Controller

About the Company

Kessler Hospitality’s portfolio of artistically inspired boutique hotels features unique design, luxurious accommodations, enriching ambiance, and intuitive service. With properties throughout Colorado, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, each hotel’s exquisite art, music, and cultural influences are intentionally approachable. Designed to inspire and create unforgettable experiences, Kessler guests are immersed in refined Bohemian luxury, whether at a cutting-edge downtown icon, a premier luxury lodge, Savannah’s entertainment destination, or an elite ski lodge. As the founding member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, Kessler Hospitality has long championed bold, original hotels, each carefully created with distinctive style and the Individualist traveler in mind.

Location

The AAA Four Diamond JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District is located in the heart of historic Savannah on the Savannah riverfront, with countless activities a short walk away. Explore the downtown Savannah shopping district, eat at one of the hotel's many restaurants, reconnect with friends at our riverside Savannah bars, or embark on one of the city's various walking tours. Once a power plant, Plant Riverside District represents the beauty of progress. Our three unique buildings are enriched in history, from chic architecture in the Power Plant to romantic styling in the Three Muses and contemporary maritime details in the Atlantic. Complete your experience with a relaxing visit to the hotel spa before you enjoy the vibrant nightlife in the entertainment district.

About the Role

The Controller is responsible for providing consistent leadership in the financial area of the hotel by supplying management with guidance and training. He/she is also responsible for focusing on the profitability of the business, maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting, ensuring acceptable levels on internal control, ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, and safeguarding owners/investors assets.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Listen, understand, and clarify concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel-required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotels Standards, as required by scheduling.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, including wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotels Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts toward productivity, identify problem areas, and assist in implementing solutions.
• Handle problems effectively, including anticipating, preventing, identifying, and solving problems as necessary.
• Understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc., from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.
• Effectively manage and communicate cash flow-related issues, including accurate and timely preparation of cash flow statements, management of receivables, payables, cash balances, control mechanisms, and timely deposits of all funds.
• Monitor hotel revenues and expenses and ensure accurate recording in accordance with Highgate Hotels’s established guidelines.
• Investigate and critique variances to budget or prior year and offer practical improvement methodologies to management.
• Monitor the capital planning process by assisting management with the calculation of return on capital improvements, gathering support, and monitoring the bid process, and ensuring proper upkeep of the property by evaluating scope of work and specifications.
• Ensure hotels’ compliance on all regulatory licenses and permits, leases, contracts, legal agreements, and proper execution of all operational taxes.
• Provide assistance to management in enforcing compliance on all these items.
• Analyze financial data and operations to assist and advise management in maintaining the hotels’ financial objectives.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts, including bank reconciliations, are reconciled on a timely basis.
• Establish and continually audit all internal financial controls, including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records.
• Embrace a continuous growth environment by actively assisting in recruiting, reviewing, recommending, and maintaining an inventory of Directors of Financial Services, Assistant Directors of Financial Services, Assistant Directors of Financial Services Trainees, Accounting Managers, Controllers, Assistant Controllers, and other managers for the organization.
• Focus on training and development programs for Accounting associates to cultivate the “brightest” and “best” talent within the industry.
• Ensure implementation and completion of all Accounting Key Competencies, both management and hourly.
• Hire, train, supervise, and develop staff, including coaching, counseling, and discipline.
• Maintain compliance with Highgate Hotels’ standards and regulations to ensure safe and efficient operation of the hotel.
• Ensure the proper utilization, maintenance, and periodic upgrades of all equipment.
• Direct or prepare all financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels’s requirements, meeting various due dates and deadlines.
• Conduct and/or attend and contribute to periodic meetings to maintain favorable working relationships among employees and promote maximum morale, productivity, and efficiency.
• Monitor hotels’ compliance in meeting required report deadlines and due dates and react accordingly.
• Monitor the accurate production of the hotel daily operating report.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 6 years of related progressive experience in hotel Accounting or related field; or a 4-year college degree with an Accounting/Finance concentration and a minimum of 2 years of related progressive experience; or a 2-year college degree and a minimum of 4 years of related progressive experience.
• Must be proficient in Windows, company-approved spreadsheets and word processing, and in the operation of all hotel-specific systems.