Head Cost Controller
Join the Family: Head Cost Controller at The Social House
At The Social House, we’re so much more than a hotel. We are a vibrant collection of spaces, stories, and experiences designed to bring people together. Driven by creativity, culture, and a love for exceptional hospitality, we’re looking for someone special to help us keep our behind-the-scenes magic running smoothly.
We are searching for a commercially driven, highly analytical, and passionate Head Cost Controller to join our Finance team. If you love turning numbers into actionable insights and have a heart for hospitality, this is your chance to shine!
How You’ll Make an Impact
Reporting to our Financial Controller, you’ll be the guiding force behind our cost management. You’ll act as a true business partner to our Kitchen, Restaurants, Bars, and Procurement team, ensuring our F&B and operational costs are perfectly balanced while protecting the exceptional quality our guests love.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Control & Financial Analysis
Lead the hotel's cost control function and ensure effective monitoring of all controllable costs.
Monitor and analyze food, beverage and operating supply costs against budgets and targets.
Prepare daily, weekly and monthly cost control reports and management analyses.
Analyze actual costs against budget, standard costs and previous periods and investigate significant variances.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to management.
Monitor cost of sales and ensure appropriate controls are maintained across all departments.
Ensure all cost control procedures are consistently applied and maintained.
Food & Beverage Cost Control
Monitor Food & Beverage cost percentages and identify trends and variances.
Review daily food and beverage sales against consumption and stock movements.
Conduct recipe costing and maintain accurate standard recipe and selling price information.
Review menu profitability and recommend adjustments where appropriate.
Monitor portion control, yields, wastage and complimentary items.
Review voids, discounts, complimentary items and staff meals for appropriate authorization and accounting treatment.
Work closely with Kitchen and R&B teams to identify opportunities to improve food and beverage margins.
Inventory & Stock Control
Oversee regular stock counts and ensure accurate inventory records are maintained.
Coordinate and review monthly physical stock counts across Stores, Kitchen, Bars and other relevant areas.
Investigate stock variances, shortages, overages and unusual movements.
Monitor stock levels and identify slow-moving, excess or potentially obsolete inventory.
Ensure stock issues, transfers, returns and adjustments are properly documented and authorized.
Review stock valuation and ensure inventory records reconcile with the accounting system.
Monitor wastage, spoilage and breakages and ensure appropriate controls are in place.
Purchasing, Receiving & Stores Controls
Work closely with Procurement and Stores to ensure purchases are made in accordance with approved procedures.
Review purchase prices and monitor price movements for key commodities.
Analyze supplier price changes and their impact on food and beverage margins.
Ensure receiving procedures are properly followed and goods received are accurately recorded.
Review purchase orders, receiving records, invoices and related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
Monitor purchasing against approved budgets and agreed specifications.
Identify purchasing variances and recommend corrective action.
Systems & Reporting
Ensure accurate and timely posting of cost-related transactions in the relevant accounting and inventory systems.
Review and validate reports generated from SUN Financial and Micros Materials Control or other applicable systems.
Ensure inventory and cost control records reconcile with the General Ledger.
Prepare monthly cost control reports and management packs.
Provide accurate cost and inventory information to support budgeting, forecasting and decision-making.
Maintain appropriate cost control documentation and audit trails.
Budgeting & Forecasting
Support the preparation of departmental budgets and cost targets.
Monitor actual performance against approved budgets and forecasts.
Provide cost and inventory inputs for financial forecasts.
Assist departments in developing realistic and commercially appropriate cost targets.
Track cost-saving initiatives and report on their impact.
Internal Controls & Audit
Develop, implement and maintain effective cost control procedures and internal controls.
Identify control weaknesses and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
Conduct regular reviews of inventory, purchasing, receiving and consumption processes.
Support internal and external audits by providing accurate records and supporting documentation.
Investigate audit findings and ensure agreed corrective actions are implemented.
Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting procedures and financial controls.
Team Leadership & Business Partnership
Lead, coach and develop the Cost Control team to deliver accurate and timely reporting.
Establish clear responsibilities, performance standards and follow-up mechanisms within the Cost Control function.
Work collaboratively with Finance, Procurement, Stores, Kitchen, Restaurants & Bars and other operational departments.
Provide financial insights and recommendations to operational leaders.
Promote a culture of cost awareness, accountability and commercial discipline across the hotel.
What We're Looking For
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Hospitality Management or a related field from a recognized academic institution.
CPA(K), ACCA or equivalent professional qualification is an added advantage.
Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in Cost Control, preferably within a hotel or high-volume hospitality environment.
Previous experience in a supervisory or managerial Cost Control role is preferred.
Strong experience in Food & Beverage cost control, inventory management and stock reconciliation.
Experience in recipe costing, menu costing and variance analysis.
Strong knowledge of purchasing, receiving, stores and inventory control processes.
Experience with hotel accounting and inventory systems, particularly SUN Financial and Micros Materials Control, is an added advantage.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial analysis.
Good understanding of budgeting, forecasting and financial controls.
Skills & Competencies
We're looking for someone who is:
Highly analytical with strong commercial and financial acumen.
Detail-oriented with a strong focus on accuracy.
Proactive in identifying cost risks, inefficiencies and opportunities.
Strong in inventory management and reconciliation.
Confident in analyzing financial and operational data.
Excellent at problem-solving and investigating variances.
Strong in planning, organization and time management.
A confident communicator who can work effectively with both Finance and operational teams.
Able to challenge processes constructively and influence cost-conscious decision-making.
Strong in team leadership, coaching and performance management.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
Highly ethical and committed to maintaining strong financial controls.
Commercially aware with a clear focus on profitability and operational excellence.
Why Grow With Us?
We believe in doing hospitality differently, and that starts with our people. Joining The Social House means becoming part of a bold, collaborative team that celebrates fresh ideas. In this role, you aren’t just crunching numbers; you’re a key driver of our commercial success. You’ll partner closely with our F&B teams to spark operational efficiency and protect the margins of one of Nairobi's most distinctive lifestyle brands.
Ready to turn your passion for hospitality finance into business-changing insights? We'd love to hear from you.
The Social House is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a workplace where people are treated with dignity, performance is pursued with integrity and every team member contributes meaningfully to the success of the hotel.