We are exclusively helping our hotel owner-operator client find a Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting.
The SVP of Finance and Accounting is a strategic financial leader responsible for overseeing all accounting, financial control, and property-level reporting across a growing portfolio of hotels. This role has a core focus on property accounting, ensuring operational consistency, fiscal discipline, and financial transparency throughout the organization.
The SVP of Finance & Accounting will establish and administer robust financial plans, including budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and compliance. This executive will play a crucial role in developing and enforcing internal controls, interpreting financial data to support business decisions, and aligning financial and accounting practices with organizational goals and ownership expectations.
Operating within a dynamic, multi-property environment, the SVP of Finance & Accounting will mentor and support an internal team of 6-8 individuals and external vendor partners. The role also involves direct and indirect oversight of financial operations for select hotels. Through strong leadership, operational rigor, and a commitment to excellence, this position ensures accurate reporting, regulatory compliance, and optimized financial performance across the entire portfolio.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Corporate Accounting/Finance Administration:
- Create monthly property and consolidated financial packages, including Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Forecasts, for monthly ownership review meetings.
- Develop the annual corporate budget and monthly reforecasts.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual financial audit, including preparing GAAP journal entries, drafting the audit report, and researching and addressing new accounting pronouncements.
- Lead enhancements to existing Accounting Systems
- Provide oversight to Corporate Finance and Accounting positions responsible for:
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Treasury and Accounts Payable: Overseeing weekly check runs, wire transfers, invoice and expense report approvals, and ensuring accurate monthly sales/use tax filings.
- Serving as the Corporate Finance Leader for Hotels.
- Managing Third-Party Outsourced Vendors for accounting systems and administrative teams.
Internal Controls & Compliance:
- Establish and maintain robust internal controls at the property level to safeguard assets and ensure properly documented and authorized financial transactions.
- Collaborate with parent company audit teams to assess risk, strengthen compliance, and implement corrective action plans at the hotel level.
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, USALI, company policies, and all contractual, regulatory, and tax-related requirements.
- Provide oversight and guidance on capital expenditures, ensuring adherence to company policy and appropriate financial justification.
Financial Planning & Analysis, Budgeting & Forecasting:
- Direct the annual operating budget and capital expenditure planning process for all hotels, aligning with corporate and ownership expectations.
- Review and challenge hotel forecasts and business plans to ensure credibility, accuracy, and alignment with strategic goals.
- Provide strategic financial support and modeling for new hotel openings, rebrands, or acquisitions.
- Partner with operational leaders to evaluate property performance, recommend cost management strategies, and optimize Gross Operating Profit (GOP) margins.
Financial Systems & Process Optimization:
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of accounting systems and financial technologies across the portfolio.
- Ensure all hotel finance teams are adequately trained and effectively utilizing systems, including PMS, POS, GL, and reporting platforms.
- Drive innovation in financial reporting by introducing tools that enhance visibility, automation, and decision-making at both property and corporate levels.
Stakeholder & Ownership Reporting:
- Serve as the primary financial liaison for ownership groups, providing timely and transparent reporting and responding to inquiries professionally and clearly.
- Partner with asset managers and ownership representatives to present performance results, investment return analyses, and financial strategies.
- Support hotel teams in preparing for ownership reviews, lender audits, and investment presentations.
Cash Management & Working Capital:
- Oversee cash flow planning and working capital management across all hotels to ensure liquidity and minimize risk.
- Monitor property receivables and payables, ensuring timely collection, payment discipline, and proper reserve planning.
- Implement credit control policies and collaborate with commercial and operational teams to manage exposure and reduce bad debt risk.
Financial Strategy & Property Accounting Oversight:
- Lead the development, implementation, and enforcement of standardized accounting policies and procedures across all hotels to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance.
- Oversee all property-level financial reporting, including monthly Profit & Loss statements, balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow forecasts, and variance analyses.
- Direct the timely and accurate preparation of consolidated financial statements for ownership and executive leadership.
- Ensure property-level financial data integrity through regular audits, on-site reviews, and reconciliation procedures.
- Supervise the month-end and year-end closing processes for all hotels, ensuring deadlines are met and financial results are thoroughly analyzed and communicated.
- Monitor and review hotel general ledgers for accuracy and proper classification of revenues and expenses.
- Indirectly supervise property Directors of Finance, providing leadership, guidance, mentorship, and support to property accounting teams.
- Develop training programs and tools to enhance property-level finance capabilities and promote consistent financial practices across the portfolio.
- Conduct regular property visits to review financial health, controls, and opportunities for improved efficiency and performance.
Tax, Audit & Legal Coordination:
- Manage hotel-level tax filings, audit requests, and related governmental reporting obligations in coordination with third-party advisors.
- Respond to property-level audit inquiries and support documentation requests for external auditors, tax authorities, and regulatory agencies.
- Ensure proper classification and accounting of leases, management contracts, franchise fees, and other legal obligations.
- Obtain required tax registrations, licenses, etc., for the appropriate states where hotels operate (e.g., SUI, Payroll Tax).
