Staff Accountant

JOB SUMMARY

Manages the daily accounting function, assists controller in month-end closing, maintains balance sheet reconciliations, maintains & supports computer systems, and maintains internal audit controls, reviews daily revenue report, 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.
• Responsible for the daily operations of the accounting function, including payroll, general cashier, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Assists in monthly inventory counts.
• Assist the Front Office Manager with the training and oversight of the night audit operation.
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing to provide clear direction to staff. Assigns and instructs all direct reports in details of work.  Observes performance and encourages improvement. Supervises and reviews costs and inventory.
• Following instruction from the Corporate Controller, coordinate and administer an adequate plan for the control of operations. This plan would provide profit planning, sales forecasts, expense budgets, capital requirement/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 Controller and appropriate regional management and to protect the hotel's assets.

• Review A/R credit applications prior to being submitted to the Corporate Controller.
• Review & approve all A/R adjustments.
• Review P&L and attend P&L Meetings.
• Assist Corporate Controller and General Manager with annual budget input and reports.
• Process Payroll, ensuring proper compliance for all paperwork, including punch edits and time off requests.
• Prepare and enter monthly journal entries as well as review preliminary P&L statement for errors prior to submitting to Controller.  Review corrected preliminary P&L statement with Controller.  Distribute preliminary P&L to Executive Committee Members.

Guest Satisfaction

• Ensures a high level of customer satisfaction and builds long terms mutually beneficial customer relationships.   
• Coordinates and communicates verbally and in writing with customer (internal and external). Follows up with customer.
• Makes presence known to customer at all times.   

• Displays leadership in guest hospitality and ensures consistent, high- level service throughout all phases of hotel events.  

• Sets a positive example for guest relations.
• Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels. Effectively responds to and handles guest problems and complaints.

Emphasizes guest satisfaction during all departmental meetings and focuses on continuous improvement

Leadership

…applies broad business knowledge and balances both a short- and long-term perspective to generate strategies while leading the organization to achieve them.

• Demonstrates commitment to Westmont Hospitality operating principles and philosophies.
• Holds self and others accountable for achieving results.
• Addresses conflict in a timely manner.
• Contributes to team results.
• Deals with change effectively.
• Makes decisions, including employees/team and commits to a course of action with available information.

Building Relationships

…eliminates insular thinking by fostering a positive climate for work relationships and teams committed to achieving organizational goals and initiatives.  In addition to performance of the essential functions, this position may be required to perform a combination of the following supportive functions, with the percentage of time performing each function to be solely determined by the supervisor based upon the particular requirements of the hotel.

• Maintains open channels of communications for all levels - line employees through General Manager..
• Ensures the prompt and proper submission of all corporate, divisional and governmental reports required.
• Due to the nature of the business the individual may be required to do other duties and special projects as assigned by the supervisor.

Generating Talent

….Proactively identifies and develops talent within the organization

• Uses all available on the job training tools for employees; implements and manages training initiatives and conducts training when appropriate; ensures self and direct reports have completed appropriate training classes.
• Ensures each hotel’s policies are administered fairly and consistently.  
• Ensures regular on-going communication is happening in all areas of responsibility to create awareness of business objectives and communicate expectations, recognize performance and produce desired business results. Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with employees and ensures employees do the same within the team.
• 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.  Brings 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.

Organizational Learner

…actively pursues learning and self-development to enhance personal, professional and business growth; shares learning; demonstrates depth of knowledge in technical or specialized area

•  Enlivens the Culture within the hotel
• Attends different departmental stand-up meetings and communicates information to the staff in the absence of the Controller.
• Supports Public Relations’ initiatives  

Experience  

• 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 position involves frequent decisions, meeting of deadline, negotiations of contracts of vendors, analytical ability and the planning, organization development and coordination of large scale work projects.
  • Must have bank reconciliation, balance sheet reconciliation experience and journal entry creation experience.  
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to direct/motivate department to meet and exceed goals.   
  • Must have excellent business communication skills. Strong time management skills needed.  Well organized and excellent attention to detail.   Ability to adjust to changes.

Knowledge And Skills

• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Ability to read and communicate verbally and in writing and prepare complex occupancy reports.
• Computer literate in MS Word, Excel.  
• Complex mathematical skills and considerable skill in the use of Excel Spreadsheets and/or calculator to prepare complex mathematical calculations without error, i.e. budgets, forecasting. 

• Frequent walking, standing, sitting, hearing, talking, smiling. 
• Lifting, pushing and pulling of objects weighing up to ten (20) pounds.
• 90% Sitting, the rest walking