The Senior Accountant is responsible for the day-to-day accounting activities, reconciliations, and financial reporting across AYO Group entities. The role holder is expected to take full ownership of these responsibilities and to operate with a high degree of autonomy, reporting to the Financial Controller & CFO.

 

This is a hands-on role built around strong Excel and QuickBooks capability. The successful candidate will maintain their own working files and reconciliations, proactively identify issues, and bring well-considered solutions to the Financial Controller & CFO.

 

The role will work closely with the Group's hotels and operational departments to ensure that financial information accurately reflects business performance and supports effective decision-making.

Key Responsibilities:

A. Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Manage the day-to-day accounting activities of the assigned entities/properties.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date accounting records and the General Ledger.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing procedures.
• Prepare and post journal entries, accruals, prepayments, provisions, and adjustments.
• Prepare balance sheet schedules and supporting financial documentation.
• Analyse financial results and highlight significant variances to the Financial Controller and CFO.
• Ensure financial information is accurate, complete, and submitted within agreed deadlines.

B. Reconciliations & General Ledger

• Perform and review monthly bank reconciliations.
• Reconcile accounts receivable and accounts payable balances.
• Reconcile intercompany transactions between AYO Group entities.
• Review and clear outstanding reconciling items.
• Maintain accurate balance sheet reconciliations.
• Investigate discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment and supporting documentation for all transactions.

C. Hospitality Accounting

• Monitor and reconcile daily hotel revenues.
• Reconcile revenue between the Property Management System (PMS), Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, and accounting system.
• Assist in monitoring departmental costs and hotel operating expenses.
• Review daily revenue reports and investigate unusual variances.
• Support the Financial Controller in strengthening financial controls across the properties.

D. Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable

• Review supplier invoices and ensure proper accounting and supporting documentation.
• Perform supplier statement reconciliations.
• Monitor outstanding supplier balances.
• Monitor customer receivables and outstanding balances.
• Follow up on overdue accounts where required.
• Ensure transactions are correctly allocated to the relevant entity, department, and cost centre.

E. Cost Control & Inventory

• Assist in monitoring hotel operating costs.
• Analyse Food & Beverage and other departmental costs.
• Assist with stock and inventory reconciliations.
• Investigate inventory variances and unusual movements.
• Work with Operations, Purchasing, and Stores to strengthen cost-control procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.

F. Statutory Compliance & Taxation

• Assist in ensuring compliance with applicable Mauritian accounting and tax requirements.
• Prepare information required for VAT, Tourist Fee and other statutory submissions.
• Maintain accurate supporting documentation for statutory requirements.
• Liaise with the Financial Controller and external advisors on taxation and compliance matters.

G. Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with AYO Group's financial policies and procedures.
• Identify weaknesses or risks within accounting processes and report them to the Financial Controller.
• Assist in implementing and monitoring internal financial controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties.
• Monitor unusual or exceptional transactions and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Support continuous improvement of finance processes.

 

H. Team Support & Collaboration

• Provide guidance and support to team members.
• Review accounting work where required.
• Assist in developing and improving accounting procedures.
• Work closely with Hotel Managers, Operations, Purchasing, HR and other departments.
• Maintain professional and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Technical skills (essential)

·       Advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, and SUMIFS, applied daily to reconciliations, reporting, and data analysis.

·       Sound working knowledge of QuickBooks with the ability to navigate and troubleshoot independently.

·       Ability to adapt readily to other finance or operational systems as required (e.g. hotel PMS, payment platforms).

 

Qualifications & experience

·       Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

·       ACCA qualification or equivalent professional accounting qualification is highly desirable.

·       Minimum 5 years' experience in accounting or finance, preferably with experience at Senior Accountant level.

·       Previous experience in the hospitality or hotel industry is highly desirable.

·       Experience in a multi-property or group environment is an advantage.

·       Experience with accounting software and ERP systems.

·       Strong experience in reconciliations, financial reporting and month-end closing.

Key Competencies

·       Strong analytical and numerical ability.

·       Excellent attention to detail.

·       Strong financial and accounting knowledge.

·       Ability to identify discrepancies and financial risks.

·       Ability to interpret financial information and provide meaningful analysis.

·       High level of integrity and confidentiality.

·       Reliable and accountable.

·       Organised and methodical.

·       Proactive and solution oriented.

·       Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

·       Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.

·       Works independently and effectively as part of a team

·       Strong sense of responsibility and ownership.

·       Works with minimal supervision.