Complex Director of Finance - Greater Chicago Area

Description

At Crescent Hotels & Resorts, we are more than a management company—we are passionate hospitality professionals committed to creating exceptional guest experiences while fostering rewarding careers for our associates. We believe our people are the driving force behind our success, and we are dedicated to providing an environment where leaders can grow, innovate, and make a meaningful impact.

We offer best-in-class learning and development, comprehensive wellness programs, and travel benefits designed to support your professional and personal journey.

We are seeking an experienced Complex Director of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership for two premier full-service hotels: Hilton Orrington Evanston and Chicago Marriott Suites Deerfield.

This highly visible executive leadership role serves as the trusted financial advisor to both General Managers, Regional Finance leadership, and ownership. The Complex Director of Finance is responsible for driving financial performance, safeguarding ownership assets, leading high-performing finance teams, and influencing strategic business decisions across both hotels.

This is an onsite leadership position requiring regular presence at both the Evanston and Deerfield hotel locations. The successful candidate will divide their time between the two properties while providing hands-on leadership and support to each hotel's accounting and finance operations.

Position Summary

The Complex Director of Finance serves as the senior financial leader for both hotels, providing strategic business leadership while ensuring the integrity of all financial operations. Acting as the Chief Business Officer and trusted advisor to both General Managers and Executive Committees, this position is responsible for maximizing profitability, protecting ownership assets, ensuring compliance with company and brand standards, and developing high-performing finance teams.

This role requires an experienced hospitality finance executive who can balance strategic planning with operational execution while successfully leading the accounting and finance functions across two distinct full-service hotel operations.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as the primary financial advisor to both General Managers and Executive Committees, influencing key operational and business decisions.
• Partner with ownership, Regional Finance leadership, and Operations to develop strategies that maximize profitability, improve cash flow, and achieve long-term financial objectives.
• Analyze business trends and identify opportunities to improve revenue, labor productivity, departmental performance, and overall operating results.
• Provide financial modeling and return-on-investment analysis for capital projects, renovations, and business initiatives.
• Prepare and present financial analyses, forecasts, and recommendations to ownership, asset managers, and executive leadership.

Financial Management & Analysis

• Direct all accounting and financial reporting functions for both hotels.
• Oversee the preparation of accurate monthly financial statements in accordance with Crescent Hotels & Resorts, ownership, Hilton, and Marriott reporting requirements.
• Lead the annual budgeting process, monthly forecasting, business planning, and long-range financial strategy.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, forecast, prior year, and business objectives while identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Ensure timely reconciliation of all balance sheet accounts and maintain strong financial controls across both hotels.
• Manage cash flow, banking relationships, accounts receivable, working capital, and capital expenditures.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of all financial reporting, audits, and owner deliverables.

Operational Partnership

• Partner closely with Operations, Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing, Food & Beverage, and Human Resources to optimize hotel performance.
• Evaluate labor productivity, departmental expenses, and operational efficiencies while identifying opportunities to improve profitability.
• Support revenue optimization initiatives through financial analysis and strategic decision-making.
• Participate as an active member of each hotel's Executive Committee and provide operational leadership as Manager on Duty (MOD) as required.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain a strong internal control environment across both hotels.
• Ensure compliance with Crescent Hotels & Resorts policies, Hilton and Marriott brand standards, ownership requirements, and all federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversee internal and external audits while ensuring timely resolution of audit findings.
• Manage regulatory filings, licenses, contracts, insurance compliance, and operational taxes.
• Safeguard company and ownership assets through disciplined financial oversight.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting teams at both hotels while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, coach, and develop future finance leaders within the organization.
• Establish clear performance expectations while providing ongoing coaching and professional development.
• Promote a culture focused on financial excellence, operational partnership, and exceptional service.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline required.
• CPA or MBA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience serving as a Director of Finance within a full-service hotel environment.
• Proven experience overseeing the financial operations of hotels generating annual revenues of $20 million or greater.
• Experience leading complex or multi-property hotel finance operations strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting both Hilton and Marriott branded hotels preferred.
• Hands-on experience with Hilton PEP and Marriott LightSpeed PMS.
• Strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, owner reporting, cash flow management, capital planning, internal controls, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with General Managers, ownership groups, and executive leadership to drive financial performance and operational excellence.
• Proven success leading, developing, and mentoring high-performing accounting teams.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and hotel financial systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of hotel accounting principles, GAAP, internal controls, and financial reporting.
• Exceptional analytical, leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to influence strategic business decisions through financial insight and data-driven recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced, multi-property hospitality environment.
• Strong business acumen with a collaborative leadership style.

Why Join Crescent?

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the financial strategy for two established, full-service hotels representing both the Hilton and Marriott brands. As Complex Director of Finance, you will play a key leadership role partnering with General Managers, ownership, and Regional Finance to drive financial performance, develop future finance talent, and influence strategic decisions that shape the continued success of both properties.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

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