Finance Operations Analyst | Raffles & Orient Express

Orient Express & Raffles
Artisan of Travel since 1883 and Birthplace of stories and legends since 1887, Orient Express and Raffles are two legendary brands, both steeped in history and loved by generations past, present and future.  

Representing the pinnacle of ultra-luxury hospitality within Accor Group, both brands are currently going through exciting phases of rebirth and expansion.

Raffles, at distinguished landmark addresses around the world, is the vibrant heart of its destination, curating experiences that are culturally enriching, intellectually stimulating and always respectful of local communities, heritage and the environment. It’s timeless elegance, refined manners and spirit of generosity ensure that every visitor arrives as a guest, leaves as a friend and returns as family.

Orient Express embodies the refined nomadic spirit of travel, inviting each traveller to a place where the journey is the destination. Bringing awe-inspiring travel experiences to a new generation of adventurers, its exceptional portfolio includes The Orient Express, with its original carriages reimagined as the new embassy of French luxury; Orient Express La Dolce Vita, a train embodying the 'Made in Italy' style; Orient Express Silenseas - the world’s largest sailing ship; and remarkable hotels coming to Rome and Venice.

Progressively shaping the future of luxury hospitality, both Raffles and Orient Express are focusing on employee journey and growth.

The position will provide financial and analytical support to the VP Finance Operations and other business stakeholders in all areas of the hotels' financial and operational activities. The candidate will also assist Finance and Operations to ensure the review of monthly hotel results, forecasts, and budgets.

This will include the monitoring of trends, the execution of benchmarking exercises, analysis of actuals results to drive focus and awareness across the estate (Raffles and Orient Express), and providing monthly updates to the Corporate Finance team together with the management committee. Finally, the candidate will support the credit management and collection process to limit the Raffles and Orient Express' exposure.

Roles and responsibilities

• Being a “OneStream” hotel user, supporting hotels on loading what needed.
• Supporting the VP of Finance Operations in the process of creating the hotels' budgets, forecasts and actuals' reviews: Hotel Top Line, Performance and main KPIs, follow-up of the hotels' FF&E, major CAPEXs, performance tests, Owner Priority Return, etc.
• Supporting the hotels' action plan follow-ups with the VP of Finance Operations.
• Working on continuous development and improvement of trading measures, efficiency ratios, and statistical data, to improve monthly statistical analyses.
• Reviewing financial analyses and comments produced by the hotels' Directors of Finance concerning the trading, forecast and budget reviews.
• Conducting a monthly benchmarking analyses against competitors using the available tools (i.e STR, Hotstats, TRI…) and other competitor data.
• Being engaged in the monitoring of market trends and benchmarking Raffles and the Luxury industry's relative performance to support projections.
• Producing reports on published competitor data, results, etc., and drafting monthly comments for business partners and stakeholders.
• Contributing to the planning processes of hotel budget guidelines, timetables and other financial instructions, liaison with business partners on system captures and data formats, performing analytical reviews, challenging the hotels' produced budgets to ensure a full understanding and identify areas of opportunities, and producing review material.
• Contributing to financial projections as required for new development opportunities.
• Attending trading review calls and meetings.
• Assisting in providing analyses, reports, and commentaries on the company receivables, ageing and collection trackers, bad debt movements and action plans, assisting with complex credit collection issues and following up with hotel payment plans where applicable.
• Identifying and inquiring on discrepancies vs. Budget / Forecasts / previous years.
• Challenging new forecasts that do not reflect revenue trends and/or profit benchmarks.
• Making recommendations to the VP of Finance and Business Support on forecasts and budgets.

Business experience

• 5+ years experience in Finance including exposure to areas such as: hotel trading and hotel business models, hotel finance, external financial reporting, finance consulting, knowledge and experience of leisure and hospitality industry, Strong financial and analytical background.
• Knowledge and experience of leisure and hospitality industry.
• Strong financial and analytical background.

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics (or a relevant field of work), or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience.

Technical skills

• Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills including a good understanding of financial valuation methodology.
• Advanced ability to use Microsoft applications i.e., Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent written and oral level in English. Other language skills are desired (French and / or Arabic).
• Good interpersonal skills, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong problem-solving orientation.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.