What are the responsibilities and job description for the Controller position at Wild Rivers?
Position: Controller
Reports to: General Manager
Job Classification: Exempt; Full Time
Pay Range: Commensurate with experience
Job Scope/ Summary:
The Controller will oversee the Accounting and Human Resource functions of Wild Rivers Waterpark. The Controller will collaborate closely with peers, corporate leadership, and owner’s representatives to develop, execute, and monitor financial and human resource practices that support superior guest service, responsible and compliant risk protocols, finance/budgetary compliance and timely ownership relations/engagement.
Essential Job Responsibilities and Functions:
- Financial Oversight: Supervise and direct financial activities of the property. Financial oversight will include, but not be limited to, safeguarding assets and ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.
- Human Resource / Payroll Oversight: Under the direction and guidance of the General Manager, manage the Human Resource and Payroll functions, and assigned staff, according to established policies, SOP’s, and Management Company directives.
- Special Financial Analysis: Perform financial analyses as needed or requested, providing practical solutions from a cost vs. benefits perspective.
- Policy Administration: Provide accurate interpretations of current financial policies and actively lead/participate in creation of new financial policies as deemed necessary.
- Audit Compliance: Plan, schedule, and execute required audits specific to owner requirements, minimizing internal control weaknesses, and correcting deficiencies identified in both internal and external audits. Provide accounting information and documentation to audit teams as/where required.
- Budget Coordination: Schedule and coordinate the preparation and presentation of the annual operating budget and capital expenditures budget according to SOP and owner’s representative requirements; prepare multi-year financial/budget models as requested.
- Cash Flow / Forecasting: Prepare interval financial models to include, but not limited to, operational cash flow and like financial forecasting as required under contract or as requested by leadership teams.
- Capital Expenditure Management: Prepare capital plans for both short term and long-term needs, conduct financial feasibility modeling, conduct ROI analyses, and ensure accuracy in financial statement entries.
- Cash Management: Ensure daily cash management/bank reconciliation to include the timely posting of all banking activities for assigned depository accounts; reconcile merchant activity and ensure daily posting/reconciliation.
- Daily Report/Sales Journal: Reconcile, report, and record daily sales journals; reconcile sub systems held outside of point-of-sale system and ensure daily reconciliation/reporting.
- Accounts Receivable Management: Maintain standards for receivable accounts, document local credit policies, and aggressively manage accounts receivable to ensure timely collection.
- Accounts Payable Management: Monitor and ensure timely recording of all accounts payable; correlate/time cash distribution with cash flow as/where required. Reconcile and record all related credit card transactions and ensure timely payment and reconciliation on all merchant accounts.
- Tax Filing: Monitor all sales tax collections to ensure compliance with local/state collection and payment requirements. Schedule and pay all property tax levy’s according to specific payment terms. Ensure all exemptions are properly documented/supported. Perform review of levy’s and determine actions needed to address protest as/where requested or required.
- Balance Sheet Management: Reconcile balance sheet accounts monthly and ensure compliance with policies and GAAP.
- Month-End / Period Activities: Oversee month-end processes, including journal entries, GL & account reconciliation, fixed assets, and accruals.
- Financial Reporting: Prepare full suite financial statements, consolidation where required; ensure accuracy and compliance with specific terms and owner’s representative requirements.
- Review financial performance metrics and key performance indicators for narrative response to owner’s representatives.
- Assist management teams in understanding/interpreting financial performance and key performance indicators.
- Contract Compliance: Monitor and manage all contracts including but not limited to, ARM management agreements, indenture/debt agreements, leases, banking/merchant agreements, and other operating agreements. Ensure compliance with key terms and conditions.
- Insurance/Risk: Manage/oversee insurance needs to include property, general liability, works compensation and other insurance required by contract or statute. Monitor all insurance policies for timely reporting, payment, and renewal protocols.
- Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong relationships with corporate teams, property management teams, owner’s representatives, outside advisors, consultants, investment managers, attorneys, trustees and bankers.
- Supervision: Manage, supervise, schedule, and assign tasks to full time and seasonal support staff performing Accounting, Human Resources, or Payroll related functions.
Position Requirements (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
- 5 years increasingly responsible accounting experience in the hospitality and/or waterpark industry.
- Bachelor’s Degree from accredited college. CPA Preferred.
- Proficiency in financial modeling, forecasting, and budgeting tools/software.
- Proven track record of building a strong team, fostering an environment of respect, open communication, and problem solving.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Multi-tasking ability with attention to detail.
- Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to effectively collaborate to execute plans and meet operational objectives.
- Must be able to adhere to a non-standard work environment.