Financial Controller

Financial Controller

The Financial Controller is a senior shipboard finance leadership role within Shipboard Financial Operations onboard Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships. Reporting to the Hotel Director and working closely with shoreside Finance teams, this position oversees all onboard financial operations and ensures the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of the ship’s financial processes.

This role leads the end-to-end financial function, including crew payroll, gratuities, revenue and expense reporting, cash management, credit card processing, and fraud prevention. The Financial Controller ensures the accurate exchange of financial information between shipboard and shoreside teams while maintaining compliance with company policies, audit standards, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) controls. A key responsibility is overseeing payroll processes—ensuring the accurate calculation, reconciliation, and disbursement of salaries, gratuities, and supplemental payments, while investigating discrepancies and supporting audit requirements.

The Financial Controller manages and develops a team of three to five team members across payroll and guest accounts. This includes assigning responsibilities, ensuring compliance with Time & Attendance and ILO regulations, and providing coaching, training, and performance management to support team development and succession planning.

Additionally, the role oversees cash operations, including the management of shipboard funds, foreign exchange programs, and the coordination of cash deliveries and offloads. The Financial Controller monitors financial performance through forecasting, controllable spending analysis, and operational reporting, providing guidance to shipboard leadership to ensure alignment with financial targets.

A significant component of the role involves maintaining strong internal controls through audits, training, and collaboration with Audit & Advisory Services. The Financial Controller proactively identifies financial risks, ensures compliance with all policies, and implements mitigation plans to safeguard company assets.

This position requires strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage complex operations in a fast-paced environment. The Financial Controller must maintain strict confidentiality of all financial and payroll data while delivering professional, solutions-oriented service to both crew and guests.

Qualifications include completion of high school or equivalent, with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field preferred. Candidates should have a minimum of four years of managerial experience in financial or operational roles within the hospitality industry or a financial institution, as well as at least five years of Financial Operations experience onboard cruise ships. Strong analytical, administrative, and cash-handling experience is required, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including intermediate Excel skills, and strong English communication abilities.