Chief Financial Officer

In brief

**Overview** This role is for a Chief Financial Officer at The President Hotel, located in Cape Town, South Africa. The immediate priority for this position is to establish an accountable finance department, foster talent development, and modernise financial systems and processes. The successful candidate will need confidence to engage with senior stakeholders while actively overseeing financial controls, driving operational improvements, and ensuring reliable reporting. The President Hotel, situated in Bantry Bay, offers 349 rooms and apartments, diverse dining, and a spa. With over 260 years of history, it combines heritage with locally crafted interiors and South African art. The hotel is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, is Green Key certified, and won the 2026 GIFTTS Pineapple Award for Sustainability, indicating a commitment to responsible operations, local culture, and exceptional hospitality. The role offers the opportunity to lead the development of a modern finance function and directly influence operational performance, property investment, and future growth. **What you will do** * 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. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * 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. **Who should apply** This role is suitable for a confident financial leader who is prepared to be actively involved in financial controls, operational improvement, and reporting, while simultaneously building an accountable finance department, developing staff, and modernising systems and processes. The ideal candidate will be interested in joining a company committed to responsible operations, local culture, and exceptional hospitality, and will be keen to lead the development of a modern finance function with direct influence on operational performance, property investment, and future growth. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.jobmail.co.za/jobs/tourism-hospitality/other-tourism-hospitality/western-cape/chief-financial-officer-id-7597772 Source: jobmail

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At a glance

• At least 8 years of experience.

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