Gladys Charles

Strategic Finance and Controllership Leader with over 14 years of progressive experience in financial management, financial reporting, accounting operations, financial planning and analysis, and business performance improvement, complemented by over two years of leading an independent Internal Audit function. Proven track record in leading end-to-end finance operations, strengthening financial governance, improving balance sheet integrity, managing working capital and driving financial and operational transformation across hospitality, real estate operations, retail and professional services. Extensive experience in financial reporting under IFRS, General Ledger management, month-end and year-end closing, budgeting and forecasting, treasury, cash flow management, intercompany accounting, statutory compliance and external audit coordination.

Demonstrated ability to establish finance functions, implement and optimize ERP systems, develop accounting policies and internal controls, and provide actionable financial insights to executive leadership to support strategic and operational decision-making. Combines strong technical finance and accounting knowledge with an independent audit mindset, commercial acumen and hands-on leadership experience. Recognized for translating financial analysis into measurable business improvements, strengthening accountability, mitigating financial and operational risks, and building effective finance teams that support organizational performance and sustainable growth.

Independent Internal Audit Manager - GemSuites Ltd (Riverside & State House)

(2023-11 - 2026-03)

Established and led the organization’s first independent Internal Audit function, reporting directly to the Directors and providing enterprise-wide assurance and advisory services across finance, procurement, operations, human resources, compliance and hospitality systems. Led risk-based audits, investigations and control reviews, providing independent assurance and recommendations on governance, enterprise risk management, regulatory and policy compliance, internal controls and operational effectiveness.

• Established the organization’s first independent Internal Audit function, developing risk-based audit plans, risk registers, audit policies, methodologies and reporting frameworks across GemSuites Riverside and State House.
• Directed financial and operational investigations that identified control failures involving losses exceeding KES 5 million, supporting recoveries of more than KES 3 million through evidence-based findings, recommendations and structured management follow-up.
• Conducted an end-to-end food cost and inventory audit covering ordering, receiving, stock issuance, kitchen production and sales, identifying control gaps where issued stock was not translating into recorded sales. Developed and recommended a daily food cost reporting SOP to strengthen production accountability, improve cost tracking and mitigate inventory loss and pilferage.
• Conducted risk-based reviews across revenue, payroll, procurement, inventory, receivables and operational processes, identifying control weaknesses, financial leakages and compliance gaps and recommending corrective actions to management.
• Assessed compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, internal policies, approved procedures and contractual obligations, identifying exceptions and recommending corrective actions to strengthen compliance and reduce organisational risk.
• Led the end-to-end upgrade of Infor Sun Systems from Version 4 to Version 6.4, managing data migration, system testing, user training and integration with Materials Control and other hospitality systems, ensuring data integrity, appropriate system controls and continuity of financial reporting.
• Monitored management’s implementation of agreed audit recommendations through structured follow-up and reported outstanding actions, recurring control weaknesses and significant risk matters to executive leadership and the Directors.

Finance Manager (Strategic Finance Recovery Assignment) - GemSuites State House

(2022-03 - 2023-10)

Selected by executive leadership to lead a strategic finance recovery assignment for a loss-making operation, with responsibility for financial management, reporting, budgeting and forecasting, cash flow and working capital, cost control, statutory compliance and financial controls. Assessed existing ERP systems and led the implementation of a viable hospitality systems solution, while partnering with the Property Manager and operational teams to strengthen financial governance, improve commercial performance and restore sustainable profitability.

• Led the implementation of hospitality ERP systems, financial policies, SOPs and strengthened control processes, improving visibility of costs and operational leakages, financial reporting and management decision-making.
• Increased net profitability from a loss-making position to 20% within the first three months and 35% within six months, while maintaining the same occupancy levels through financial discipline, commercial optimization, restaurant repositioning and menu engineering that significantly increased restaurant revenue.
• Improved debtor collections by 46% and reduced the creditor payment cycle from 120 to 30 days, strengthening working capital through disciplined receivables management, structured repayment plans for long-outstanding supplier balances, rebuilding strategic supplier relationships and securing improved commercial terms.
• Reduced food cost from 57% to 29% through recipe-based costing, improved food production and cost tracking, strengthened procurement and inventory controls, and supplier cost optimization, significantly improving gross margins and overall profitability.
• Strengthened financial governance through daily night audit oversight, guest billing reviews, system user access controls, statutory compliance and external audit coordination, improving revenue integrity, accountability and financial control.

Assistant Finance Controller - GemSuites Riverside

(2017-05 - 2022-02)

Led the establishment and development of the finance function from pre-opening through business expansion, providing end-to-end financial management, financial planning and reporting, budgeting, treasury, statutory compliance, ERP systems oversight and commercial finance support. Operated within a common-ownership structure comprising Geminvest Ltd (HQ), Geminvest Ltd – GemSuites Riverside, Gem Apartments Ltd (trading as GemSuites State House) and Omnispace 3D Ltd. Managed intercompany accounting and reconciliations across the related entities, while preparing and coordinating GemSuites Riverside financial reporting for consolidation with Geminvest HQ and the annual consolidated external audit data.

• Led the financial pre-opening and establishment of GemSuites Riverside, implementing accounting processes, financial controls, ERP systems, tax compliance, reporting and financial planning frameworks that supported the successful launch and expansion from 38 to 98 luxury apartments.
• Managed the full finance lifecycle, including General Ledger, month-end and year-end close, management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, AP/AR, payroll, treasury, cash-flow management, statutory compliance and external audit coordination.
• Managed intercompany accounting and reconciliations across Geminvest Ltd (HQ), GemSuites Riverside, Gem Apartments Ltd (trading as GemSuites State House) and Omnispace 3D Ltd, ensuring accurate recording, reconciliation and reporting of related-party transactions and balances.
• Prepared and coordinated Riverside financial reporting for consolidation with Geminvest HQ, including supporting schedules and reconciliations for group reporting and the annual consolidated external audit.
• Led annual OPEX and CAPEX budgeting, forecasting and investment planning, while partnering with HODs on departmental budgets, monthly cost analysis, variance reviews and financial feedback to strengthen cost control, resource utilization and operational performance.
• Prepared and analyzed management accounts, financial performance reports and KPIs, providing executive management and operational leaders with actionable insights on revenue, costs, margins, cash flow and business performance.
• Managed working capital and liquidity,