Vice President Finance - South Region

Compensation Type : Yearly Highgate Hotels : Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle. www.highgate.com Location : Overview : The Vice President of Finance is responsible for ensuring quality leadership in the financial area by providing both Area Directors of Finance and property Directors of Finance, Controllers, and management with guidance and training, focusing on the profitability of the business and supporting the SVP Finance in company / regional initiatives. They will also be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reports; maintaining acceptable levels of internal control; ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations; complying with all Highgate Hotel’s policies and procedures; and safeguarding owners / investors assets. This role will oversee the Kessler Collection portfolio of hotels and can be based out of any key market in the Southeast US : including, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte or in Virginia. 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 of those hotels. This includes 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 the accurate recording of information in accordance with Hotel’s guidelines. Investigate and critique variances to budget or to prior year and offer practical improvement methodologies to management. Monitor the capital planning process by assisting management with calculating return on capital improvements, gathering support and monitoring the bid process, and ensuring proper upkeep of the property by evaluating the scope of work and specifications. Ensure hotels’ compliance with all regulatory licenses and permits, leases, contracts, legal agreements, and the proper execution of all operational taxes. Assist in management in enforcing compliance on all these matters. Analyze financial data and operations to assist and advise management in maintaining the hotels’ financial objectives. Monitor compliance of internal financial controls including purchasing, cash handling, disbursements, inventories, hotel assets, master keys, payroll, and employee records, by both partnering with Internal Audit, as well as reviews of Financial Statements and ensuring the completion and monitoring of Self-Audits by the property teams. Embrace a continuous growth environment by actively assisting in recruiting, reviewing, recommending, and maintaining an inventory of Directors of Finance, Assistant Directors of Finance, Accounting Managers, and other managers for the organization. Continually focus on training and development programs for accounting associates to cultivate the “brightest” and “best” talent within the industry. Hire, train, supervise and develop staff, including coaching, counseling, and discipline. Review, rate, and evaluate the Director of Finance performance in accordance with guidelines provided by Human Resources. Provide regular feedback on performance to Directors of Finance. Assist in the revision, recognition, development, and implementation of Accounting Standard Operating Procedures on a regular basis. Direct or prepare financial reports in accordance with Hotel’s requirements to ensure meeting various deadlines and due dates, i.e., Review Annual : Budgets 5-Year Plans 5-Year Capital Plans 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. Participate in company sponsored recruiting efforts as needed. Qualifications : A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in hotel Accounting or 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 and a minimum of 8 years of related progressive experience. Experience in Hotel or Restaurant financial background is required for this role. Proven leadership abilities with experience leading teams and departments. Multi hotel experience is preferred for this role. Technical knowledge of key financial systems and software is required. Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all levels of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous, and service-oriented manner. Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines. Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel. Comply with 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. Must be proficient in Windows, company-approved spreadsheets and word processing, and in the operation of all hotel-specific systems. Advanced excel capabilities – pivot tables, formulas, formatting, conditional formatting, etc. Leadership experience and abilities. Ability to travel up to 2 weeks per month