ZanTours is an owner-operated, full-service Destination Management Company with its own fleet and headquarters in Zanzibar. We deliver end-to-end services for our partners—from airport transfers and hotel arrangements to full safari experiences.

With a lean but dedicated finance team of four, we’re hiring a Head of Finance—an English native or professional speaker, with Italian or German as a second language preferred—to lead the function and help us meet our growth targets. We are looking for someone in Zanzibar, who can cope with our speed, work attitude, and performance.

The Role

The Head of Finance will take full responsibility for steering ZanTours’ financial strategy, management, and compliance. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who thrives in a growing business where they can directly shape processes and mentor a small team. You’ll work closely with the Managing Director and Commercial Director to ensure that finance supports operational excellence and profitable growth.

Key Responsibilities

1) Lead the finance team (currently 4 members) and oversee day-to-day accounting, reporting, and cash-flow management

2) Manage payroll for ~90 employees

3) Handle VAT, Tax, ZSSF, and ZSHF submissions

4) Preparation of financial reports and management accounts.

5) Monitor and report on KPIs, margins, and cost control

6) Ensure compliance with Zanzibarian regulations, taxation, and audits Education

7) Implement and maintain financial controls in the company’s workshop

8) Manage relationships with the finance departments of international clients

9) Build scalable processes and systems to support the company’s growth

10) Bookkeeping and daily financial transactions.

11) Prepare and process invoices, payments, and general ledger entries.

12) Reconcile bank statements and assist with account reconciliations.

Requirements

* Proven experience as Head of Finance / Finance Director / Finance Manager in a mid-sized or growing business—ideally in tourism, hospitality, transport, or services

* English native or professional speaker

* Italian or German as a second language preferred

* Professional qualification: CPA, ACCA, or equivalent

* Strong technical command of financial controls, budgeting, and compliance in Tanzania/East Africa

* A collaborative leader who can coach and develop a small team while staying hands-on

* Comfortable in a fast-paced, owner-led environment with close exposure to operations

• Lead the finance team and oversee accounting, reporting, and cash-flow management
• Manage payroll for ~90 employees
• Handle VAT, Tax, ZSSF, and ZSHF submissions
• Prepare financial reports and management accounts
• Monitor and report on KPIs, margins, and cost control
• Ensure compliance with regulations, taxation, and audits
• Implement and maintain financial controls
• Manage relationships with international clients
• Build scalable processes and systems
• Bookkeeping and daily financial transactions
• Prepare and process invoices, payments, and general ledger entries
• Reconcile bank statements and assist with account reconciliations

• Financial controls
• Budgeting
• Compliance
• Leadership
• Team development
• Fast-paced environment

• Proven experience as Head of Finance / Finance Director / Finance Manager
• English native or professional speaker
• Italian or German as a second language preferred
• Professional qualification: CPA, ACCA, or equivalent
• Strong technical command of financial controls, budgeting, and compliance
• Collaborative leader