Job Description:

Complex Director of Finance

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. www.highgate.com.

Location

Hilton Garden Inn Key West / The Keys Collection is a brand new hotel that debuted in Key West, the southernmost city in the continental USA, in April 2016. This upscale hotel is set at the entry point of Key West on North Roosevelt Boulevard and is convenient to the island's best attractions such as Old Town, Mallory Square, Smathers Beach and the Hemingway House. The hotel is also close to Duval Street, the center of the action, where Key West's best restaurants, bars, nightlife and shopping reside. Boasting 141 brand new guest rooms, the hotel's facilities include a restaurant, indoor and outdoor bars, pool and Concierge desk, plus an abundance of complimentary amenities.

Employment Status

Full-Time

Overview

The Complex Director of Finance is responsible for providing consistent leadership in the financial area of the hotel by focusing on the profitability of the business; maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting; ensuring acceptable levels on internal control; ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations and Highgate Hotels 's Standard Operating Procedures; and safeguarding owners/investors assets.

Responsibilities

Effectively manage and communicate cash flow related issues. This includes the accurate and timely preparation of monthly financial statements for the property: cash flow statements, management of receivables, payables, cash balances, control mechanisms and timely deposits of all funds.
• Monitor hotel revenues and expenses and ensure the accurate recording in accordance with Highgate Hotels established guidelines. Monitors and controls Hotel's cash flow and operating forecast.


• Creates annual budgets and monthly variance analysis. Investigates and critiques variances to budget or to prior year and offer practical improvement methodologies to management.


• Ensure hotels' compliance on all regulatory licenses and permits, leases, contracts, legal agreements, and the proper execution of all operational taxes. Provide assistance to management in enforcing compliance on all these items.


• Analyze financial data and operations in order to assist and advise management in maintaining the hotels' financial objectives.


• Complies with Standard Accounting policies and procedures and internal controls for finance and accounting operations


• Timely reviews and approval of all balance sheet accounts, including monthly bank reconciliation and general ledger account reconciliations.


• Establish and continually audit all internal financial controls including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records.


• Successful completion of all internal and external financial audits, including coordination of work with CPA firms and delivering information requested by auditors on a timely basis.


• Hire, train, supervise and develop staff, including coaching, counseling and discipline.


• Maintain compliance with Highgate Hotels' standards and regulations to ensure safe and efficient operation of the hotel.


• Directs or prepares all financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels' requirements, meeting various due dates and deadlines.


• Weekly: A/R & A/P Aging, Flash Reports, Payroll Reports, Revenue Updates


• Monthly: Financial Statements, Forecasting Key Statistics Report, Cash Flow


• Annual: Budgets, 5-Year Plans, 5-Year Capital Plans


• Timely interacts with Executive Committee members to assure that property operations are on track and under control at all times.


• Monitor hotels' compliance in meeting required report deadlines and due dates and react accordingly.


• Monitor the accurate production of the hotel daily operating report.


• Executes other special projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• At least 5 or more years of Hospitality Finance/Accounting experience.


• Prior Control or Director of Finance experience, preferably at a premium-branded Hotel.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.


• Bachelor's degree required preferably in Finance or Accounting.


• Must supervise 2 or more employees


• Must be proficient in Windows, Company approved spreadsheets and word processing and in the operation of all hotel-specific systems.


• Long hours sometimes required.


• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.


• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.


• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.


• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.


• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.


• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.


• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.


• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotels Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.


• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.


• Comply with Highgate Hotels Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.


• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.


• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.


• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.


• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.


• Perform other duties as requested by management.