Director of Finance & Business Support (Pre-Opening) - voco Muar

About voco Muar

Located within KCC City Business Park, voco Muar is scheduled to open in Q4 2026 and will introduce a fresh, internationally recognized offering to the city. With 107 guestrooms, three distinctive dining venues, leisure facilities, and dedicated meeting spaces, the hotel is designed to meet growing corporate demand alongside increasing domestic leisure travel.

As the first international hotel in Muar, this role presents a unique opportunity to establish the Engineering function from day one. From pre-opening planning and systems setup to ongoing maintenance and operational excellence, the Chief Engineer will be instrumental in ensuring the hotel is safe, efficient, and positioned for long-term success.

We are looking for a commercially minded and hands-on finance leader who thrives in pre-opening environments and enjoys building high-performing teams, strong governance practices, and scalable financial processes. The successful candidate will be a trusted business partner to the General Manager and ownership group, providing strategic financial guidance while ensuring operational efficiency, compliance, and sustainable profitability.

What is the job

As Director of Finance, you will lead the hotel's financial operations to safeguard assets, ensure strong financial controls, and drive business performance. You will partner closely with the General Manager and ownership group to provide strategic financial guidance, maximize profitability, and ensure compliance with company policies and local regulations.

You will serve as the primary contact for all finance and accounting matters, working closely with owners, auditors (internal and external), tax authorities, and other regulatory bodies.

Your Day to Day

People

• Lead, develop, and inspire the Finance team through coaching, mentoring, and regular performance feedback.
• Plan, organize, and supervise day-to-day accounting and finance activities to ensure operational excellence.
• Build a high-performing team by providing training, development opportunities, and ongoing support.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration across departments through regular communication with hotel leadership teams.
• Help department leaders understand the financial impact of business decisions and support them in achieving their performance objectives.

Financial

• Analyze financial performance, business trends, and market data to identify opportunities and recommend actions that improve profitability.
• Prepare the annual operating budget and forecasts, providing analytical support to department heads throughout the planning process.
• Monitor financial performance against budget and recommend corrective actions where needed.
• Evaluate the financial viability and return on investment of capital expenditure projects.
• Manage cash flow effectively through strong controls over receivables, payables, inventory, and working capital.
• Review pricing strategies and work closely with the Commercial team and General Manager to maximize revenue opportunities.
• Provide timely and accurate financial reporting to management and owners.

Guest Experience

• Support an exceptional guest experience by ensuring efficient and accurate financial processes.
• Ensure payment systems, billing procedures, and financial controls are effective and guest-friendly.
• Resolve guest billing and financial disputes promptly and professionally.
• Respond to guest requests in a courteous and timely manner and follow up to ensure satisfaction.

Responsible Business

• Ensure compliance with IHG policies, accounting standards, and local statutory requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong internal control systems and financial procedures.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure all findings are addressed appropriately.
• Manage hotel contracts, including supplier agreements and service contracts, from a financial perspective.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure timely submission of tax and statutory filings.
• Represent the hotel professionally within relevant industry and professional associations.
• Perform other duties as assigned and may serve as Manager on Duty when required.

Accountabilities

This is the most senior Finance position within voco Muar and is responsible for overseeing all finance and accounting functions, including but not limited to:

• Financial Reporting
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Credit Management
• General Cashiering
• Income Audit
• Payroll
• Purchasing and Procurement
• Financial Planning & Analysis
• Internal Controls and Compliance

The role partners closely with the General Manager and ownership representatives to drive financial performance and support business decision-making.

What we need from you

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Director of Finance, Financial Controller, or senior finance leader within the hospitality industry.
• Experience with hotel financial management, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial reporting.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to translate financial data into business insights and recommendations.
• Knowledge of hotel accounting systems, internal controls, taxation, and statutory compliance requirements.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with hotel owners and asset management teams would be an advantage.
• Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia and/or Mandarin would be an advantage.

How do I deliver this

We genuinely care about people and we show this through living out our promise of True Hospitality each and every day. It's what connects every colleague in all IHG® resorts.

Each IHG® resort brand delivers True Hospitality in their own way, and at the heart of it all are specific, core service skills.

• True Attitude: being caring, wanting to make a positive difference, and building genuine connections with guests
• True Confidence: having the knowledge and skills to perform your role, and giving guests the confidence that they can trust you, to help and support them during their stay
• True Listening: focusing on what your guest is saying, picking up on body language that is often overlooked, and understanding what the guest wants and needs
• True Responsiveness: is about providing guests with what they need, and doing so in a timely and caring manner

There's so much more to the job than we can capture here. It's simply about creating great experiences, doing the right thing and understanding people.

Don't quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you'd be a great fit for the job We'll never know unless you hit the Apply button. Start your journey with us today.