Executive Vice President of Finance - Full Service

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

Highgate Corporate Offices Irving, TX

Overview

The Executive Vice President (EVP) of Finance for US-based Full-Service hotels will be headquartered at Highgate’s Corporate Office in Irving, Texas, and will report directly to Ned Martin, Chief Financial Officer of Highgate. This executive will play a critical role in supporting and advancing the continued growth of the organization and must possess a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of property-level hotel accounting.

As the scope and complexity of the portfolio evolve, the EVP must demonstrate the technical expertise and leadership acumen necessary to scale alongside the business. In alignment with Highgate’s entrepreneurial and performance-driven culture, the ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker who is equally effective in execution. This role demands a hands-on, agile leader who can operate comfortably across varying levels of detail, with a demonstrated ability to navigate both high-level strategy and day-to-day operations. A strong bias for action and a results-oriented mindset are essential for success in this position.

Responsibilities

Accounting Strategy

• Develop and implement comprehensive accounting strategies that align with the Company’s reporting objectives, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), USALI 12th Edition accounting, Highgate’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), internal controls, and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

Financial Reporting

• Oversee the timely preparation and review of comprehensive reporting packages to fully reflect the operational and financial performance of all hotels within the assigned portfolio to support senior management’s decision-making and performance tracking.
• Build reporting packages that include statements of operations, balance sheets, cash flow statements, forecasts, budgets, and appropriate notes regarding variances in key accounts and articulate the key performance indicators that measure financial performance and identify areas for improvement.

Compliance

• Ensure strict adherence to financial reporting deadlines and obligations as outlined in Joint Venture Agreements, Management Agreements, and Loan Agreements
• Maintain proactive compliance and risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential financial or legal risks associated with contractual obligations and ensure compliance with the Company’s internal controls, corporate policies, standard operating procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor changes in industry regulations, financial standards, and contractual terms to ensure continuous compliance across all relevant agreements.
• Oversee the timely calculation, filing, and payment of all applicable regional and local taxes, ensuring full compliance with statutory requirements and minimizing financial exposure.

Acquisitions

• Manage the financial transition and onboarding of newly acquired assets, including implementing and enforcing Highgate’s financial controls and protocols on newly acquired assets, ensuring seamless integration into Highgate’s systems, policies, and reporting infrastructure in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.

Operational Finance Management

• Oversee the management of cash flows of the properties and identify outstanding accounts receivable and reimbursements within the terms of the management agreements and ensure timely debt repayments. Collects all outstanding Accounts Receivable and reimbursements within the terms of agreements within the portfolio
• Review and ensure accurate completion of detailed cash flow models for each hotel property in the region, including operational needs, capital expenditures, and owner distributions.
• Interact with Owners, Joint Venture Partners, and Due Diligence associates as required
• Interact with Operations co-operatively and with enthusiasm to ensure the achievement of the portfolio’s goals providing insight into financial results, action areas, and regional trends.
• Support acquisition activities not limited to due diligence, capital expenditure, Joint Venture agreements, Management Agreements, and Loan Agreements.
• Collaborate with Financial Planning and Analysis to understand and articulate variance analyses, produce annual budgets and monthly forecasts, and analyze the operations within the to identify opportunities to improve overall performance and maximize value for ownership.

Team Leadership and Development

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing accounting and finance teams, ensuring the team’s development and alignment with Highgate’s financial goals.
• Promote a culture of financial discipline and accountability across the company.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide insights and updates on financial performance and strategic goals.

Technology and Process Improvement

• Drive the adoption of financial technologies and systems to enhance financial reporting, analysis, and operational efficiency.
• Recommend process improvements to streamline financial workflows and support business decision-making.

Qualifications

• Deeply rooted experience and a firm understanding of GAAP and USALI 12th Edition accounting, ideally shaped by time in Private Equity-backed ventures, Asset Management, Advisory, or high-growth start-up hotel environments. Brings operational toughness and financial discipline to fast-moving, performance-driven businesses
• Unafraid to dive into the numbers and drive resolution in real-time, yet agile enough to shift rapidly to strategic, high-level decision-making when the moment demands it. 
• Possesses the resilience and conviction to challenge assumptions, offering constructive pushback, when necessary, always with a focus on the long-term success and sustainability of the business.
• Demonstrates a steady hand under pressure, navigating through complex financial situations while maintaining clarity and a strategic focus.
• Leads with courage and confidence in the face of ambiguity, effectively guiding the team and organization through periods of change or financial complexity.
• Fosters a culture of constructive debate and collaboration, ensuring that all financial decisions are well-informed and aligned with the company's strategic objectives.
• Acts as a persuasive and adaptive communicator, building trust and fostering strong relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including senior executives, and external partners.
• Navigates internal cross-functional dynamics effectively, collaborating with various departments (e.g., operations, sales, marketing) to ensure alignment on financial goals and business strategies.
• Leverages exceptional communication skills to influence decision-making, drive organizational change, and ensure clarity in complex financial discussions.
• Decisive problem-solver with strong business judgment, providing clarity and direction in high-stakes or ambiguous situations.
• Integrity-driven leader who sets a high standard for excellence, accountability, and resilience, demanding the same from the team to foster a high-performance culture.
• Master’s degree in finance or CPA preferred.