Hospitality Finance Leader: Modernize Systems & Growth

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 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.