Alexandra Aldea
Leeds
Summary
Detail-oriented ACCA-qualified accountant with expertise in the hospitality sector, specialising in financial reporting, budget planning, financial control and financial planning & analysis. Extensive experience in strategic financial leadership across complex, service-oriented organizations. Adept at enhancing internal controls, driving risk management strategies, and implementing finance transformation initiatives. Known for delivering robust financial frameworks and translating data into strategic insight to support informed decision-making.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Regional Director of Finance
Penta Hotels UK
Leeds, Yorkshire
07.2023 - 06.2025
- P&L & KPI Reporting - Owned full P&L production and analysis for a £35m+ turnover portfolio (6-9 hotels & hostels), delivering detailed variance reviews vs budget, forecast, and prior year across Net Revenue, Gross Margin, and Sales KPIs to influence leadership decisions.
- Commercial Finance Partnering - Partnered with senior leadership and operational teams to provide value-driven financial insight, advising on controllable business variables, retention strategies, and cost optimisation initiatives.
- Budgeting & Forecasting - Directed annual, quarterly and monthly forecasting cycles; led turnaround of a loss-making business segment, achieving profitability within 12 months through targeted cost control and revenue initiatives.
- Scaling & Business Case Delivery - Oversaw financial planning, payroll migrations, and due diligence for new business unit onboarding, supporting strategic expansion comparable to launching new markets or product lines in gaming.
- M&A & Portfolio Restructuring - Supported acquisitions, disposals, and integrations, ensuring seamless financial systems and reporting transitions during major ownership changes.
- Audit & Governance - Maintained robust financial controls, delivered clean audit outcomes, and strengthened risk frameworks during periods of significant organisational change.
- Stakeholder Influence - Regularly presented to Board and C-suite, translating complex financial data into clear, actionable insights that informed commercial strategy and long-term growth.
Regional Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
Reading/Leeds
10.2019 - 06.2023
- Digital Transformation - Spearheaded the move to a paperless, mobile-based time & attendance system, enabling real-time payroll forecasting, cutting payroll processing from six to two days, and reducing labour costs by 7%.
- Crisis Management - Effectively managed pandemic-related furlough schemes, cash flow modelling, and cost containment, safeguarding liquidity and ensuring resilience during enforced closures.
- Team Leadership - Built and developed a high-performing team of nine, driving continuous improvement and achieving zero resignations since 2020.
- Working Capital Management - Designed and implemented a new AR reporting template, successfully clearing all aged debt over 60 days.
- Financial Planning - Produced P&L projections and cash flow forecasts aligned with commercial and operational goals, reducing risk exposure and improving strategic decision-making.
- Cost Optimisation - Reviewed and renegotiated supplier contracts, delivering 10% cost savings and leading the transition to cashless operations across the hotel portfolio.
- Statutory & Management Reporting - Prepared accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, including payroll, accruals, prepayments, intercompany recharges, fixed assets, inventory, and GL journals.
- Control & Accuracy - Conducted trial balance and management account reviews, ensuring accurate revenue and cost recognition.
- Audit & Compliance - Scheduled and led annual internal and external audits, strengthening compliance, governance, and control frameworks.
- Tax & Payroll Compliance - Managed VAT returns and PSA submissions, ensuring timely and accurate filings with HMRC.
Interim Director of Finance UK
Penta Hotels UK
Reading, Berkshire
08.2019 - 10.2019
- Budgeting & Financial Planning - Directed UK-wide budget negotiations and planning cycles during a pre-sale period, presenting analysis and recommendations to senior corporate teams.
- Strategic Partnering - Advised general managers by analysing current and historical financial data, identifying performance trends, and ensuring alignment with corporate guidelines.
- Corporate Liaison - Acted as the primary UK finance contact during the sale of five hotels, ensuring seamless flow of critical financial information to headquarters and stakeholders throughout the bidding process.
Cluster Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
Reading, Berkshire
12.2017 - 08.2019
- Finance Transformation - Established a centralised finance function for the UK, streamlining operations and reducing headcount from 9 to 7 while maintaining service quality.
- Compliance & Controls - Designed and rolled out a financial compliance reporting template, mentoring operational, sales, and finance teams, and improving internal audit scores from 65% to 95%.
- Team Leadership - Recruited, trained, and developed a cohesive corporate finance team of six, embedding a culture of excellence and compliance.
- Global Standardisation - Authored a globally adopted expense dictionary, standardising Income Statement classifications across six UK hotels and the wider international portfolio.
- Process Efficiency - Implemented an enhanced Income Statement process, cutting period-close preparation time by 40% and freeing resources for deeper cost analysis.
- Commercial Business Partnering - Acted as finance partner to General Managers and operational leaders, providing financial insight, challenging assumptions, and influencing strategic and commercial decisions across six hotels.
- KPI Reporting – Produced Board and senior leadership financial packs, combining Net Income, Gross Margin, Sales Performance, and Commission Structures with clear commentary to drive decision-making.
- Financial Control – Performed monthly balance sheet reconciliations across multiple entities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely resolution of discrepancies.
Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
Reading, Berkshire
07.2016 - 12.2017
- Budgeting & Forecasting - Prepared budgets and forecasts with continuous monitoring and variance reporting to ensure financial accuracy and control.
- Performance Reporting - Compiled and presented a five-page variance analysis report at monthly business review meetings, providing actionable insights for senior leadership.
- Profitability Improvement - Implemented financial and cost-reduction initiatives at property level, delivering a 7% year-on-year uplift in House Profit conversion.
- Financial Control - Produced financial statements, managed monthly payroll for six hotels (~250 employees), and performed bank and balance sheet reconciliations.
- Tax & Audit Support - Completed VAT preparations, supporting efficient submissions, audits, and ad hoc projects while maintaining compliance standards.
Financial Controller
Aimbridge Hospitality
Birmingham, West Midlands
05.2014 - 11.2015
- P&L Ownership - Produced monthly management accounts, forecasts, and budgets, providing timely insight to support operational and commercial decisions.
- Financial Control - Oversaw payroll, AP/AR, and month-end close processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery.
- Audit & Governance - Coordinated internal and external audits, maintaining strong financial controls and achieving clean audit outcomes.
- Operational Support - Partnered with hotel management to optimise costs, monitor KPIs, and delivered improved profitability of 4% versus prior year.
- Team Development - Supervised and trained junior finance staff, strengthening the finance function and launching a local internship programme that enabled cross-departmental talent to gain finance experience.
Finance Assistant
Aimbridge Hospitality
Birmingham, West Midlands
10.2012 - 05.2014
Finance Assistant
Sanguine Hospitality
Birmingham, West Midlands
06.2012 - 10.2012
Education
Master of Arts - Tourism Business Administration
University of Birmingham
Birmingham 10.2011 - 06.2013
Bachelor of Science - Economics with Accounting
Academy of Economic Studies
Bucharest, Romania 10.2008 - 07.2011
Skills
- Commercial Finance & FP&A - P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning cycles across multi-site £35m portfolios
- KPI Alignment - Experienced in reporting and analysing Net Revenue, Gross Margin, Sales KPIs, and promotional/discount costs
- Variance Analysis & Insight - Delivered detailed reviews vs budget, prior year, and forecast, providing actionable insights to senior stakeholders
- Business Partnering - Collaborated with cross-functional teams (Ops, Marketing, HR, BI, Compliance) to support commercial growth strategies and optimise performance
- M&A & Scaling - Supported acquisitions, disposals, and onboarding of new business units, including due diligence, integration, and payroll transitions
- Audit, Risk & Governance - Strong knowledge of IFRS/UK GAAP; delivered clean audit outcomes, implemented improved internal controls, and maintained balance sheet accuracy
- Stakeholder Influence - Skilled at presenting financial insights to Boards and C-suite, simplifying complex data into clear, actionable recommendations
Affiliations
- Politics
- Music
- AI
Certification
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – Qualified Member
TOEFL iBT – Test of English as a Foreign Language
DELF - Diploma in French Language Studies
Languages
Romanian
Native
English
Fluent
French
Intermediate
Spanish
Upper intermediate
Projects
Strategic Expansion for Penta Hotels UK – Due Diligence/Hotels Bidding Process
Conducted financial modelling and five-year forecast planning for a management agreement bidding process involving 14 hotels.
Portfolio Reduction for Penta Hotels UK
UK portfolio reduction of five hotels, providing critical financial information for external due diligence. Oversaw team transfers and worked on the closure of the limited company under which the hotels operated.
Strategic Expansion for Penta Hotels UK – Due Diligence/Hostels Acquisition April 2024
Led portfolio diversification efforts by performing due diligence and financial planning for four hostels. Transitioned loss-making properties onto a path to profitability, implemented payroll systems, introduced policies and procedures, and managed supplier relationships.
Penta Academy – Internal Accelerator Leadership Programme
Nominated by senior management for Penta Academy, a 24-month internal leadership program designed to develop future leaders. Successfully completed the program after passing all application stages and demonstrating leadership potential.
Internal Audit and Risk Committee
Selected by the Director of Finance Europe to join and lead the newly established Internal Audit function. Conducted audits for 20 hotels, revitalizing and streamlining existing policies and procedures to improve operational efficiency.
Systems & Tools
ERP: Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Central, SAGE 50.
Productivity & Collaboration: Excel, Power Point, Share Point, Teams.
Payroll: Moorepay.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Regional Director of Finance
Penta Hotels UK
07.2023 - 06.2025
Regional Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
10.2019 - 06.2023
Interim Director of Finance UK
Penta Hotels UK
08.2019 - 10.2019
Cluster Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
12.2017 - 08.2019
Finance Manager UK
Penta Hotels UK
07.2016 - 12.2017
Financial Controller
Aimbridge Hospitality
05.2014 - 11.2015
Finance Assistant
Aimbridge Hospitality
10.2012 - 05.2014
Finance Assistant
Sanguine Hospitality
06.2012 - 10.2012
Master of Arts - Tourism Business Administration
University of Birmingham
10.2011 - 06.2013
Bachelor of Science - Economics with Accounting
Academy of Economic Studies
10.2008 - 07.2011
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