Controller

Compensation Type

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition.  Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

Location

The newly renovated Courtyard by Marriott, Boston-Cambridge is nestled on the banks of the historic Charles River, home of the Head of the Charles Regatta. With its unique location situated between prestigious Harvard University and M.I.T., the hotel offers 207 newly renovated rooms.  A short walk puts you in Harvard and Central Square, where there are a variety of restaurants and night life to choose from.

Overview

The Controller is responsible for providing consistent leadership in the financial area of the hotel by supplying management with guidance and training.  He/she is also responsible for 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 safeguarding owners/investors assets.

Responsibilities

• Effectively manage and communicate cash flow related issues. This includes the accurate and timely preparation of 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’s established guidelines. Investigate and critique variances to budget or to prior year and offer practical improvement methodologies to management.
• Monitor the capital planning process by assisting management with the calculation of return on capital improvements, gathering support and monitoring the bid process, and ensuring proper upkeep of the property by 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.
• 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 reconciliation’s are reconciled on a timely basis.
• Establish and continually audit all internal financial controls including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records.
• Embrace a continuous growth environment by actively assisting in recruiting, reviewing, recommending and maintaining an inventory of Directors of Financial Services, Assistant Directors of Financial Services, Assistant Directors of Financial Services Trainees, Accounting Managers, Controllers, Assistant Controllers and other managers for the organization.
• Continually focus on training and development programs for the Accounting associates to cultivate the “brightest” and “best” talent within the industry.
• Ensure implementation and completion of all Accounting Key Competencies, both management and hourly.
• 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.
• Ensure the proper utilization, maintenance and periodic upgrades of all equipment.
• Directs or prepares all financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels’s requirements meeting various due dates and deadlines, i.e.,

                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

• Conduct and/or attend and contribute to periodic meetings to maintain favorable working relationships among employees and promote maximum morale, productivity, and efficiency.

                Executive Committee         Sales and Service                 Financial Review                 Departmental

                Budget & Forecast              Credit & Collection             Highgate Hotels Business Review

• Monitor hotels’ compliance in meeting required report deadlines and due dates and react accordingly.
• Monitor the accurate production of the hotel daily operating report.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6 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 2 years of related progressive experience; or a 2-year college degree and a minimum of 4 years of related progressive experience.
• Must be proficient in Windows, Company approved spreadsheets and word processing and in the operation of all hotel-specific systems

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• 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.