- Hiking/Walking
- Watching school sports
Hi, I’m
Melissa Petersen-Hendricks
Southfield
Summary
Results-oriented finance professional with expertise in financial reporting, process improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. Drives strategic decision-making through efficient and accurate execution. Mentors teams to enhance performance and contribute to high-functioning finance operations.
Overview
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Hyatt Hotels
Financial Controller
06.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Lead and develop a finance team of 10 professionals across Cape Town and Sandton, ensuring high performance, strong internal controls, and continuous skills development.
- Conducted weekly finance meetings, delivering training to enhance team capability and streamline processes.
- Perform weekly internal control reviews (Pit Checks, Night Audit Packs, Chargebacks, Open Checks) to safeguard the business against operational and financial risks.
- Complete month-end reporting to Hyatt International by the 2nd working day, delivering accurate and timely financial statements.
- Produce detailed P&L statements with justified variance commentary against budget and forecast.
- Prepared and review Balance Sheet reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Managed preparation of Owner Management reports, detailing cost per room/seat, expense trackers with variances, cash flow status, and AR/AP risks for informed decision-making.
- Update monthly forecast, incorporating HOD input and highlighting variances to budget.
- Maintain and monitor the company payroll budget, approving monthly payroll costs.
- Conduct mid-month performance reviews with HODs to assess departmental results and implement corrective action plans.
- Implemented weekly profit improvement strategies to safeguard against risks to NOP.
- Manage weekly cash flow forecasts of projected bank inflows and outflows.
- Prepare monthly and annual VAT reconciliations for SARS submission.
- Maintain intercompany accounts, ensuring accurate and timely reconciliation.
- Oversaw all supplier payments, petty cash disbursements, and cost control processes.
- Approve all BirchStreet purchase orders, ensuring alignment with budgeted cost allocations.
- Manage and maintain the asset FFE Reserves reconciliations against provision accounts.
- Oversee all stock and inventory processes across the property to maintain accuracy and prevent losses.
- Approve recipe costing and pricing for F&B to support margin planning.
Results Driven Hotels
Group Financial Accountant
05.2023 - 06.2024
Job overview
- Monitored compliance with statutory obligations and financial regulations, avoiding penalties and fines.
- Managed compliance with all financial regulatory and legal obligations.
- Monitored expenses, income, budgets and petty cash records, identifying and rectifying discrepancies to ensure financial accuracy.
- Engaged with key stakeholders to align financial strategy with overall corporate objectives and vision.
- Enhanced revenue recognition processes, improving accuracy and timeliness of income reporting.
- Oversaw treasury functions, including cash flow management, to optimise financial resources and liquidity.
- Reviewed and approved financial transactions to maintain strict expenditure control and ensure compliance with financial policies.
- Liaised with banks and financial institutions to secure funding and manage corporate finance activities.
- Coordinated with external auditors to facilitate annual audits, achieving clean audit reports.
- Implemented a new financial management software, enhancing data accuracy and reporting capabilities.
- Collaborated with team members to meet financial targets and enhance overall team performance.
AHA Harbour Bridge Hotel/Tourvest
Cluster Financial Manager
08.2022 - 04.2023
Job overview
- Managed cash flow to optimise liquidity and ensure availability of funds for operational needs.
- Reviewed and approved all financial transactions, maintaining strict control over expenditures.
- Oversaw month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of financial statements.
- Prepared, reviewed, and presented accurate Consolidated Income Statements and Balance Sheets for three properties.
- Reviewed consolidated Trial Balances, ensuring correct intercompany allocations across Management Company, Rental Pool, and Body Corporate.
- Calculated Rental Pool profits, Owner distributions, Replacement Reserves, and Body Corporate results, contributing to informed financial decision-making.
- Monitored expenses, income, budgets, and petty cash records, rectifying errors to ensure financial accuracy.
- Administered payroll operations, guaranteeing timely and accurate employee payments.
- Completed and submitted EMP201 and VAT201 statutory returns via SARS eFiling.
Pinelands Primary School
Manager of Finance/HR
02.2018 - 08.2023
Job overview
- Led Finance Department (Creditors, Cost Control, Cash Banking, Accounts Assistant, Purchasing, Inventory), overseeing daily financial operations to ensure efficiency and compliance.
- Managed monthly payroll for 35 SGB employees, including leave, allowances, overtime, maternity leave, bonuses, and terminations.
- Developed, implemented, and evaluated Finance Policies, ensuring legislative compliance and integrating feedback from audits to enhance operational effectiveness.
- Facilitated internal and external audits, preparing required documentation, samples, and financial reports.
- Prepared annual zero-based budget and managed forecasts, optimising utilisation of school funds to support educational objectives.
- Performed analytical financial control, including actual vs budget analysis, emergency expenditure, and variance reviews.
- Submitted all statutory returns: EMP201, EMP501, income tax, UIF, and pension fund reconciliations.
- Managed debtors collections, reconciliations, reminder notices, Section 41 letters, and legal handovers.
- Completed supplier reconciliations, payments, and daily/bi-weekly bank reconciliations and cashflow oversight.
- Prepared and submitted the WCED043 cash-basis report and quarterly accrual-based reports for the SGB.
- Maintained the fixed asset register and managed quarterly stock counts and inventory controls.
- Handled HR administration, contract drafting, and personnel file maintenance.
- Processed debit order batches and maintained accurate mandate documentation.
- Prepared and reconciled student annual fee invoices and aligned records with the CEMIS provincial database.
- After five years in public finance within the education sector, I chose to return to the Hospitality industry.
Taj Hotel Cape Town
Manager of Finance/Ass. Financial Controller
07.2016 - 01.2018
Job overview
- Managed full month-end close, preparing and reviewing key journals (payroll, revenue, expenses, accruals, prepayments) in Microsoft Great Plains to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
- Produced monthly P&L and Balance Sheet reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Tata International standards.
- Led budgeting and quarterly forecasting, preparing monthly financial review packs for EXCO that included analysis of variances and performance insights.
- Reviewed and approved creditor payments, reconciliations, cashbooks, and debtor collection performance.
- Oversaw creditors, cost control, cash banking, purchasing, and inventory management while supervising finance support staff to ensure efficient operations.
- Processed foreign exchange adjustments, intercompany transactions, bank reconciliations for four accounts, petty cash, and interest on long-term borrowings.
- Submitted VAT201, Stats SA reports, and annual tax returns; ensured readiness for external audits and managed internal policy audits.
- Maintained the asset register, processed additions/disposals, and ran monthly depreciation.
- Moved to the education sector to allow more time with young children and benefit from school-aligned working hours.
Protea Hotel Durbanville
Financial Manager
03.2015 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Led budgeting, quarterly forecasting, variance analysis, and prepared monthly financial review packs for EXCO.
- Managed full month-end close, including key journals, FX adjustments, intercompany entries, bank reconciliations, and petty cash.
- Produced accurate monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, and reconciliations in compliance with Tata International standards, supporting informed financial decision-making.
- Oversaw creditors, cost control, cash banking, purchasing, inventory, and supervised finance support staff to ensure financial accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Submitted VAT, Stats SA reports, annual tax returns, and facilitated external/internal audits, ensuring compliance and maintaining an up-to-date asset register.
Westin Hotel
Assistant Accountant
09.2013 - 02.2015
Job overview
- Assisted with month-end close (journals, P&L preparation, Balance Sheet reconciliations) and contributed to budgets, forecasts, and monthly financial review packs.
- Assisted accounts payable with month-end payments and supplier reconciliations, streamlining invoice approval processes.
- Supported income audit, ensuring accurate capture of all revenue streams in SAP to enhance financial integrity.
- Handled daily cash banking, forex trade-offs, and bank journal preparation, delivering cashflow reports to owners for informed decision-making.
- Prepared Stats SA reports, processed international payments, coordinated travel documentation, and supported internal/external audits.
Education
Graduate School of Accounting
National Diploma: Financial Accounting NQF 6
12-2024
Varsity College (Rondebosch)/South African College of Business
National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting NQF 5
12-2020
Varsity College (Rondebosch Campus)
SLP Diploma from Human Resources Management
12-2011
International Hotel School
National Diploma: Hospitality Management
12-2010
Skills
- Financial reporting
- Financial forecasting
- Budget management
- Variance analysis
- Internal controls
- Team leadership
- Leadership competence
Custom Section
Dynamic and results-driven professional recognized for being fast-paced, resourceful, and positive, with a collaborative approach that fosters team success. Known for a no-nonsense attitude, strong involvement across projects, and ability to work seamlessly within diverse teams., Strategic Thinker & Smart Worker – Skilled at aligning tasks with organizational goals and delivering efficient solutions., Determined & Ambitious – Consistently driven to achieve excellence and exceed expectations., Natural Leadership & Mentorship – Ability to guide, teach, and inspire team members to perform at their best., Team-Oriented & Engaged – Actively participates in cross-functional initiatives, avoiding siloed work environments.
References
- Gallo Shanker, General Manager - Hyatt Regency Cape Town, 072 478 8470
- Atef Soliman, Cluster General Manager - Hyatt House Sandton, 083 232 7861
- Kurt Wohlenberg, Director of Finance – Hyatt Regency Cape Town, 072 600 1126
Interests
Timeline
Financial Controller
Hyatt Hotels
06.2024 - Current
Group Financial Accountant
Results Driven Hotels
05.2023 - 06.2024
Cluster Financial Manager
AHA Harbour Bridge Hotel/Tourvest
08.2022 - 04.2023
Manager of Finance/HR
Pinelands Primary School
02.2018 - 08.2023
Manager of Finance/Ass. Financial Controller
Taj Hotel Cape Town
07.2016 - 01.2018
Financial Manager
Protea Hotel Durbanville
03.2015 - 06.2016
Assistant Accountant
Westin Hotel
09.2013 - 02.2015
Graduate School of Accounting
National Diploma: Financial Accounting NQF 6
Varsity College (Rondebosch)/South African College of Business
National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting NQF 5
Varsity College (Rondebosch Campus)
SLP Diploma from Human Resources Management
International Hotel School
National Diploma: Hospitality Management