Financial Controller (Restaurants)

Job description / Role

Job Title: Financial Controller
Business Unit/ Department: Finance
Reports to: Managing Director
Reported by: Accountants

Purpose of the Job (Overall accountability)

The candidate is responsible for the accounting operations of the company, to include the production of periodic financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, and enhance the accuracy of the company's reported financial results.

Scope
• Services: Finance
• Customers: All Business Units/ Departments/ Employees
• Work Team: Corporate

Principal responsibilities:
• Maintain a documented system of accounting policies and procedures
• Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department's goals and objectives
• Oversee the accounting operations of restaurant outlets, especially their control systems, transaction-processing operations, and policies and procedures.
• Ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely manner
• Ensure that accounts receivable are collected promptly
• Process payroll in a timely manner
• Ensure that periodic bank reconciliations are completed
• Ensure that required debt payments are made on a timely basis
• Maintain the chart of accounts
• Maintain an orderly accounting filing system
• Maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions
• Issue timely and complete financial statements
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of company operations
• Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics
• Manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts
• Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to management
• Provide for a system of management cost reports
• Provide financial analyses as needed, in particular for capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations
• Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors for the annual audit
• Analyze menu item costs, establish menu pricing and recommend menu modifications for new and current items.
• Research, analyze, explain and determine course of action for all material variances on a monthly basis.
• Recommend pricing, portion and supplier changes as costs fluctuate.
• Responsible for ensuring the completion and integrity of all month end inventories.
• Ensure requisition and distribution system is enforced through proper authorization of requisitions.
• Responsible for reconciliation of all General Ledger food and beverage inventory accounts on a monthly basis by designated dates.
• Analyze and verify prices to vendor supplied bid sheets.
• Responsible for auditing invoices, credit memos due and product security on a monthly basis to ensure accurate food cost percentages.
• Indirectly supervise and train on Purchasing and Receiving Policies.
• Produce Food & Beverage revenue reports.
• Auditing Credit charges including house charges, complimentary staff meals etc.
• Production of month end cost report and analysis.
• Contribute to the preparation of the yearly operating plans, budgets, cash flow forecasts.
• Responsible for restaurant petty cash expense receipt, checking and organizing reimbursement.
• Responsible for Bank reconciliation of all bank accounts including credit card settlement.
• Responsible for Head office petty cash handling and processing reimbursement.
• Responsible for Payment voucher and cheque preparation for all inventory suppliers, co-ordination with purchase on documentation etc.
• Responsible for other payments including rent, utilities & other standard payments as per credit terms.
• Responsible for key supplier account reconciliation.
• Responsible for visiting local company locations for surprise audit on cash, inventory etc.
• Responsible for liaising / following up with other departments and/or external agencies, banks etc. on need basis.
• Responsible for maintenance of asset register & updating

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or business administration, or equivalent business experience
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience for a major company or division of a large corporation in the F&B industry
• Preference will be given to candidates with the Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant designations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, or similar discipline
• Industry experience in managing fast casual restaurant concepts with opening experience is strongly preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft office (Microsoft Excel is a must)
• Knowledgeable of Point of Sale Systems and accounting software (Micros, Squirrel, Aloha, Tally, ERP etc…)

About the Company

Incepted in the late 70's, Ghobash Group has become one of the resilient business conglomerates in UAE. The privately-owned group has expanded to geographies across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe through its diversified business arms.

Focused on growth through value-creation, Ghobash Group has advanced with successful milestones over the years in its business industries: Technology, Chemicals, Engineering, Oil & Gas, Water, Energy, Pharmaceutical, Retail, Trading and Real Estate.

CNS, GCG Office Imaging, Tawazon Chemical, E&I Emirates, GCG Engineering Services, Arabian Ethicals, Ataya Fashion, Prime Hospitality, and Makeen Properties. The Group has also formed Joint Ventures over the years such as Sahara Center sustaining its momentum of successful milestones throughout the years.

Sustainability, innovation, diversification, and ownership are amongst the key values the Group has been practicing for decades. Working with partners, who share the same values, the Group has added value throughout the years through profitable investment opportunities in both the private and public sectors.

In depth experience, combined with a granular knowledge of the regional economy, enables Ghobash Group to identify, and provide access to the best business opportunities across the region.

Committed to diversified growth, Ghobash Group is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates and services through its offices and factories in Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Iraq, and Africa.

The Group values its people as family and its customers as long term partners. Embracing excellence yet keeping it personal is a key strength of the Group which is a characteristic that has not faded since its inception.

Driving success through its people and partners, with its diverse business arm, Ghobash group aims to continue to grow adding value with every opportunity, every transaction, every employee life, every partner business, every community across varied geographies.

Together we make a difference.