Director, Finance and Business Support

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 colleagues worldwide, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional service, fostering a culture of excellence, and making special happen.

Hotel Overview:

Located in the heart of downtown New Orleans, the Fairmont New Orleans will be an impressive new addition to Fairmont’s luxury portfolio, offering 250 luxury guest rooms, three food & drink venues, a swimming pool with expansive views of the city, more than 14,000 square feet of function space, and a 10,000 square-foot spa.

This property is destined to become an illustrious destination in the Central Business District, nearby the city’s renowned and historic French Quarter.

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

Externally

• Government bodies
• Accounting / Finance Association
• Banks
• Financial Agencies

Primary Responsibilities

Accounting & Finance

• Oversee the daily operations of the Finance department

• Direct and coordinate hotel financial planning and budget management functions

• Monitor and analyze monthly operating results against budget

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

• Prepare annual reports of actual revenues, transfers, and expenses

• 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

• 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, counseling 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
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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.

Education:

• Accounting Designation, Bachelor's or master’s degree in Business, Finance, or a relevant field of work, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience. CPA or MBA preferred

Experience:

• 10+ years progressive work-related experience in multiple areas of accounting and/or capital projects management and reporting, financial and/or business analysis, accounting, merger/acquisition analysis, or a related area, with 5 to 7 years managing teams and/or significant complex projects.

• Must have 5+ years Director of Finance experience at a property with over $50m in annual revenue.

• Must have opening or repositioning experience.

• Must be comfortable navigating ownership representatives and ensuring fluid communication.

• Must have union environment experience.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrated ability to assess and understand a variety of internal and external economic and financial issues which impact the business, to analyze data and forecast future business trends, and to develop effective financial plans based on businesses assessments.
• Demonstrated experience in leading & developing people. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written to address all levels within the organization and ability to gain consensus and influence others.

• Demonstrated experience with accounting system or similar financial software for the purpose of financial reporting, analysis, and presentation.

• Demonstrated knowledge of finance, budgeting, and accounting processes and regulations, along with demonstrated knowledge of capital projects management standards and techniques and GAAP regulations and procedures.

Decision making responsibilities (Key Decision Rights):

• Significant impact on the financial planning, cost management, budgeting, and operations of assigned unit. Decisions made and analytical data gathered directly influences business operating decisions made by senior management.
• Significant impact on the tracking and maintenance of budget and financial performance data for assigned division, on capital spend, and on the accurate and timely reporting of current financial and budget status to senior management.

Dual Reporting Responsibilities:

• The Director of Finance & Business Support’s dual reporting responsibilities could potentially give rise to a situation where there is a conflict between the Director of Finance & Business Support’s responsibilities. Such a situation can usually be resolved by referring to the Company’s Policy and Procedures Manuals. If the manuals are not specific or applicable, and the General Manager and Director of Finance & Business Support are not able to come to a mutually satisfactory agreement, the Regional Director of Finance & Business Support should be consulted.
• Communicates effectively in English, both verbally and in writing. 
• Visa Requirements: Must be legally eligible to work in the United States
• The hotel is unable to assist candidates in obtaining work authorization documents.  This position is Not Remote.

Your team and working environment:

•  If creating memories and being part of an exceptional guest experience appeals to you, perhaps you would be interested in joining the outstanding team of hospitality professionals at The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.