Financial Controller

The award-winning Macklin Group is one of Northern Ireland's foremost care home and hospitality organisations. With ambitious plans for the future and a forward-thinking approach across our businesses, we set ourselves apart as an exciting and rewarding organisation to work with.

The Group has developed substantially in recent years through organic growth and acquisitions, as well as winning almost 50 awards in recent years for our people development and service. The Malone Hotel, located in Belfast, is an established and growing hospitality business with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality guest experiences. As we continue to develop the hotel and invest in its future, we are looking to appoint an experienced Financial Controller to join the management team.

Reporting to the Finance Director, the successful candidate will take responsibility for the financial management of Malone Hotel, working closely with the General Manager and wider hotel management team to support strong commercial and operational performance.

This is a key role within the hotel and provides an opportunity for an experienced finance professional to become a trusted commercial partner to the hotel's senior leadership team.

About The Role

The Financial Controller will be responsible for the effective management of the finance function at Malone Hotel, ensuring accurate, timely and insightful financial information is available to support business and operational decision-making.

The role will combine strong technical accounting and financial control with a commercially focused approach. The successful candidate will work closely with the General Manager and departmental managers to understand hotel performance, identify opportunities, manage costs and support the delivery of revenue and profitability targets.

The Financial Controller will take ownership of the hotel's budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, cash flow, financial controls and financial reporting, while ensuring that appropriate processes and systems are in place to support efficient financial management.

The successful candidate will provide constructive financial challenge, translate financial information into meaningful commercial insight, and support the hotel leadership team in achieving its strategic and operational objectives.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Financial Management & Reporting

• Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day finance function of Malone Hotel.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts for the hotel.
• Provide clear financial commentary and analysis on monthly performance.
• Analyse actual performance against budget, forecast and prior year, identifying significant variances and their underlying causes.
• Provide the Finance Director and General Manager with clear and insightful financial information to support decision-making.
• Produce regular financial reports and analysis for the hotel's management team.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial records and reporting.
• Ensure robust financial controls are maintained across the hotel.
• Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable and the effective management of creditors and debtors.
• Monitor expenditure and ensure appropriate authorisation procedures are followed.
• Support the Finance Director with year-end accounts, audit requirements and statutory reporting.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting process for Malone Hotel in conjunction with the Finance Director and General Manager.
• Prepare regular financial forecasts and reforecasts.
• Monitor performance against budget and forecast throughout the financial year.
• Identify emerging financial risks and opportunities and communicate these proactively to the senior management team.
• Prepare financial models and forecasts to support business planning and commercial decisions.
• Work with departmental managers to ensure they understand and take ownership of their budgets and financial performance.

Commercial Finance

• Act as a trusted financial business partner to the General Manager and hotel management team.
• Develop, monitor and report on relevant financial and operational KPIs.
• Provide financial analysis to support the hotel's revenue and profitability objectives.
• Work closely with the hotel's operational teams to identify opportunities to increase revenue and improve margins.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and improved operational efficiency without compromising the guest experience.
• Analyse departmental performance and provide appropriate financial challenge and recommendations.
• Support commercial decision-making through financial modelling and scenario analysis.
• Develop a strong understanding of the hotel's revenue streams, cost base and key commercial drivers.
• Work closely with management to understand the financial impact of operational decisions and initiatives.
• Support the development and implementation of initiatives designed to improve hotel profitability.

Hotel Performance

• Monitor key hotel performance indicators and provide meaningful analysis to the management team.
• Work closely with the General Manager and relevant managers to understand trends in:
• Room revenue and occupancy.
• Average Daily Rate (ADR).
• RevPAR.
• Food and beverage performance.
• Departmental profitability.
• Labour costs.
• Gross and net margins.
• Other relevant hotel KPIs.
• Identify trends and exceptions and ensure appropriate action is taken.
• Provide financial insight into the performance of individual departments and revenue streams.
• Support management in setting and monitoring financial targets.

Cashflow & Financial Controls

• Monitor the hotel's cash flow and working capital position.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place over cash, banking, purchasing and expenditure.
• Monitor debtor and creditor balances and take appropriate action where required.
• Ensure all financial transactions are processed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Regularly review finance processes and identify opportunities to strengthen controls and improve efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial policies and procedures.

Finance Systems & Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting and automation within the hotel.
• Ensure finance systems are used effectively and provide accurate and accessible information.
• Develop and improve financial reporting tools to support management decision-making.
• Work with relevant internal and external stakeholders to implement improvements to finance systems and processes.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes and improve the efficiency of the finance function.
• Ensure appropriate controls and procedures are maintained as the hotel continues to develop.

Leadership & Business Partnership

• Provide leadership and direction to the hotel's finance team.
• Ensure clear responsibilities, reporting lines and performance expectations are established within the finance function.
• Support the development and performance of finance team members.
• Build strong working relationships with the General Manager, Hotel Operations Manager, Restaurant Manager and departmental managers.
• Support non-finance managers in developing their understanding of budgets, financial performance and commercial decision-making.
• Provide appropriate financial guidance and challenge to managers across the hotel.
• Work collaboratively with the wider Macklin Group Finance function and central support teams where appropriate.

External Relationships

• Maintain effective relationships with external advisers and stakeholders relevant to the hotel finance function.
• Liaise with external auditors, banks, professional advisers and other relevant parties as required.
• Ensure information requested by external stakeholders is accurate and provided within agreed timescales.

General

• Support the Finance Director and General Manager with financial projects, business planning and commercial initiatives.
• Contribute to the continued development and commercial success of Malone Hotel.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity in relation to all financial information.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, accounting standards and company policies.
• Promote and demonstrate the Macklin Group values in all aspects of the role.

This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include any other duties and responsibilities as may be determined in consultation with the jobholder. It is not intended to be rigid and inflexible, but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

Required Criteria

• Educated to degree level in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years' relevant accounting or finance experience.
• Professional accounting qualification or significant progress towards qualification.
• Experience in a senior finance role with responsibility for management accounts, budgeting and forecasting.
• Strong technical accounting and financial reporting knowledge.
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