Financial Controller

About the RoleOur prestigious 5-star private game reserve in Paterson, Eastern Cape is seeking a highly skilled and commercially minded Financial Controller to join our executive finance team.This is a mid-level; hands-on leadership role designed for a finance professional who can balance high-level commercial strategy with meticulous daily operations. Reporting directly to the Finance Manager, you will be the engine room of the department—safeguarding financial integrity, driving profitability, and providing guidance/information to department heads and lodge managers, while simultaneously owning the daily transactional workflows, reconciliations, and banking functions. You will also supervise the Accounts Payables.Job Description: Financial ControllerPrepare, process, and reconcile group and intercompany transactions, ensuring all cross-entity balances are accurately recorded, settled timeously, and fully reconciled monthly.Prepare and submit VAT reconciliations (Input/Output) for monthly/bi-monthly SARS submissions, ensuring full compliance with South African tax legislation.Ensure full compliance with South African tax legislation (VAT, PAYE), statutory reporting requirements, and relevant labour regulations.Liaise with external auditors, local authorities, and government authorities as needed.Accounts Payable, Receivable & Cost ControlKeep a constant eye on Accounts Payable (AP) age analyses, flagging overdue accounts and high-risk balances to the Finance Manager.Prepare and remit various monthly invoices and proactively follow up on payment thereof.Supervise the Accounts Payables Clerk, ensuring they are diligently chasing outstanding debt and managing the guest ledger.Monitor departmental expenses and implement cost-saving initiatives without compromising service standards.Oversee stock control, purchasing controls, and cost management across all revenue-generating and support departments.Operational & Administrative ControlsSend out weekly exchange rates to all departments (Lodges, Reservations etc,) to ensure rate cards and POS systems are updated for international guests.Establish, maintain, and continuously improve robust internal control procedures across all departments.Team Leadership & DevelopmentLead, mentor, and develop the Finance and operations team.Foster a culture of accountability, integrity, and continuous improvementFinancial Reporting & AnalysisPrepare accurate and timely monthly reports and balance sheet reconciliations.Provide insightful analysis of financial data to inform strategic decision-making, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities.Prepare reports, ensuring variances against budget are investigated and explained to the Finance Manager and General Manager.Budgeting & ForecastingAssist the Finance Manager in leading the annual budgeting process and periodic re-forecasting in collaboration with department heads and shareholders.Monitor financial performance against approved budgets, providing detailed variance analysis and recommending corrective actions.Cash Management & Banking (Hands-On)Manage daily cash usage and liquidity by executing daily transfers to/from the Call Account to optimize interest earnings.Prepare and load all payments (creditors, salaries, and ad-hoc disbursements) on the banking platform for authorization.Compile and submit the daily deposit schedule to the Central Reservations Office to ensure accurate allocation of advance payments and deposits.Send weekly bank statements to the Group CFO for group-level oversight.Reconciliations, Journals & Statutory ComplianceReconcile various Balance Sheet accounts (including bank accounts, accruals, prepayments, and inter-company loans) monthly, resolving discrepancies timeously.Prepare and enter monthly Journal Entries (accruals, provisions, depreciation, and reclasses) into the general ledger.Provide financial coaching and guidance to senior managers to enhance their financial literacy and accountability.Qualifications & ExperienceEssentialEducation: Relevant Degree or Diploma in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 1–2 years in a supervisory role within a star hotel or luxury hospitality environment.Systems: Advanced proficiency in hotel financial management systems (e.g., Sage 300/Accpac, Protel, Opera PMS, Micros POS, Materials Control) and online banking platforms.Excel Skills: Advanced MS Excel skills for data analysis and reconciliations.Knowledge: Good understanding of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), South African VAT legislation, and hotel operational processes.Personal AttributesMeticulous: Zero-tolerance for errors in reconciliations, payment loading, and reporting.Initiative-taking: A "hands-on," 'can-do' attitude with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; actively hunts for missing invoices and follows up on outstanding payments.Leadership: Strong ability to influence, coach, and inspire cross-functional teams while supervising junior staff.Integrity: Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and ethical financial management.