The Finance Director / Financial Controller is the senior steward of the venue’s financial health, ensuring strong controls, accurate reporting, and disciplined cash management across the business. In a restaurant, club, or lounge environment, the role balances strategic financial leadership with hands-on oversight of day-to-day accounting, purchasing controls, and administrative processes that support profitable operations.
- Purpose of the role
- To protect margins, maintain financial integrity, and provide clear, timely insight that supports commercial decision-making.
- To ensure all financial processes—from purchasing and payroll to reconciliations and month-end close—run efficiently, accurately, and in line with company policy.
- To identify risks, control waste, and improve profitability through robust financial discipline and analysis.
- Position in the organisation
- Sits within the Purchasing, Finance & Administration function and plays a central leadership role across the venue.
- Typically works closely with the General Manager, Operations team, Purchasing, and Department Heads to monitor performance and enforce financial controls.
- Usually reports to the General Manager, Managing Director, or Group Finance Director, depending on the size and structure of the business.
- Key areas of responsibility
- Oversee management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
- Lead cash flow management, banking, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
- Maintain internal controls for purchasing, stock, invoices, petty cash, and supplier payments.
- Support payroll administration, statutory compliance, and audit preparation.
- Analyse revenue, cost of sales, labour costs, and other operating expenses to improve profitability.
- Work with operational leaders to ensure financial targets are understood and achieved.
- Type of person who succeeds in this role
- Highly numerate, detail-focused, and commercially astute, with strong hospitality business awareness.
- Confident, calm, and trustworthy, with the ability to influence others and enforce standards tactfully.
- Organised and resilient, able to manage deadlines, solve problems, and maintain control in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- A proactive communicator who combines financial rigour with a practical, service-led approach.