Area Director of Finance

Area Director Of Finance

The Area Director of Finance is responsible for providing ethical and consistent leadership in the financial area for several hotels by supplying management with guidance, training, and support. The Area Director of Finance is also responsible for focusing on the profitability of the business, maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting, ensuring acceptable levels of internal controls, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, and safeguarding owners / investors assets.

Responsibilities

Financial :

• Acts as the "Chief Business Officer" to the general manager and EC Team, and as such is responsible for evaluating the financial impact on business decisions.
• Ensure that all levels of management are promptly notified of any financial deviations from established policies and / or control weaknesses in the hotel.
• Effectively manage and communicate cash flow related issues, as required to management and ownership. This includes the accurate and timely preparation of cash-flow statements, management of receivables, cash balances, control mechanisms and timely deposits of all funds.
• Monitor hotel revenues and expenses and ensure the accurate recording in accordance with Crescent Hotels and Resorts established guidelines. Investigate and critique variances to budget or to prior year and offer practical improvement strategies to management.
• Monitor the capital planning process by assisting management with calculation of return on capital improvements, gathering support and monitoring the bid process, and evaluating scope of work and specifications.
• 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.
• Coordinate the completion of all forecasts and budgets as required, with the full and active participation of EC Team and department managers.
• Analyze financial data and operations in order to assist and advise management in maintaining the hotels' financial objectives.
• Ensure that all balance sheet accounts, including bank reconciliations are reconciled on a timely basis.
• Establish and continually audit all internal financial controls including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, credit extension, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records.
• Embrace a continuous growth environment by actively hiring professional staff and assisting in recruiting, reviewing, recommending and maintaining an inventory of qualified and promotable Associates that can potentially become Controllers, Assistant Controllers, Accounting Managers, and other managers for the organization.
• Continually focus on training and development programs for finance associates to cultivate the "brightest" and "best" talent within the industry.
• Hire, train, supervise and develop staff, including coaching, counseling and discipline.
• Maintain compliance with Crescent Hotels and Resorts standards and regulations to ensure safe and efficient operation of the hotel.
• Ensure proper utilization, maintenance and periodic upgrades of all IT systems and equipment.
• Direct and / or prepare all financial reports in accordance with IHR requirements meeting various due dates and deadlines :
• Daily : Review and submit a Daily Revenue Report. Ensure timely deposit of all cash and transmission of Credit Cards. Review Labor Report for overtime and any variance to Forecast.
• Weekly : Review departmental Checkbooks and advise of any needed changes. Distribute and discuss weekly G / L report with department managers. Update GM on any unfavorable financial issues impacting the month. Ensure there is sufficient cash to meet all scheduled obligations.
• Monthly : Reconcile Balance Sheet with proper back up. Ensure that all banks are counted. Count the main vault. Review "Key Financial Controls" Checklist to ensure adherence and compliance. Review actual numbers to forecast to find discrepancies in forecasting to improve accuracy in future months. Participate in the monthly Credit Meeting. Actively participate, complete and review the forecast with Department Heads prior to submission.
• Annual : Complete the Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) bi-annually. Conduct a surprise payroll audit bi-annually. Actively participate, complete and review the annual budget with Department Heads prior to submission. Prepare all analysis that may be required by ownership and outside accounting firms.

Management :

Qualification Standards

Education & Experience : A minimum of 8 years of related progressive experience in hotel Accounting or related field; or a 4-year college degree with an Accounting / Finance concentration and a minimum of 4 years of related progressive experience; or a 2-year college degree and a minimum of 6 years of related progressive experience.

Physical Requirements : Long hours sometimes required. Sedentary work, exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and / or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Mental Requirements : Must be able to convey information and ideas clearly. Must be able to evaluate and select among alternative courses of action quickly and accurately. Must work well in stressful, high pressure situations. Must maintain composure and objectivity under pressure. Must be effective in handling problems in the workplace, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary. Must have the ability to assimilate complex information, data, etc., from disparate sources and consider, adjust or modify to meet the constraints of the particular need. Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying the concerns and issues raised by co-workers and guests. Must be able to work with and understand financial information and data, and basic arithmetic functions. Must be able to prioritize departmental functions in order to meet due dates and deadlines.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.