Role Purpose:

The Financial Controller is a senior leadership position responsible for the full spectrum of financial management at The Residence Zanzibar. Working in close partnership with the General Manager and department heads, the Financial Controller ensures the resort operates with financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and a sharp commercial focus — enabling the delivery of exceptional guest experiences without compromise on profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Reporting:

• Direct and oversee all activities of the Resort Accounting Department, ensuring standards consistent with Company goals and local regulatory requirements.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly financial statements in accordance with Company policy, IFRS principles, and Tanzanian statutory obligations.
• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting cycle, presenting findings and variances to the General Manager and regional leadership.
• Develop and present meaningful management accounts, KPI dashboards, and commentary that enable data-driven decision-making across all departments.

Cost Control & Operational Finance:

• Implement robust controls across all cost centres — food & beverage, labour, supplies, equipment, and utilities — to protect margin without compromising service quality.
• Collaborate with department managers to establish predetermined profit objectives, performance benchmarks, and corrective action plans where needed.
• Develop and maintain operational tools including budgets, forecasts, purchase specifications, portion/recipe standards, menu abstracts, food production controls, and management reports.
• Oversee inventory management processes, ensuring appropriate stock levels, accurate counts, and timely reconciliations.

Internal Controls & Compliance:

• Design, implement, and continuously improve internal control frameworks across all financial and operational processes.
• Ensure full compliance with local tax legislation, statutory reporting requirements, and corporate policies.
• Coordinate internal and external audits, acting as the primary point of contact and driving swift resolution of any findings.
• Safeguard company assets through proper policies covering the use, maintenance, repair, and storage of all equipment and supplies.

Treasury & Cash Management:

• Manage daily cash flow, foreign exchange exposure, and banking relationships to optimise liquidity.
• Oversee accounts payable and receivable cycles to maintain healthy working capital and strong supplier relationships.
• Approve and monitor capital expenditure in line with approved budgets and company authority matrices.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance team, fostering a culture of accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Deliver training and coaching to department managers on financial literacy, budgeting, and cost awareness.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with Front Office, F&B, Procurement, and HR to embed financial discipline across the resort.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 3 years at Controller level within international luxury hotel or resort operations.
• Proven expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control within a complex, multi-revenue-stream environment.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, local Tanzanian tax and statutory requirements, and hospitality-specific accounting practices.
• Advanced proficiency in hotel PMS and ERP systems (Opera, Sun Systems, Sage, or equivalent).
• Outstanding analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to translate financial data into clear business narratives.