Job Description

*If the application for this position prompts you to respond to a question with number of years, e.g., your number of years of relevant work experience, please enter ‘30’ if your answer is 30 years or more. Please be aware that we are acting as a recruitment partner for one of our clients in this search.*

About the Role:

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).

Required Experience & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (required); CPA or MBA (preferred).
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a senior-level hospitality finance role.
• Deep understanding of property-level hotel accounting and regional/multi-unit oversight.
• Proven experience managing distributed finance teams across multiple hotels or regions.
• Expertise in hotel accounting, budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, cash flow forecasting, internal controls, and system implementation.
• Strong communication and presentation skills for ownership and executive-level reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge and deep understanding of all aspects of hotel operations.
• Promotes an atmosphere of teamwork with the ability to lead by example through clear expectations and communication.
• Builds morale and spirit while instilling an industry-leading guest service attitude in all associates.
• Strong customer service orientation and skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• "Hands-on" leadership approach to management and team development.
• Must be able to prioritize functions to meet all deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting required.
• Strong knowledge of USALI.
• Ability to communicate statistical and financial data at the executive and entry level.
• Ability to thoroughly understand and analyze financial statements and cash flows.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, analytical, and general ledger reconciliation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with accuracy.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and computerized general ledger systems.
• Knowledge of Accounting Software (e.g., M3 Accounting, Profitsword, Paychex).
• Knowledge of PMS and POS systems strongly preferred.

Other Details:

• Work Environment: In Office
• Work Days: Monday through Friday
• Travel: Occasional to frequent, 25-50%; typically 1-week per month
• Parking: Free parking at the office
• Benefits: Full Health & Welfare, 401k with Match, PTO, etc.

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