Director of Finance

About Orient Express 

Orient Express embodies the refined and nomadic spirit of travel. Its exceptional assets portfolio includes experiences such as The Orient Express — its iconic carriages reinvented as a modern-day tribute to French luxury, with ARSENALE Group owner — La Dolce Vita, a train celebrating the elegance of Italian art de vivre, and a collection of luxury hotels opened in Rome – La Minerva – and soon in Venice – Palazzo Dona Giovannelli, and with Sailing Yachts  - the O.E Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing ship. 

While redefining the future of luxury hospitality, Orient Express places particular emphasis on the employee experience, development, and engagement. 

As a symbol of ultra-luxury hospitality, the brand is currently undergoing an ambitious phase of rebirth and expansion accelerated since 2024 as a Joint Venture between ACCOR and LVMH. 

Now, as Orient Express grows under the steam of its 140-year own glorious reputation and brand, it stands unique and identifiable from the other luxury brands under the ACCOR brands, aiming to become a pioneer of contemporary luxury hospitality, creating immersive experiences that combine exceptional design, impeccable service, culinary excellence, wellness offerings, cutting-edge technology, sustainability, and authentic local experiences, while also actively engaging in local community initiatives and support social causes, making a positive contribution to the destinations its properties operate in. What remains distinctly Orient Express is its spirit of adventure, sublime service and enchanting storytelling. Refreshing and reinvigorating, Orient Express is loved by those with an adventurous spirit and a taste for the very best, linking travel and destinations as part of the same journey. 

About Orient Express La Minerva 

Considered as the beloved capital of the Orient Express legend, Rome is the first Orient Express hotel, La Minerva, in 2025. Orient Express, in partnership with the Italian luxury hotel group Arsenale S.p.A, has entrusted the interior architecture and artistic direction of the hotel Hugo Toro. The former Palazzo Fonseca is a sumptuous 17th-century palace with a huge, majestic façade. A place of memory still adorned with its Roman columns, sculptures by Rinaldo Rinaldi, a disciple of Canova, and the fascinating goddess Minerva. At the end of 2024, a new décor and interior inspired by the Roman domus and the riches of the "Eternal City" will be revealed with a new touch of contemporary elegance. 

The Director of Finance provides strategic leadership, functional guidance and valuable insights to the General Manager, to the Partner, to the Executive Committee and to Department Heads for optimal business decision; Interacting with hotel’s legal counsel, insurance companies, tax consultants, auditors, commercial and government banks to effectively control the assets of the business.

Provide strategic leadership and business support for the management team through the management of the financial analytics function, capital, projects, operational finance matters, procurement activities and prepare short and long-term plans, forecasts and budgets for capital and operating spend.

He/she will be a highly motivated team player with strong accounting, communication, business presentation, analytical skills, and strong systems background.

Direct the financial operations of the OE La Minerva to ensure the security of the hotel asset and make recommendations to improve hotel profitability. Serve as primary contact for all hotel financial - and accounting-related issues with owners, auditors (internal and external) and regulatory agencies.

Reporting to the General Manager and Regional Finance leadership.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use financial analysis, data trends and market information to anticipate needs, identify operating/financial issues, and recommend actions to maximize financial return.
• Create the annual operating budget for the property and provide analytical support during budget reviews to identify cost saving and productivity opportunities for department heads.
• Analyse ROI for capital projects prior to committing funds and, upon completion, determine if anticipated results were achieved.
• Maximize cash flow performance of the hotel through controls on inventory (avoid excessive supply), credit and collection, disbursements, deposits, and remittances.
• Manage day-to-day activities, plan, and assign work, and establish performance and development goals for team members. Provide mentoring, coaching and regular feedback to help manage conflict, improve team member performance, and recognize good performance.
• Educate, train, and motivate finance and accounting teams to achieve hotel revenue goals. Ensure employees have the information, market data, tools, and equipment to successfully carry out job duties. Provide direction to hotel employees on how decision-making impacts profits.
• Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with key department heads.
• Ensure accounting practices, support the guest experience through payment options (example: credit card systems, room charges), inventory controls and financial dispute resolution.
• Implement and maintain acceptable accounting practices as required by company policy and procedures.
• Develop and implement financial control procedures and systems; maintain records for internal and external audits; ensure compliance with government regulations and contractual agreements.
• Participate in local recognized professional and industry organizations.
• Manage hotel contracts (example: vendor leases and/or service contracts).
• Assist in preparing, in conjunction with the General Manager and other department heads, the annual budget, capital budgets and the rolling forecast. He/she will establish the annual budget preparation procedures and guidelines.
• Provide accurate and complete financial and management reports on a timely and accurate basis to hotel management, corporate office, and owners in accordance with the company and ownership reporting requirements and policy. In addition, he/she is responsible for reporting accurately and timely, the actual results as compared to budget/forecast results. He/she is to maintain adequate records to reflect the comparison of the actual expenditures for furniture, equipment, and operating equipment to the budgeted amounts.
• Responsible for the analysis and interpretation of the financial data and communicating this in a comprehensible form, of meaningful variations in the operations.
• Assist other department heads in the development and implementation of “corrective action plans” on internal and or external audit and operational reports.
• Assist in the development and implementation of benchmarking techniques that will enable the hotel to enhance revenues while improving productivity and cost efficiencies. To seek, identify and implement throughout the hotel best practices that will serve to enhance revenues, guest service, improve cost and productivity efficiencies.
• Ensure cash flow is adequate to meet the needs of the operation Approve all cash disbursements and ensure that all disbursements are properly documented and executed. Approve all rebates, adjustments, and allowances in accordance with company policy.
• The position is directly accountable to manage the hotel accounting department, information and internal control systems and hotel finances in accordance with all policy and procedures. This position is accountable for the development, documentation, and support of Financial Polices and Operational Procedures to include performance monitoring as it relates to the hotels.
• To protect the owners and the management company’s interest in the hotel assets and operations.
• To participate in the development, maintenance and adherence to a single chart of accounts, payroll and expense dictionary, and the function of accounts in order that the hotels financial and statistical data is accurately and consistently recorded and reported.
• Has a fiduciary responsibility to the Company and/or Owner for ensuring the hotels are reporting in compliance with the policies, the Uniform Chart of Accounts and hotel management or other contractual arrangements with respect to accounting matters.
• The analysis of the balance sheet accounts, on a selected basis and the preparation of the monthly internal benchmarking and operational performance analysis reports.
• Accountable for the development, documentation and maintenance, within hotels, to ensure compliance with the requirements of internal/standard controls.
• Manage all facets of the capital process. Ensure all hotels establish and maintain the tracking of fixed assets sub-ledgers and depreciation.
• All laws and fiscal regulations of the area location, which effect financial matters of the hotel, will be complied with. This includes seeing that proper permits and licenses are obtained for such things as liquor licenses, sellers permit, business licenses, etc.
• The safe keeping of all lease and contracts and any other legal records and documents, which may affect the financial status of the hotel. Such documents are to be listed and keep current on the Critical Date List.
• Ensure that hotel accounting department is operating efficiently and at an optimum level, so that there are succession plans in place for the top three positions.
• Recommend and assist in the design, implementation, and use of methods and procedures that improve the accuracy of working schedules, labour standards, forecast, plans to assist operational ambassadors. Monitor on an ongoing basis the accuracy and recommend correct measurements as necessary.
• Developing, implementing and monitoring credit and collection procedures and guidelines pursuant to “adopted” corporate credit policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned. May also serve as manager on duty.

Accountability

• Supervises clerical accounting employees in a full range of functions such as Accounts Payable,
• Accounts Receivable, Credit/Collections, Purchasing, Audit, Payroll, and/or Accounting Operations.

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure the hotel is reporting in compliance with the policies, the Uniform Chart of Accounts and hotel management or other contractual arrangements with respect to accounting matters.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly, review and approve those reconciliation’s as necessary.
• Ensure that all laws and fiscal regulations of the area location, which effect financial matters of the hotel, will be complied with.
• Protect the owners and the management company’s interest in the hotel assets and operations.
• Safe keeping of all lease and contracts and any other legal records and documents, which may affect the financial status of the hotel. Such documents are to be listed and keep current on the Critical Date List.
• Conduct regular operations risk assessments, establish a risk register for the hotel and prepare an action plan addressing the mitigation of identified risks, subject to regular reporting and follow up on the execution of the risk action plan. They shall ensure the timing and accurate reporting of all incidents in accordance with Company protocol.

Bachelor’s degree or higher education qualification or equivalent in Accounting, Finance and 5-10 years in hotel accounting or audit with at least five years in a Director of Finance or similar supervisory role, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.

Knowledge of accounting management duties such as negotiating hotel space and tenant leases; processing payroll; performing asset management duties; providing business projections, displacement analysis, preparing government reports, filing tax returns, etc. as needed or requested. Professional accounting or finance designation or certification preferred.

Technical skills and Knowledge

• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills including a good understanding of financial valuation methodology.
• Advanced ability to use Microsoft applications i.e., Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Hospitality IT systems.
• Excellent written and oral level in English and Italian. Other language skills are desired.
• Good interpersonal skills and influencing skills.
• Strong problem-solving orientation.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

We are an inclusive company and our ambition is to attract, recruit and promote diverse talent.

• A competitive package (base salary and yearly bonus) 

• Medical Insurance, integrating Collective Labor Agreement one and extended to the family 

• Ticket Restaurant 

• Annual leave 

• ALL - Heartist® Program: Employee benefit card offering discounted rates at all ACCOR locations and partner venues worldwide. 

• Learning & development: Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!  

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