Financial Controller / Chief Accountant

Main Functions

• The Financial Controller / Chief Accountant is responsible for the overall financial management, accounting operations, financial control, reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, and regulatory compliance of the hospitality business.
• The role provides financial leadership and ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial information required for effective decision-making.
• The Financial Controller / Chief Accountant will oversee the hotel's accounting functions, monitor revenue and expenditure, safeguard company assets, strengthen internal controls, manage cash flow, and ensure compliance with applicable financial, tax, statutory, and hospitality accounting requirements.
• The role will work closely with the General Manager, Heads of Department, auditors, banks, suppliers, government agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure sound financial management and sustainable profitability.

Role Responsibilities
Financial Management & Accounting Operations:

• Oversee the day-to-day accounting and finance operations of the hotel.
• Ensure accurate recording, classification, and reporting of all financial transactions.
• Maintain complete and accurate accounting records in accordance with applicable accounting standards and company policies.
• Supervise the preparation and review of journals, ledgers, reconciliations, and financial schedules.
• Ensure timely closure of monthly, quarterly, and annual accounts.
• Review and approve accounting entries and supporting documentation within delegated authority.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment of hotel revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and capital expenditure.
• Establish and maintain effective accounting procedures and financial controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties across finance functions.

Financial Reporting & Management Accounts:

• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts and financial statements.
• Prepare income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and supporting schedules.
• Analyze financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Prepare detailed variance analysis and provide explanations for significant deviations.
• Present financial reports and insights to the General Manager and senior management.
• Provide management with reliable financial information to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Monitor key financial performance indicators and recommend corrective actions where necessary.
• Ensure timely submission of all internal financial reports.

Hotel Revenue Accounting:

• Oversee the accurate recording and reconciliation of revenue generated from rooms, food and beverage, events, conferences, banqueting, and other hotel services.
• Review daily revenue reports and ensure completeness and accuracy of revenue postings.
• Monitor the reconciliation of Property Management System (PMS) and Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions with accounting records.
• Review room revenue, occupancy, Average Daily Rate (ADR), RevPAR, food and beverage revenue, event revenue, and other income streams.
• Ensure proper recording of discounts, complimentary services, allowances, refunds, and adjustments.
• Work with Front Office, Food & Beverage, Sales, and other departments to resolve revenue discrepancies.
• Monitor revenue leakage and implement controls to minimize financial losses.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning:

• Coordinate the preparation of the annual operating budget.
• Work with departmental Heads to develop realistic departmental budgets.
• Prepare financial forecasts based on business performance, market conditions, and operational plans.
• Monitor actual performance against approved budgets.
• Identify cost overruns, revenue shortfalls, and emerging financial risks.
• Recommend appropriate cost-control and revenue-enhancement measures.
• Support management in developing financial strategies that improve profitability.
• Participate in long-term financial planning and business modelling.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management:

• Monitor the hotel's daily cash position and overall liquidity.
• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts.
• Ensure adequate funds are available to meet operational and statutory obligations.
• Monitor bank balances and oversee bank reconciliations.
• Review cash collections, deposits, transfers, and payments.
• Ensure proper controls over petty cash and operational cash handling.
• Manage relationships with banks and other financial institutions.
• Monitor payment schedules and prioritize obligations based on approved cash flow plans.
• Identify opportunities to optimize working capital and cash utilization.

Accounts Payable & Procurement Controls:

• Oversee the accounts payable function and ensure suppliers are paid accurately and on time.
• Review supplier invoices, purchase orders, goods received notes, and supporting documentation.
• Ensure appropriate authorization is obtained before payments are processed.
• Monitor supplier balances and reconcile vendor statements.
• Work closely with Procurement and Stores to ensure financial controls are maintained.
• Monitor outstanding payables and identify overdue obligations.
• Ensure supplier payments comply with approved company policies and delegated authority limits.
• Identify opportunities for cost efficiency without compromising operational quality.

Accounts Receivable & Credit Control:

• Oversee the accounts receivable function and ensure timely collection of outstanding debts.
• Monitor corporate accounts, event accounts, group bookings, and other credit customers.
• Review customer balances and ageing reports.
• Establish and monitor credit limits in accordance with company policies.
• Follow up on overdue accounts and coordinate collection efforts.
• Work with Sales and Front Office teams to resolve billing disputes.
• Provide regular reports on outstanding receivables and collection performance.
• Minimize bad debts and improve the organization's cash conversion cycle.

Payroll & Staff Cost Management:

• Oversee the preparation and processing of payroll in collaboration with the Human Resources department.
• Ensure payroll calculations are accurate and properly authorized.
• Reconcile payroll records with accounting records.
• Ensure appropriate deductions and statutory remittances are accurately calculated and processed.
• Monitor staff costs against approved manpower budgets.
• Provide management with analysis of labour costs and payroll variances.
• Maintain confidentiality and security of payroll and employee financial information.

Tax & Statutory Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with applicable Nigerian tax laws and statutory financial requirements.
• Coordinate the preparation and timely filing of relevant tax returns.
• Ensure accurate computation and remittance of applicable taxes, including VAT, withholding tax, PAYE, and other relevant obligations.
• Maintain proper documentation for tax assessments and statutory reviews.
• Liaise with relevant government authorities, tax consultants, and professional advisers when required.
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and advise management on relevant financial implications.
• Ensure statutory payments and filings are completed within required deadlines.

Internal Controls & Risk Management:

• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve effective financial control systems.
• Identify financial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Monitor compliance with financial policies, procedures, and approval limits.
• Conduct periodic reviews of financial processes and controls.
• Investigate unusual transactions, discrepancies, losses, and control breaches.
• Ensure proper authorization and documentation for financial transactions.
• Safeguard company funds, assets, inventory, and other financial resources.
• Support management in preventing fraud, financial misappropriation, and revenue leakage.

Audit & External Reporting:

• Coordinate internal and external financial audits.
• Prepare audit schedules, supporting documents, and financial information required by auditors.
• Respond to audit queries and coordinate the implementation of agreed recommendations.
• Ensure financial records are complete, accurate, and audit-ready.
• Liaise with external auditors, tax advisers, consultants, and other professional service providers.
• Monitor audit findings and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Maintain proper documentation in accordance with statutory and organizational requirements.

Inventory & Cost Control:

• Work with Procurement, Stores, Food & Beverage, and Operations teams to maintain effective inventory controls.
• Monitor food, beverage, housekeeping, engineering, and other operational costs.
• Review stock valuation and inventory reconciliation reports.
• Monitor food and beverage cost percentages and investigate significant variances.
• Support regular stock counts and inventory audits.
• Identify potential wastage, pilferage, and inventory losses.
• Provide management with recommendations for improving cost efficiency and profitability.

Asset & Capital Expenditure Management:

• Maintain accurate records of the organization's fixed assets.
• Monitor additions, disposals, transfers, and depreciation of fixed assets.
• Ensure capital expenditure is properly authorized, recorded, and monitored.
• Review capital expenditure proposals from a financial perspective.
• Monitor capital projects against approved budgets.
• Conduct periodic asset verification and reconciliation.
• Ensure adequate controls are maintained over company assets.

Financial Systems & Technology:

• Ensure effective use of accounting, PMS, POS, payroll, procurement, and other financial systems.
• Monitor the accuracy and integrity of financial data across systems.
• Ensure appropriate user access and authorization controls are maintained.
• Support automation and digitization of finance processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting efficiency and financial data accuracy.
• Ensure finance staff are adequately trained on relevant financial systems.

Business Advisory & Commercial Support:

• Provide financial advice to the General Manager and senior management.
• Support commercial decisions relating to pricing, promotions, contracts, procurement, and business development.
• Analyze the financial implications of new business initiatives and investment decisions.
• Evaluate proposed projects, partnerships, and revenue opportunities from a financial perspective.
• Provide financial insights to support profitability improvement.
• Participate in management meetings and strategic planning sessions as required.

Team Leadership & Staff Development:

• Lead, supervise, and develop the finance and accounting team.
• Establish departmental objectives and performance targets.
• Allocate responsibilities effectively across the finance function.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide regular coaching and feedback.
• Promote professionalism, accountability, integrity, and accuracy within the finance department.
• Identify training and development needs for finance staff.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and professional accounting standards.

Reporting & Performance Management:

• Prepare daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports as required.
• Monitor financial KPIs and communicate performance to management.
• Provide regular updates on cash flow, revenue, expenses, receivables, payables, and profitability.
• Prepare financial analysis and management reports for decision-making.
• Track departmental financial performance against approved targets.
• Escalate significant financial risks, control issues, and variances to management promptly.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance in this role will be measured against:

• Accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting.
• Timely completion of monthly and annual financial close.
• Budget variance and cost-control performance.
• Cash flow and working capital management.
• Accounts receivable collection performance.
• Accounts payable management.
• Revenue reconciliation accuracy.
• Reduction of revenue leakages and financial discrepancies.
• Tax and statutory compliance.
• Audit performance and timely resolution of audit findings.
• Inventory and cost-control performance.
• Payroll accuracy and compliance.
• Effectiveness of internal financial controls.
• Overall contribution to hotel profitability.

Qualifications and Requirements
Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as ICAN, ACCA, or equivalent is required.
• Membership of a recognized professional accounting body is highly preferred.
• Master's degree or MBA is an added advantage.

Experience:

• 7–10 years' progressive accounting and finance experience, preferably within the hospitality, hotel, tourism, or service industry.
• At least 3 years in a Financial Controller, Chief Accountant, Finance Manager, Senior Accountant, or equivalent supervisory role.
• Proven experience managing hotel accounting operations and financial controls.
• Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow management, and audit coordination.
• Experience with hospitality accounting systems, PMS, POS, and financial management software is highly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience managing and developing finance teams.

Skills:
Technical Skills:

• Financial accounting and reporting.
• Hotel accounting and revenue reconciliation.
• Budgeting and forecasting.
• Financial analysis and management reporting.
• Cash flow and treasury management.
• Tax and statutory compliance.
• Internal controls and risk management.
• Accounts payable and receivable.
• Cost and inventory control.
• Audit management.
• Payroll accounting.
• Financial systems and accounting software.
• Microsoft Excel and financial modelling.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict reporting deadlines.
• Strong decision-making and accountability.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

Personal Attributes:
The ideal candidate should be:

• Highly analytical and detail-oriented.
• Financially astute and commercially minded.
• Ethical, trustworthy, and highly accountable.
• Proactive in identifying financial risks and opportunities.
• Disciplined and organized.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
• Strong enough to challenge financial irregularities and control weaknesses.
• Able to balance financial discipline with operational business needs.
• Professional and confident when dealing with senior management, auditors, banks, suppliers, and government authorities.

Application Closing Date
6th September, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit their CV and Cover Letter to:  using "Financial Controller / Chief Accountant – Abuja" as the subject of the email.

Note:  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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