Vice President Finance - Kessler Hospitality

Position Overview

Compensation: Yearly. Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, the company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle. The Vice President of Finance is responsible for ensuring quality leadership in the financial area by guiding Area Directors of Finance, property Directors of Finance, Controllers, and management towards profitability and regulatory compliance. This role will oversee the Kessler Collection portfolio of hotels and can be based in key markets in the Southeast US, including Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte, or Virginia.

Key Responsibilities

• Must be able to prioritize regional, hotel, or departmental functions to meet all deadlines.
• Provide assistance and financial leadership to Directors of Financial Services and management of other locations as directed.
• Effectively supervise the implementation and preparation of cash flow statements and projections across the portfolio of hotels and monitor the cash positions, including training on the preparation of cash flow statements.
• Work with ownership groups on cash requirements, ROI initiatives, reporting requirements, and other ownership needs and concerns.
• Monitor regional hotels’ revenues and expenses to ensure accurate recording in accordance with Hotel guidelines, investigate variances to budget or prior year, and offer practical improvement methodologies to management.
• Monitor the capital planning process by assisting management with calculating returns on capital improvements, gathering support, monitoring the bid process, and evaluating the scope of work and specifications for property upkeep.
• Ensure hotels’ compliance with all regulatory licenses, permits, leases, contracts, legal agreements, and operational taxes while assisting management in enforcing these compliance measures.
• Analyze financial data and operations to advise management in maintaining the hotels’ financial objectives.
• Monitor internal financial controls—including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records—in partnership with Internal Audit and through periodic reviews and self-audits.
• Actively assist in recruiting, reviewing, recommending, and maintaining an inventory of Directors of Finance, Assistant Directors of Finance, Accounting Managers, and other managers to foster continuous growth.
• Focus on training and development programs for accounting associates to cultivate top industry talent.
• Hire, train, supervise, and develop staff, including coaching, counseling, and discipline.
• Review, rate, and evaluate the performance of Directors of Finance in accordance with HR guidelines and provide regular feedback.
• Assist in the revision, development, and implementation of Accounting Standard Operating Procedures on a regular basis.
• Direct or prepare financial reports according to Hotel requirements to meet deadlines, including Annual Budgets, 5-Year Plans, and 5-Year Capital Plans.
• Attend and contribute to periodic meetings to promote favorable working relationships, morale, productivity, and efficiency.
• Monitor hotels’ compliance in meeting required report deadlines and react accordingly.
• Participate in company-sponsored recruiting efforts as needed.

Required Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in hotel Accounting or a related field; or a 4-year college degree with an Accounting/Finance concentration and a minimum of 5 years of related progressive experience; or a 2-year college degree with a minimum of 8 years of related progressive experience.
• Experience in Hotel or Restaurant financial management is required.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience leading teams and departments.
• Multi-hotel experience is preferred.
• Technical knowledge of key financial systems and software is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with employees and guests at all levels.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Regular attendance in compliance with Hotel Standards as per scheduling needs.
• Adherence to Hotel Standards and regulations to maintain safe and efficient operations.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and implement solutions.
• Capability to understand and evaluate complex data from various sources to meet objectives.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Willingness to perform other duties as requested by management.
• Proficiency with Windows, company-approved spreadsheets, word processing, and hotel-specific systems.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, formulas, formatting, and conditional formatting.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 2 weeks per month.