Staff Accountant

About the position

The Staff Accountant is responsible for assisting the Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Finance 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 Payroll, Income Audit and Accounts Receivable processing and collections.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, prepare, and communicate financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels required due dates.
• Income Audit including entering information into the BiPortal on a daily basis.
• Utilize and maintain time and attendance system and process, daily, weekly, and bi-weekly payroll and related information to include verifying payroll information, recording earnings/deductions, etc.
• Prepare and input all required payroll journal entries.
• Maintain responsibility for the daily Accounts Receivable credit, billing, and collection process.
• Monitor payment requirements on groups or functions and process deposits.
• Approve or decline credit requests.
• Complete collection calls on each appropriate outstanding accounts and maintain collection files on each outstanding issue.
• Review and approve the City Ledger transfers daily and communicate to supervisor any deviation from established Accounting policies and procedures.
• Handle customer inquiries in a professional and timely manner, provide customers with accurate invoices, statements, and schedules.
• Process returned checks and credit card chargebacks.
• Conduct monthly credit meetings and maintain minutes (including returned checks/chargeback logs, credit trace reports, write-off, bad debt allowances, etc.).
• Partner with the Sales and Events Team by establishing customer credit, including but not limited to application processing, reference checks, credit limitation, direct billing list, and deposit requirements.
• Maintain an efficient collection process to include organized filing and tracing system, issuing letters, monitoring returned checks and chargebacks, performing collection calls and preparing bad debt write-offs.
• Update daily revenue reports both for internal distribution and corporate distribution.
• 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.
• Assist in the monthly close process by posting journal entries that are related to daily/monthly responsibilities.
• 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 including accounts payable.
• 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.

Requirements

• College courses in an associated or related field and/or related experience in a Hotel or Hospitality environment.
• Must be proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel and Basic Word).
• Accounts Receivable and Payroll experience is preferred.
• Hotel PMS Opera is preferred.
• Flexible and long hours sometimes required, especially during the last and first few days of the month.
• Sedentary work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a 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 a professional, attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotels Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming.
• Comply with Highgate Hotels 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 complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Must be able to show initiative, including anticipating guests or operational needs.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.