CFO and Director of Finance (Luxury Golf and Spa Resort)

Location: Southern Italy (on-site)

Employment type: Full-time, permanent

Industry: Hospitality, Hotels and Resorts

Department: Finance

Reports to: Ownership, working closely with the General Manager and the hotel operator

Opening: Reopening in 2027, with the appointment covering pre-opening and ongoing operations

About Our Client

Our client is an upscale leisure resort in Southern Italy, preparing for its reopening in 2027 after a major refurbishment. The resort offers rooms, food and beverage, golf, a wellness spa and events. It will operate under an internationally recognised hotel brand, run by a professional hotel operator. The owners are building a financially disciplined, high-performing resort for the long term. They are appointing a senior finance leader who will report directly to them and own the financial integrity of the reopening and beyond.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on hospitality finance leader to prepare the resort financially for reopening and then run its finance function.

Appointed by ownership and reporting directly to ownership, you will protect the owners' financial interests, establish reliable reporting and controls, manage cash requirements and support commercial decisions across rooms, food and beverage, golf, spa and events. You will work closely with the General Manager and the operator to deliver a financially disciplined reopening and to improve the resort's profitability and cash generation.

What You Will Do

1. Lead pre-opening financial management

• Prepare and manage the pre-opening budget, covering recruitment, training, systems, marketing, opening inventories, operating supplies and working capital.
• Build a monthly operating forecast for the first 24 months, reflecting seasonality, occupancy growth, room rates, departmental revenues, staffing and operating costs.
• Assess the financial implications of phased opening, programme delays and changes in operating assumptions, recommending actions and funding requirements.
• Work with the Project Manager and Cost Controller to consolidate refurbishment expenditure, contractual commitments, approved variations, payments and the forecast cost to complete.
• Establish payment controls requiring appropriate approvals and supporting certification before contractor and consultant payments are released.
• Identify and escalate financial risks affecting the opening date, available funding or operating readiness.

2. Build finance systems and controls

• Establish the accounting structure and departmental reporting framework, aligned with ownership requirements, the operator's reporting standards and applicable Italian accounting requirements.
• Implement and test interfaces and reconciliations between hotel booking, property management, restaurant point-of-sale, inventory, payroll and accounting systems.
• Establish procedures for purchasing, supplier onboarding, invoice approval, payments, revenue reconciliation, guest deposits, refunds, credit control and cash handling.
• Maintain an approval matrix with clear expenditure limits, bank authorities and segregation of duties.
• Establish fixed-asset records and controls over hotel equipment, operating supplies, food and beverage inventories and other material assets.

3. Drive operating finance and commercial performance

• Lead annual budgeting, regular forecasting and financial analysis, working with the GM and department heads to set realistic revenue and cost targets.
• Monitor profitability across rooms, food and beverage, golf, spa and events, identifying underperformance and recommending corrective action.
• Support revenue management and commercial decisions by evaluating pricing, distribution costs, packages, group bookings, events and customer profitability.
• Monitor payroll, staffing productivity, food and beverage costs, purchasing, utilities, maintenance and other major expenses.
• Assess proposed capital expenditure and operational investments, including expected returns, cash requirements and ongoing operating costs.
• Track agreed actions with department heads and report their financial results to ownership, the GM and operator.

4. Manage cash and accounting

• Maintain a rolling 13-week cash-flow forecast and longer-term funding projections, highlighting potential shortfalls early.
• Manage banking, working capital, receivables, supplier payments and financial commitments within approved authorities.
• Oversee general ledger accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, income audit, reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Deliver accurate monthly and annual accounts, with clear explanations of material variances and changes in forecast performance.
• Monitor advance bookings, guest deposits, cancellation liabilities and seasonal working-capital requirements.

5. Report to ownership and manage operator and brand relationships

• Report directly to ownership on financial performance, cash, budgets, capital expenditure, contractual commitments and material risks.
• Maintain direct access to ownership and independently escalate material financial concerns, control failures or irregularities without requiring prior approval from the GM or operator.
• Work openly and constructively with the GM and operator, sharing relevant financial information and supporting timely operational decisions.
• Review management, franchise, reservation, marketing and other contractual charges against the applicable signed agreements.
• Monitor financial reporting obligations, budget approvals and other finance-related requirements under the operator and brand agreements.
• Prepare a monthly management pack covering departmental performance, operating profit, cash flow, capex, commitments, forecasts and matters requiring ownership approval.

6. Ensure compliance and lead the finance team

• Coordinate Italian statutory accounts, tax, VAT, payroll obligations and audits with the appointed accountant, payroll consultant, auditors and legal advisers.
• Maintain a compliance calendar and ensure required financial records and supporting documentation are complete and accessible.
• Support the financial and administrative aspects of reopening approvals, working with the professionals responsible for licensing and technical compliance.
• Lead and develop a lean finance team, defining responsibilities between internal staff and external service providers.
• Train department heads in budgeting, purchasing controls and financial accountability.

Authority and Working Relationships

• Ownership will set your objectives and lead your performance review, with input from the GM and operator.
• You will support the GM in daily operations and coordinate with the operator on financial performance, reporting and contractual requirements. Your financial oversight and accountability to ownership will continue throughout the appointment.
• Expenditure, funding, payment approvals and contractual commitments must follow the approved delegation of authority.
• Construction quantities, technical certification and project delivery remain with the appointed Project Manager, Cost Controller and relevant consultants.

Requirements

What You Bring

• At least 10 years of relevant finance experience, including senior financial responsibility within hotels or resorts.
• Proven experience in a hotel opening, reopening or substantial refurbishment.
• Strong knowledge of Italian accounting, financial reporting and compliance requirements.
• Experience with seasonal resort operations and multiple revenue streams, ideally including golf, spa, food and beverage and events.
• Strong budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, cost control and commercial analysis skills.
• Familiarity with hotel finance systems and departmental reporting, preferably including USALI.
• Ability to build processes, lead a small team and work directly with detailed financial information.
• Confidence to challenge expenditure and explain financial implications clearly to management and ownership.
• Fluent Italian and strong professional English.
• A recognised accounting or finance qualification is preferred.

Your First 60 Days

1. Review the existing financial position, commitments and controls.
2. Deliver a consolidated pre-opening budget and refurbishment funding forecast.
3. Deliver a 24-month operating forecast and rolling cash-flow plan.
4. Define the finance-team structure, approval matrix and implementation timetable.
5. Produce a financial readiness plan supporting the 2027 reopening.

Benefits

• A highly competitive, senior-level package that reflects the scope of this role and the calibre of candidate sought. Compensation and benefits will be discussed in confidence with shortlisted candidates and tailored to the right individual.