exceptional integrity, attention to detail and the confidence to raise concerns early.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure, meet deadlines and translate financial results into practical action.