Cape Town Region: Cluster Financial Manager – Hotel And Lodge Group posted by C & G Hospitality Recruitment T/A Hotelrecruiters

About the Role

The Luxury Hotel and Lodge group requires an experienced Cluster Financial Manager to oversee the financial well-being of our cluster of properties in Cape Town. This role will involve maintaining precise financial records, providing strategic financial insights, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain precise, organized financial records for the cluster.
• Oversee the categorization of transactions, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities across different property types.
• Prepare comprehensive financial statements (Balance Sheets, Income Statements, and Cash Flow).
• Provide a clear overview of the group’s financial health to stakeholders and management.
• Collaborate with General Managers at both hotel and lodge levels to create budgets, analyze variances, and provide strategic recommendations for resource allocation.
• Ensure full compliance with SARS and local regulations. Manage tax returns and stay updated on changing tax laws to minimize liabilities within legal bounds.
• Evaluate internal processes for accuracy. Manage the relationship with external auditors and ensure all audited financial statements meet company and statutory standards.
• Identify trends and patterns across the portfolio. Provide data-driven insights to management regarding investment opportunities, cost-saving initiatives, and revenue enhancement.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks related to investments, debt, and operational activities across the various properties.
• Act as the financial bridge between the Cape Town head office and remote lodge teams. Must be able to translate complex financial data into actionable insights for non-financial stakeholders.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Reporting Accuracy & Timeliness: 100% adherence to monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing deadlines.
• Budget Variance Management: Maintain departmental and property-level operating expenses within a plus/minus 5% variance of the approved annual budget.
• Audit Readiness: Achievement of “Unqualified” (Clean) audit opinions from external auditors with zero material findings.
• Cash Flow Optimization: Maintain a minimum agreed-upon liquidity ratio across the cluster and ensure all statutory payments (VAT, PAYE, UI, Tourism Levies) are submitted on time to avoid penalties.
• Debtor & Creditor Management: Maintain Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) within the group’s 30-day target and ensure 95% of trade creditors are paid within agreed terms.
• Team Development: Successful completion of bi-annual performance reviews for all direct reports and the implementation of at least one technical training session per year for the finance team.

Minimum Experience & Requirements

### Qualifications

Matric Certificate minimum; a tertiary degree or diploma in Accounting or Finance is strongly preferred.

### Experience

4 to 5 years minimum experience in a senior financial role. Preference will be given to candidates with a background in luxury hospitality, travel, or tourism.

### Leadership

Proven track record in supervising a finance team and managing remote “cluster” accounts (hotels and lodges).

### Technical Skills

• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Advanced Excel is non-negotiable).
• Experience with SAGE 300 or similar enterprise accounting software.
• Knowledge of Hospitality Property Management Systems—OPERA V5 or OPERA Cloud is highly preferred.
• Proficiency in Sage Payroll Professional is a significant advantage.

### Competencies

• Strong analytical problem-solving skills, exceptional financial literacy, and the ability to navigate industry-specific South African regulations (VAT, Tourism Levies, etc.).