South Africa: Financial Controller posted by Headhunters

Our Client in the Hospitality Industry is seeking to employ a Financial Controller to their team based in Graaff – Reinet.

Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or similar field.
• Professional registration or progress toward SAICA / SAIPA / CIMA advantageous.
• Minimum 5 years accounting/financial management experience, preferably in hospitality or education.
• Experience in multi-entity or group structures beneficial.
• Proficiency in financial systems (Navision, Micros, Opera or similar), and advanced MS Excel skills.
• Strong understanding of South African tax, payroll, and accounting legislation.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities, but not limited to:

Financial Accounting & Reporting:

• Oversee the preparation and accuracy of all financial records, ensuring alignment with accounting standards and internal controls.

• Produce monthly management accounts, variance reports, and financial analysis for review by the CFO and leadership team.

• Maintain the general ledger and ensure accurate transaction processing and reconciliations.

• Ensure timely month-end and year-end closing processes.

• Monitor and analyse financial performance trends to identify risks, opportunities, and required interventions.

Financial Controls & Compliance:

• Implement and monitor internal financial controls across all entities to safeguard assets and mitigate financial risk.

• Ensure compliance with financial policies, SOPs, accounting principles, and audit requirements.

• Coordinate and support internal and external audit processes, ensuring documentation is complete and accurate.

• Ensure compliance with South African tax regulations, including VAT, PAYE, SDL, UIF, and other statutory submissions.

• Maintain complete and accurate accounting records in line with audit and legislative requirements.

• Monitor cost centres, departmental performance, and overhead allocations.

• Ensure timely submission of all statutory returns (VAT, EMP201, EMP501, etc.).

• Prepare financial dashboards, KPIs, and operational finance reports for management.

• Identify financial risks and propose mitigation strategies to the CFO.

• Ensure compliance with all tax, labour, and financial legislation and standards.

• Safeguard financial information and ensure data privacy protocols are in place.

• Liaise with auditors, tax advisors, and legal professionals to ensure business compliance.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Support the CFO in preparing annual budgets and rolling financial forecasts.

• Monitor budget adherence across departments, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.

• Assist operational managers in understanding financial reports, budgets, and cost implications.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management:

• Oversee cash flow management, ensuring availability of funds for operational and capital requirements.

• Monitor bank reconciliations, petty cash, credit card reconciliations, and cash-handling processes.

• Manage payment cycles, supplier settlements, and credit control through debtors and creditors oversight.

Procurement & Cost Control:

• Ensure procurement processes follow internal controls and approvals.

• Oversee stock control processes, cost-of-sales analysis, and monthly stock reconciliations.

• Monitor cost efficiencies across departments, identifying wastage or overspending.

• Support the culinary and F&B teams with recipe costings, stock management, and menu costing analysis.

Payroll Oversight:

• Review payroll data for accuracy prior to submission to the outsourced payroll provider.

• Ensure correct allocation of payroll costs to departments and general ledger accounts.

• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation and assist with tax submissions and employee documentation where needed.

Customer Specific Responsibilities Internal Stakeholder Support:

• Provide accurate and meaningful financial data to operational leaders to support departmental decision-making.

• Ensure leadership have clear visibility into financial performance indicators that affect operations.

• Maintain high levels of professional service when dealing with internal stakeholders.

People Specific Responsibilities Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor the finance team to maintain high standards of accuracy, discipline, and professional conduct.

• Provide training and development to support improved financial competence across the team.

• Conduct performance reviews, address skills gaps, and create development plans for finance staff.

• Encourage collaboration and effective communication within the finance function.

Quality Specific Responsibilities Financial Integrity:

• Ensure financial processes are documented, standardised, and adhered to across all departments.

• Conduct regular internal checks to ensure quality, accuracy, and compliance within financial records.

• Continuously assess financial procedures and recommend process improvements for efficiency and accuracy.

• Support leadership with financial modelling, scenario planning, and improvement initiatives.

• Ensure financial control over maintenance expenditure, capex projects, and asset management.

• Monitor fixed asset register accuracy, additions, disposals, and depreciation schedules.

• Support property-related audits and insurance valuations.

Please note that should you not receive a response within 2 weeks of applying, you may consider your application unsuccessful.