Head of Finance & Accounting

Hampton by Hilton Accra

The Head of Finance & Accounting will be responsible for leading the hotel’s finance, accounting, reporting, control and performance monitoring functions.

The role is not limited to bookkeeping. The person must ensure that the hotel has accurate accounts, proper financial controls, timely reporting, strong cost discipline, and clear visibility on the financial performance of Rooms, F&B, Events and overall hotel operations.

The Head of Finance & Accounting will supervise the Finance Officer / F&B Cost Controller and will review, validate and sign off the operational finance work prepared by the team.

Main Responsibilities

1. Financial Leadership

• Lead the hotel’s accounting and finance function.
• Supervise the Finance Officer / F&B Cost Controller.
• Ensure accurate accounting records.
• Ensure strong internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with the Delegation of Authority and finance procedures.

2. Monthly Accounts & Reporting

• Prepare monthly management accounts.
• Produce P&L, balance sheet and cash flow reports.
• Ensure accounts are closed on time, ideally within 10 days after month-end.
• Prepare a monthly reporting pack for the General Manager and Owners.
• Explain variances, risks and corrective actions.

3. Hotel Performance Monitoring

• Monitor Rooms KPIs: occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, channel mix and room revenue.
• Monitor F&B KPIs: food cost, beverage cost, wastage, revenue per cover and menu profitability.
• Monitor overall KPIs: GOP, payroll ratio, utility cost ratio, departmental margins and cash flow.

4. Systems & Data Control

• Ensure proper use and reconciliation of OPERA, Simphony, inventory/cost-control system and accounting software.
• Validate revenue flows between hotel systems and accounting records.
• Detect incorrect postings, revenue leakage, system misuse and control weaknesses.

5. Revenue Control

• Review room revenue, F&B revenue and events revenue reconciliations.
• Monitor cash, card, OTA and bank payment reconciliations.
• Review discounts, rebates, voids, allowances and complimentary items.
• Ensure proper revenue recognition and cut-off.

6. F&B Cost Control Oversight

• Oversee food and beverage cost control.
• Review stock counts, recipe costing, wastage, yield and variance reports.
• Work with the Chef and F&B Manager to reduce leakage and protect margins.

7. Procurement & Payment Controls

• Review supplier invoices, purchase orders and goods received notes.
• Ensure proper three-way matching before payments.
• Monitor supplier pricing and detect overbilling or irregular purchases.
• Act as final finance reviewer before payment approval.

8. Cash Flow & Credit Control

• Manage cash flow planning.
• Monitor bank balances, payables and receivables.
• Ensure proper petty cash, cashier and bank controls.
• Follow up on debtors and payment collections.

9. Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budget process.
• Prepare rolling forecasts.
• Monitor actual performance against budget.
• Work with department heads to control costs and improve profitability.

10. Audit, Tax & Compliance

• Coordinate external audits, internal audits and Hilton compliance audits.
• Ensure timely VAT, PAYE, withholding tax, SSNIT and other statutory filings.
• Maintain proper documentation and audit trails.
• Work with external auditors and tax advisors.

11. Pre-Opening Finance Setup

• Set up chart of accounts.
• Support accounting system configuration.
• Prepare finance SOPs and reporting templates.
• Set up fixed asset register and opening stock controls.
• Create month-end closing checklist and KPI dashboard.
• Ensure finance readiness before hotel opening.

Role Objective

The objective of the role is to ensure that the hotel finance function is:

• Accurate;
• Timely;
• Controlled;
• Transparent;
• Compliant;
• Useful for decision-making;
• Able to protect the owners from revenue leakage, cost leakage and weak controls.

The ideal candidate should have strong finance, accounting and hotel operations experience, with the ability to manage both financial reporting and operational controls.

Required Experience

• Degree in Finance, Accounting or a related field.
• Professional qualification required or in final stages: ACCA, CPA, ICA, ICAEW or equivalent.
• Minimum 8–12 years’ experience in finance, accounting, audit or financial control.
• Strong experience in hotel or hospitality finance.
• Experience preparing monthly management accounts, P&L, balance sheet and cash flow reports.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Good understanding of hotel operations, including Rooms, F&B, Events, procurement, stores and inventory.
• Experience supervising finance staff or a small finance team.
• Experience with audits, tax compliance and statutory reporting.
• Pre-opening hotel experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience with international hotel brands such as Hilton, Marriott, IHG or Accor is preferred.

Required Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and internal controls.
• Ability to close monthly accounts accurately and on time.
• Strong financial analysis and reporting skills.
• Ability to monitor hotel KPIs such as occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, GOP, payroll ratio, food cost and beverage cost.
• Strong understanding of procurement controls, supplier invoice review, PO / GRN / invoice matching and payment controls.
• Good knowledge of revenue reconciliation between hotel systems and accounting records.
• Strong Excel and financial modelling/reporting skills.
• Ability to work with hotel systems such as OPERA, Simphony, Sage, Infor, Jana, Omega or Material Control.
• Good understanding of VAT, PAYE, withholding tax, SSNIT and statutory compliance in Ghana, or ability to work closely with local tax advisors.

Required Personal Skills

• High integrity and strong control mindset.
• Very good attention to detail.
• Hands-on and proactive.
• Able to challenge department heads constructively.
• Strong analytical mindset.
• Good communication with GM, owners, auditors and department heads.
• Able to meet deadlines.
• Systems-oriented, not only Excel-based.
• Practical understanding of hotel operations, not only theoretical accounting.

• Competitive monthly salary based on experience, qualification and market level.
• Accomodation
• Medical insurance.
• Paid annual leave in line with company policy.
• Annual return flight allowance
• Monthly phone / data allowance.
• Transport allowance, where applicable.
• Company laptop or secure finance workstation.
• Training support on hotel finance systems, Hilton standards, OPERA, Simphony, accounting and inventory systems.
• Annual performance bonus linked to clear KPIs, including timely monthly closing, audit results, tax compliance, system reconciliation accuracy and internal control performance.
• Opportunity to be part of the pre-opening team of an international hotel brand.
• Career growth opportunity within the hotel finance and accounting function.
• Work permit and residence permit