Staff Accountant

Compensation Type

Highgate Hotels

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, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. 

Location

The Newbury Boston at One Newbury Street, located in the premier shopping and dining neighborhood of Boston’s Back Bay is an iconic property originally opened in 1927 as one of the first Ritz-Carlton hotels in the U.S. and most recently was the Taj Boston. The building was recently transformed into a 286-room luxury hotel with 16,000-sq-ft of stunning event spaces, signature dining experiences and a reimagined front entrance on Newbury Street.

Overview

The Staff Accountant is responsible for assisting the Director of Finance and staff in maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting; ensuring acceptable levels of internal control; ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations and Highgate Hotels Standard Operating Procedures; and safeguarding owners/investors assets. For this role, the emphasis is placed on the management of Accounts payable, General Cashier and Income Audit.

Responsibilities

· Review Income Audit report daily (Send daily DHR & manage Night audit packets through MDO & Revenue reporting through Profitsage).

· Prepare weekly Tax reconciliation for Room occupancy and Meals Tax.

· Reconcile OTA and 3rd party billings and receiveables

· Post wires/checks daily

· Group Event billings and corporate account billings.

· Processing refunds, credit memos, and adjustments

· Daily Adjustment review & Daily credit card rebate review.

· Assist in the monthly close process by posting journal entries related to payroll, prepaid etc.

· Collect and reconcile vendor statement on a weeklybasis.

· Monitor, prepare, and communicate financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels required due dates.

· Perform general cashier duties for the property.

· Manage accounting support team in charge of processing AP invoices and month end process.

· Handle customer inquiries in a professional and timely manner, provide customers with accurate invoices, statements, and schedules.

· Monitor guest ledger, advance deposit ledger and any other related ledgers to ensure proper internal control.

· Keep management aware of any unusual operation or financial occurrences and/or significant deviations.

· Reconcile invoices against ledgers or schedules to ensure accuracy of invoicing.

· Ensure overall guest satisfaction by attentive listening and then immediately resolving guest issues or elevating to the Director of Finance or General Manager.

· Cross-Train in other areas within the Accounting Department.

· Ability to identify root causes of issues that may affect staff or guests and provide actionable and measurable solutions to improve efficiency, overall work environment, and/or guest experience

Qualifications

· College courses in an associated or related field and/or related experience in an Hotel or Hospitality environment

· Must be proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel and Basic Word)

· Accounts Payable and Payroll experience is preferred

· Hotel PMS Opera is preferred

· Long hours sometimes required.

· Sedentary work, exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

· Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.

· Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.

· Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.

· Must be able to 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 Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.

· Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.

· Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.

· Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.

· Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary. 

· Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.

· Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.

· Perform other duties as requested by management.