Director of Finance & Business Support (Pre-opening) Fairmont Hanoi

The Fairmont Hanoi will open in the Vietnamese capital before year end of 2025, making it the first Fairmont brand in the country. The 241-room luxury hotel will take design inspiration from the art of lacquer with the traditional colours of Vietnam, the Indochinese style from the French colonial period, and draws motifs from Vietnam’s dynasties. Positioned as an urban resort, our guests will be able to enjoy a very special and unique range of offerings such as eight dining and bar venues including a rooftop terrace, as well as two indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an extensive gym and an entire floor of wellness spa and bathhouse. For corporate and social groups, the Fairmont Hanoi will offer three ballrooms, the largest being a 1,100m2 grand ballroom as well as nine meeting rooms, making it an outstanding destination for meetings, conferencing and events. The Fairmont Hanoi is set to become the social epicentre of Hanoi!

Job Purpose

This position is responsible for the overall financial management of the Hotel including financial reporting, budget and forecasts preparation, as well as the development and maintenance of adequate internal accounting control policies and procedures to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards.

Key Interactions

Internally

• All department heads
• Owner / Owner’s representative
• Corporate Office for Raffles & Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Externally

• Government bodies
• Accounting / Finance Association
• Banks
• Financial Agencies
• Vendors & Suppliers

Primary Responsibilities

Accounting & Finance

• Set up financial systems and processes in Pre-opening
• Set up and oversee the daily operations of the Finance department

• Direct and coordinate hotel financial planning and Pre-opening & budget management functions

• Monitor and analyze monthly operating results against Pre-opening budget (POB)

• Direct and coordinate debt financing and debt service payments with external agencies

• Prepare annual reports of actual revenues, transfers, and expenses
• Ensure compliance of internal and external audits

• Analyze financial outlooks and prepare financial forecasts

• Prepare financial analysis for contract negotiations and product investment decisions

• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal budgetary reporting requirements

• Establish and implement short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies and operating procedures

• Maintain an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the department’s goals and objectives

• Serve as primary legislative liaison relative to company financial issues

• Direct financial audits and provide recommendations for procedural improvements

• Conduct regular checks on procedures for purchasing, receiving, storing, issuing, food preparing and portioning

Team Management

• Interview, select and recruit direct reports from pre-opening through to operational 

• Identify and develop team members with potential

• Conduct performance review and manages performance issues that arise within the management team

• Constantly monitor team members performance, attitude and degree of professionalism

• Work with Talent & Culture function to ensure appropriate hiring, training, motivating, coaching, counselling and development of team members according to the changing needs of the business

• Conduct monthly departmental meetings to provide information to team members, obtain their feedback, rectify issues and provide a regular forum for department communication

Other Responsibilities

• Attend all briefings, meetings and trainings as assigned by management

• Maintain a high standard of personal appearance and hygiene at all times

• Be aware of the hotel fire & life safety/emergency procedures

• Perform other reasonable duties assigned by the assigned by the Management
• Set up Pre-opening Chart of Accounts for the hotel.

Main Complexity/Critical issues in the Job

Ensure that both internal control as well as external expenditure must be properly recorded and handled with high integrity and honesty.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting / Finance
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a senior finance or accounting position or 2 years of experience in a similar capacity
• High degree of professionalism with strong understanding of business acumen
• Excellent reading, writing and oral proficiency in English language
• Local knowledge of Vietnamese regulations and local financial procedures
• Proficient in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and relevant financial and accounting reporting systems
• Fully conversant in accounting principles and financial regulation standards

Competencies

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and customer contact skills
• Results and service oriented with an eye for details
• Ability to multi-task, work well in stressful & high-pressure situations
• A team player & builder
• A motivator & self-starter
• Well-presented and professionally groomed at all times
• Pre-opening experience highly advantageous 
• Working Experience in Vietnam