Controller

Westmont Hospitality Group

Controller 

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

Supervises accounting staff, completes month-end closing, maintains & supports computer systems, trains all associates in the accounting department, maintains internal audit controls, reviews daily revenue reports, and tracks daily cash.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

This description is a summary of primary responsibilities and qualifications.  The job description is not intended to include all duties or qualifications that may be required now or in the future.  The Hotel operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so operational demands require variations in shift days, starting times, and hours worked in a week.

Business Results

• Applies broad business knowledge and balances both a short- and long-term perspective to generate strategies while leading the organization to achieve them.
• Guides financial decisions by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing policies and procedures.
• Protects assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls.
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing to provide clear direction to staff.  Assigns and instructs all direct reports in the details of work.  Observe performance and encourage improvement.   Monitors hotel traffic and makes staffing adjustments accordingly.  Supervises and reviews costs and inventory.
• Coordinate and administer an adequate plan for the control of operations.  This plan would provide profit planning, sales forecasts, expense budgets, capital requirements/needs, cost standards, and the necessary procedures for affecting the plan.
• Administer all tax filing and government reporting procedures to ensure accurate, timely information is provided in compliance with laws and regulations.
• Monitor compliance with hotel and accounting policies and procedures, legal requirements, and contractual obligations (including obligations under a management agreement) utilizing internal controls, auditing, and security procedures to ensure deviations are brought to the attention of the General Manager and appropriate regional management and to protect the hotel's assets.
• Achieves budget objectives by scheduling expenditures; analyzing variances, and initiating corrective actions. 
• Conducts disciplinary action as required for those directly supervising.
• Conduct 90-day and annual performance evaluations for the accounting staff.
• Monitor labor through Hotel Effectiveness, enter labor plans to match the budget annually, monitor overtime, and conduct weekly labor meetings with department heads.  
• Process payroll (semi-monthly) through Hotel Effectiveness and ADP.  
• Sort checks and matching time sheets and distribute them to departments on payday.
• Enter annual budget into Birchstreet purchasing system and approve all departmental purchase orders to ensure budget compliance.  Sign and approve all invoices to ensure proper GL coding before Accounts Payable enters using Oracle.
• Oversee Income audit, digitally sign reports in My Digital Office System, and review write-offs and credit card refunds for proper compliance.
• Place change orders, and ensure house banks are randomly audited monthly by the accounting team.
• Produce a weekly forecast of business in Profitsword and send it to the Corporate office weekly.
• Work with GM on all Capital Expenditures for submission to the Corporate Office.
• Heavy participation in the preparation of the annual budget is required.  Knowledge of the process is extremely important.  
• Responsible for all month-end procedures, ensuring all reports are correct, and all necessary journal entries are completed before finalizing P&L with Corporate Office, then participating in P&L review call to explain budget variances.
• Reply with document requests to all internal and external auditors.
• Attend daily stand-up meetings, staff meetings, and accounting department meetings, and read and respond to all emails and MOD reports.  Oversee all functions with accounting staff
• Actively solicits feedback, utilizes an “open door” policy, and reviews employee satisfaction results to identify and address employee problems and concerns.  Ensures employees are treated fairly and equitably.  Constantly strives to improve employee retention.  Bring issues to the attention of the Controller as necessary.
• Celebrates successes and publicly recognizes the contributions of team members; ensures recognition is taking place across areas of responsibility.  Maintains an on-going employee recognition program.
• Other duties as assigned by Direct Report.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Requires advanced knowledge of the accounting, finance, and hospitality profession; Full Service Hotel Experience required.
• Minimum Experience 3 years comparable accounting, 1 year minimum accounting supervisory experience.
• Requires some managerial skill as the position involves frequent decisions, meeting of deadlines, negotiations of contracts of vendors, analytical ability, and the planning, organization development, and coordination of large-scale work projects.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to direct/motivate the department to meet and exceed goals.   
• Must have excellent business communication skills. Strong time management skills are needed.  Well organized and excellent attention to detail.   
• Ability to adjust to changes.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.Ability to read and communicate verbally and in writing.
• Computer literate in MS Word and Excel.  
• Complex mathematical skills and considerable skill in the use of Excel Spreadsheets and/or calculators to prepare complex mathematical calculations without error, i.e. budgets, and forecasting. 
• Previous experience in Profitsword is highly preferred, but not required.