Chief Accountant

Main Functions

• The Chief Accountant is responsible for overseeing the hotel’s day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accurate financial records, strong internal controls, timely financial reporting, effective cash and revenue management, and compliance with applicable financial policies, statutory requirements, and hotel standards.
• The role will provide reliable financial information to management to support sound business decisions, profitability, cost control, and sustainable growth of the hotel.

Responsibitlies
Financial Accounting & Reporting:

• Oversee the daily accounting operations of the hotel and ensure transactions are accurately recorded.
• Maintain accurate and complete financial records in accordance with approved accounting standards and hotel policies.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Review general ledger accounts and ensure all balances are properly supported and reconciled.
• Ensure timely posting and closing of accounting periods.
• Monitor income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and cash flow.
• Prepare financial analysis and reports for management decision-making.
• Identify unusual variances, errors, and financial irregularities and recommend corrective actions.

Hotel Revenue & Income Control:

• Oversee the accurate recording and reconciliation of revenue from rooms, restaurants, bars, banquets, conferences, events, laundry, spa, and other hotel outlets.
• Review daily revenue reports and ensure all income generated is properly accounted for.
• Monitor room revenue, occupancy-related income, food and beverage revenue, and other departmental revenues.
• Ensure proper reconciliation between the Property Management System (PMS), Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, and accounting records.
• Investigate revenue discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
• Work closely with Front Office, F&B, Sales, and other departments to strengthen revenue controls.

Accounts Payable & Receivable:

• Supervise accounts payable and ensure invoices are properly verified, approved, recorded, and paid according to agreed terms.
• Monitor outstanding receivables and ensure timely collection of hotel debts.
• Review customer and corporate account balances.
• Maintain proper supplier and customer account reconciliations.
• Ensure appropriate documentation is maintained for all payments and receipts.
• Monitor credit limits and payment terms for corporate clients.

Cash & Banking Management:

• Monitor daily cash collections, deposits, transfers, and bank transactions.
• Ensure all hotel cash collections are properly accounted for and deposited promptly.
• Review cashiers’ reports and daily cash reconciliations.
• Conduct regular cash and banking reconciliations.
• Monitor the hotel’s bank accounts and ensure unexplained differences are investigated immediately.
• Maintain proper controls over petty cash and operational cash funds.
• Support effective cash-flow planning and management.

Cost Control & Financial Control:

• Monitor hotel operating expenses and ensure spending is within approved budgets.
• Work closely with the Cost Controller, Store, Procurement, F&B, and departmental heads to control operational costs.
• Review food, beverage, inventory, payroll, utility, and other major operating costs.
• Investigate significant cost variances and recommend corrective measures.
• Ensure proper authorization is obtained before financial commitments are made.
• Strengthen internal controls to minimize wastage, fraud, errors, and financial losses.

Budgeting & Forecasting:

• Assist the Financial Controller and General Manager in preparing the annual hotel budget.
• Monitor actual performance against approved budgets.
• Prepare budget variance reports and provide explanations for significant deviations.
• Support departmental heads in understanding and managing their financial targets.
• Assist with financial forecasting and cash-flow projections.
• Provide financial information required for business planning and strategic decisions.

Inventory & Stock Accounting:

• Ensure proper accounting treatment and control of hotel inventory.
• Work with the Store and Cost Control teams to monitor stock movements.
• Review stock counts, inventory reconciliations, and stock valuation.
• Investigate stock variances, wastage, shortages, and unusual consumption patterns.
• Ensure proper documentation for purchases, issues, transfers, returns, and write-offs.
• Support regular stock audits and physical inventory counts.

Payroll & Staff-Related Financial Controls:

• Review payroll reports to ensure accuracy and proper authorization before processing.
• Work with HR to reconcile staff records, salaries, allowances, deductions, and statutory contributions.
• Ensure payroll-related expenses are correctly recorded.
• Monitor staff advances, loans, reimbursements, and other employee-related financial transactions.

Audit & Compliance:

• Coordinate internal and external audit requirements and ensure requested financial documents are readily available.
• Maintain proper audit trails and supporting documentation.
• Ensure the hotel complies with applicable accounting standards, tax regulations, statutory requirements, and company policies.
• Assist with tax computations, filings, and statutory payments as required.
• Implement recommendations arising from internal and external audits.
• Identify potential financial and compliance risks and escalate them appropriately.

Internal Controls & Risk Management:

• Establish, monitor, and improve accounting controls across hotel operations.
• Ensure proper segregation of duties within the Finance Department.
• Monitor authorization levels for purchases, payments, refunds, discounts, write-offs, and adjustments.
• Review financial processes regularly and recommend improvements.
• Detect and report suspected fraud, financial irregularities, or control weaknesses.
• Ensure confidential financial information is appropriately protected.

Team Leadership & Supervision:

• Supervise and coordinate members of the Finance and Accounts team.
• Assign responsibilities and ensure timely completion of accounting tasks.
• Train and develop accounting staff on hotel financial procedures and controls.
• Review staff performance and provide constructive feedback.
• Promote professionalism, accuracy, accountability, and teamwork within the Finance Department.

Management Support & Business Advisory:

• Provide management with accurate and timely financial information.
• Analyze hotel performance and highlight areas requiring management attention.
• Advise management on cost implications and financial risks associated with operational decisions.
• Support revenue and profitability improvement initiatives.
• Participate in management meetings and contribute financial insights to business discussions.
• Maintain a strong understanding of hotel operations and how different departments impact profitability.

Experience / Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or HND in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ICAN, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent is highly desirable.
• 5–8 years relevant accounting experience, preferably within a hotel or hospitality environment.
• Previous experience in a 4-star, 5-star, or superior luxury hotel is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience supervising or managing an accounting team.
• Strong knowledge of hotel accounting systems, PMS, POS, and financial management software.
• Demonstrable experience in budgeting, financial reporting, revenue control, cost control, and audit.
• Good knowledge of applicable Nigerian tax and statutory requirements.
• Proven ability to work with senior management and departmental heads.

Competencies / Skills:

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Excellent knowledge of hotel accounting operations.
• Strong understanding of hotel revenue and cost control.
• Budgeting and forecasting skills.
• Excellent financial analysis and reporting abilities.
• Strong knowledge of accounts payable and receivable.
• Cash and bank reconciliation expertise.
• Strong internal control and audit knowledge.
• Knowledge of inventory and stock accounting.
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Experience with accounting software and hotel management/POS systems.
• Strong numerical and analytical ability.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage confidential financial information.
• Strong leadership and team-management skills.

Behavioural Qualities / Other Competences:
The ideal candidate should:

• Be highly intelligent, analytical, and commercially aware.
• Demonstrate strong business sense and financial judgment.
• Be exceptionally accurate and detail-oriented.
• Be trustworthy, honest, and highly ethical.
• Be confident and professional when communicating with management and other departments.
• Be proactive in identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Have strong leadership and people-management abilities.
• Be firm when enforcing financial controls and company policies.
• Be organized and able to work under pressure.
• Demonstrate excellent problem-solving abilities.
• Be discreet when handling sensitive financial information.
• Have a strong understanding of luxury hotel operations and service standards.
• Be smart, polished, professional, and confident in appearance and communication.
• Have the ability to challenge financial inconsistencies professionally.
• Demonstrate strong ownership, accountability, and results orientation.

Application Closing Date
20th September, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their CVs and cover letter to: [email protected] using "Chief Accountant - Aba" as subject of the mail

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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