Head of Finance and Planning (JB5715)

Kontak Recruitment; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1 500 000 - 1 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation and hospitality organisation based in Gauteng is seeking a dynamic Head of Finance and Planning to join its executive leadership team. This role involves strategic financial leadership, overseeing financial planning and compliance, and driving commercial strategy. The ideal candidate should have a CA(SA) qualification or equivalent, with at least 8 years of finance leadership experience, particularly in the hospitality or luxury tourism sector. The position offers a competitive salary and an opportunity to significantly impact the organisation's outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years progressive finance leadership experience.
• Demonstrate strong commercial mindset and strategic business partnering.
• Proven experience in financial modernisation and systems implementation.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Oversee accounting operations and compliance.
• Drive commercial strategy and identify new revenue opportunities.

Skills

Commercial mindset

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Financial modelling

Education

CA(SA) qualification

Bachelor's in Finance, Accounting, or Business

Postgraduate or MBA

Tools

Opera

Micros

Sun Systems

Job description

Head of Finance and Planning (JB5715)

Location: Johannesburg North, Gauteng

Salary: R1.5 - 1.8m per annum CTC

Employment Type: Permanent

Sector: Eco-tourism & Conservation Hospitality

Travel: 25% spent on conservation site

A leading conservation and hospitality organisation is seeking a dynamic Head of Finance and Planning to join its executive leadership team. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a purpose‑driven business that combines world‑class hospitality, commercial innovation, and long‑term conservation impact. The role extends beyond traditional finance, being strategic, operational, guiding commercial direction, shaping financial sustainability, and identifying new income opportunities across diverse revenue streams.

Minimum Requirements

• CA(SA) qualification highly preferred.
• Alternatively, candidates with a Bachelor's in Finance, Accounting, or Business, plus postgraduate or MBA are advantageous.
• Senior‑level financial management experience within hospitality, reserve, or luxury tourism sector.
• Demonstrate strong commercial mindset, ability to act as strategic business partner, develop business cases, drive profitability, identify new revenue opportunities.
• Minimum of 8 years progressive finance leadership experience, ideally in hospitality, reserves, or luxury resort operations.
• Proven experience as a strategic business partner to senior management.
• Strong commercial acumen with track record of driving profitability and growth.
• Hands‑on knowledge of hospitality financial systems (e.g., Opera, Micros, Sun Systems).
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving ability.
• Skilled communicator with strong leadership and stakeholder‑management capability.
• Experience in financial modernisation and systems implementation.

Financial Management & Strategy

• Lead all financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Oversee accounting operations, cash flow management, and compliance.
• Provide strategic analysis and recommendations to enhance profitability.
• Maintain robust internal controls and manage financial risk.
• Develop KPIs and metrics to track financial and operational performance.

Commercial Strategy & Business Growth

• Drive the commercial strategy in partnership with the General Manager.
• Identify, evaluate, and structure new revenue and funding opportunities.
• Provide financial modelling and insight into pricing, investment, and expansion projects.
• Support innovation across hospitality, conservation, and donor‑funded initiatives.
• Strengthen partnerships and optimise vendor, procurement, and supply chain efficiency.

Operational Leadership

• Collaborate with operational heads across hospitality, conservation, and security.
• Lead or support operational initiatives such as systems implementation, workflow improvement, or sustainability programs.
• Build and mentor a high‑performing finance team.
• Champion process improvement and digital transformation.

Stakeholder & Ownership Relations

• Prepare and present detailed financial reports to ownership and key stakeholders.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and investment returns.

If you are a commercially astute finance leader who thrives in dynamic environments and wants to make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Please do not apply using scanned CVs; no supporting documentation is required at this point, this will be requested later.

Equal opportunity: All backgrounds are welcome, with no bias. All are considered based on requirements.