FINANCIAL CONTROLLER – HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS

Nairobi, Kenya | Regional Finance Leadership | Multi-Property Hospitality Portfolio

Are you an experienced hospitality finance professional ready to take ownership of a multi-property financial portfolio in East Africa?

An exceptional opportunity exists for a commercially driven Financial Controller to join the Kenyan regional operations of an established international hospitality group.

Based in Nairobi, this senior finance appointment will provide financial leadership, control and commercial oversight across a portfolio of distinctive hospitality and safari properties., The portfolio spans both highland and safari tourism environments, including operations within the Aberdare National Park and the Maasai Mara ecosystem.

This is not simply a reporting role. The successful candidate will be expected to act as a strategic financial business partner to senior operational leadership, driving financial discipline, profitability, cost optimisation, risk management and commercial performance across the Kenyan portfolio.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Financial Controller will assume responsibility for ensuring the financial integrity and commercial effectiveness of the Kenyan operations.

Working closely with General Managers, property leadership and finance teams, you will oversee:

• Multi-property financial reporting and management accounts

• Budgeting, forecasting and financial planning

• Financial controls and governance

• Cash-flow and working-capital management

• Revenue and profitability analysis

• Cost control and operational efficiency

• Tax, statutory and regulatory compliance

• Audit management

• Capital expenditure

• Finance-team leadership and development

• Commercial financial analysis and decision support

The role will require a hands-on, commercially minded finance leader who can move confidently between detailed financial control and high-level strategic decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership & Control

• Provide overall financial control across the Kenyan operations.

• Ensure accurate, timely and reliable management reporting.

• Strengthen financial controls, processes and governance across the portfolio.

• Review balance sheets, reconciliations, journals, accruals and provisions.

• Monitor financial risks and implement appropriate mitigating controls.

• Ensure consistent application of financial policies and procedures across all properties.

Management Accounting & Commercial Analysis

• Lead the monthly management-accounting cycle.

• Analyse revenue, departmental profitability, operating costs, GOP and EBITDA.

• Provide detailed variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior-year performance.

• Identify trends, risks and opportunities requiring management intervention.

• Translate financial information into clear, actionable commercial recommendations.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting process across the Kenyan portfolio.

• Prepare rolling forecasts and financial projections.

• Challenge assumptions and ensure commercially realistic budgets.

• Monitor performance against budget and forecast.

• Provide financial modelling and scenario analysis for strategic decisions.

Hospitality Financial Management

The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the financial drivers of hospitality and tourism operations, including:

Occupancy | ADR | RevPAR | Revenue Management | F&B Cost | Payroll | Cost of Sales | Departmental Profitability | GOP | EBITDA | Seasonality | Working Capital | Cash Flow

You will work with operational management to identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve margins, control costs and maximise property profitability.

Cash Flow & Working Capital

• Oversee cash-flow forecasting and liquidity management.

• Monitor debtor and creditor performance.

• Strengthen working-capital controls.

• Ensure effective banking and cash-management procedures.

• Identify potential cash-flow pressures and implement corrective measures.

Cost, Procurement & Inventory Control

• Monitor purchasing against approved budgets.

• Review supplier pricing and expenditure.

• Oversee inventory and stock-control processes.

• Analyse food, beverage and other cost-of-sales performance.

• Identify wastage, leakage and cost-saving opportunities.

• Strengthen procurement and expenditure controls.

Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable Kenyan accounting and taxation requirements.

• Oversee statutory reporting and tax submissions.

• Coordinate external audits.

• Manage audit queries and corrective actions.

• Maintain a high standard of financial documentation and audit readiness.

Finance Team Leadership

• Lead and develop property-level finance teams.

• Establish strong standards of financial accountability.

• Coach and mentor Finance Managers, Accountants and finance personnel.

• Build a proactive finance culture across the Kenyan operations.

• Ensure consistent financial practices throughout the portfolio.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking a senior hospitality finance professional with the technical expertise, commercial maturity and leadership capability to manage a geographically dispersed multi-property operation.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years' relevant finance experience.

• Proven experience at Financial Controller, Financial Manager, Regional Finance Manager or equivalent senior level.

• Strong hospitality, hotel, lodge, safari, tourism or leisure-sector experience.

• Experience overseeing multiple properties or geographically dispersed operations.

• Strong management-accounting and financial-control expertise.

• Proven budgeting and forecasting experience.

• Strong understanding of cost control, cash flow and working capital.

• Experience managing audits, taxation and statutory compliance.

• Demonstrable experience leading and developing finance teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or related discipline.

• Professional accounting qualification such as CPA, ACCA, CA or equivalent.

• Strong knowledge of financial accounting and management accounting.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability.

• Experience with hospitality accounting systems / ERP platforms will be advantageous.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will be:

Commercially Astute | Technically Strong | Analytical | Hands-On | Ethical | Results Driven | Operationally Minded | A Strong Communicator | An Effective Leader

You should be comfortable challenging operational management where financial performance requires improvement, while simultaneously building strong relationships with General Managers and property leadership.

We are particularly interested in candidates who understand that excellent hospitality finance is about more than producing financial statements — it is about using financial intelligence to improve the business.

INTERNATIONAL CANDIDATES WELCOME

Indian Nationals | Expatriate Candidates Will Be Considered

The client welcomes applications from suitably qualified Indian Nationals and other international expatriate candidates, particularly those with strong:

• East African hospitality experience

• Multi-property finance experience

• Safari / lodge / hotel finance experience

• International hospitality-group experience

• Proven ability to operate in culturally diverse environments

Previous East African experience will be a significant advantage.

Candidates must have the professional maturity and adaptability required to work across Kenya's diverse hospitality operating environments.

REMUNERATION & EXPATRIATE BENEFITS

A highly competitive US$ net salary and expatriate benefits package will be offered to the successful candidate.

The package includes:

• Competitive US$ net salary

• Furnished accommodation

• Transport

• Social security

• Medical cover

• Work permit costs covered

• Visa costs covered

• Annual leave

• Return air flights to point of origin

The overall package is designed to provide an attractive international assignment for an experienced finance professional seeking a senior career opportunity in East Africa.

WHY THIS ROLE?

This is an opportunity to join a multi-property international hospitality operation in Kenya and make a direct impact on financial performance across an established portfolio of distinctive tourism properties.

The successful candidate will have genuine exposure to:

Regional Finance Leadership + Luxury Hospitality + Safari Tourism + Multi-Property Operations + Commercial Strategy + Senior Management

For the right individual, this represents an excellent opportunity to build or further strengthen an East African regional finance career.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are a qualified and experienced Financial Controller / Senior Hospitality Finance Professional with the commercial capability to oversee a multi-property Kenyan portfolio, we would like to hear from you.

International and expatriate applications are welcome.

Indian Nationals with relevant international / East African hospitality experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please submit your updated CV with Head and Shoulders photograph and a concise covering letter outlining your relevant hospitality finance experience, multi-property exposure, current location, nationality and availability.

Attention : Butch Mollett

Email: gordon@zjr.co.za" rel="noopener noreferrer">gordon@zjr.co.za

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.