Aparium Hotel Group Looking for Director of Finance at Alexandria, VA Full Time

Reports to the General Manager, the position is exempt

Who We Are

Hotels done differently. At Aparium, we believe in the power of People, Place and Character.  We ensure our hotels are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated, elevating our associates’ pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve.  Our hotel is a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities where we operate.   

Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Hotel Heron will open in the spring of 2024 offering guests the opportunity to see Old Town from a new vantage point. With Washington, DC just minutes away, Hotel Heron acts as a flag in the sand just across the river, beckoning travelers to explore beyond the National Mall and Monuments to discover a city ripe for its new renaissance. Originally opened in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, this adaptive reuse combines the iconic inn with an adjacent new building that houses a modern event space and elevated guest rooms. This chic 134 room boutique hotel is home to a signature ground floor restaurant serving hearth inspired Mid-Atlantic cuisine, a cozy craft cocktail bar hidden in the heart of the hotel, and an open-air seasonal rooftop bar with unparalleled views of the Potomac. Elevated amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center and meeting spaces designed for socializing, co-working, creating, eating, drinking, and relaxing. The hotel brings together world travelers and neighbors alike while showcasing Alexandria’s rich legacy and knack for innovation through thoughtful touches from local businesses and artisans.

The hotel is managed by Aparium Hotel Group. Founded in 2011, Aparium is driven by the belief that all hospitality experiences should be fueled by the poetics of their surroundings and was born with an intense focus on unearthing the amazing moments unique to every city.  Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. Recognized by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards as a leading hotel brand, Aparium is known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing the disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets.

Who You Are

You are confident in your abilities to be a General (strategic thinker) and a Soldier (tactical doer). Your experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science in balancing a hotel’s financial responsibilities with the importance of engaged and valued hotel staff. You enjoy the camaraderie of a team and know that everyone plays an important role, no matter their title. When one of the members of the team goes down, you are the first to jump in and pick them up. You know the ins and the outs of every accounting position in your office and are willing to jump in the trenches and find solutions to improving the process. Your past experience and history have enabled you to work with human resources and understand those responsibilities will drive how you approach this role, but you are always striving to learn more. Glasses are always half full to you and laughter is the best medicine.

THE ROLE

We believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from, and take pride in who we serve. We are in search of a diverse leader for the role of Director of Finance, who will lead the accounting and finance responsibilities of the hotel. This position is responsible for promoting and adhering to GAAP compliance, alignment with the AHLA Uniform System of Accounts, and implementing human resources practices. It is crucial this role position themselves as the go-to person in the hotel for support, coaching, and education on company accounting and employment processes, procedures, and practices. The Director of Finance reports to the General Manager, collaborates closely with their peers who are the Executive Committee, and the Aparium Finance team in achieving financially sound and strategic business decisions.

What You Will Do

• Reinforce the company’s Art + Science ideologies to ensure the experiences of translocal hospitality, intuitive service, and collaboration are implemented and modeled by yourself and every leader of the hotel
• Lead and be responsible for the accounting and finance procedures, practices, and policies for the hotel, ensuring the execution and of all accounting tasks and required deadlines are achieved
• Lead the preparation of budgets and forecasts for the hotel; working collaboratively to establish and recommend to management major economic objectives and policies for the Hotel.
• Develop and implement procedures and necessary training to promote the efficient, effective, and timely completion of accounting activities by property accountants and managers, and those responsible for cash handling
• Provide financial analysis as required from Aparium key stakeholders; and readily collaborate with EVP of Finance, VP of Finance, GM on hotel financial goals through reports and advising; responsible for tracking and preparing cash flow statements
• Administer, maintain, and enforce legal and finance compliance initiatives, policies, and procedures (including SOX, PCI, and other legal financial reporting); and ensure adherence to Aparium policies and procedures and all applicable laws.
• Oversee the hotel’s financial reporting and records management; coordinate and liaise with internal and external audits, prepare reports required by regulatory agencies; and identify and communicate process inefficiencies or operational issues and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ensure Hotel Management Agreement compliance, which includes negotiating, administering, and monitoring contracts with hotel’s vendors, being a liaison to hotel owners, other hotel departments, and assist with the finance department and hotel-related issues
• Advise management of tax code revisions and desirable operational adjustments; ensure timely payment and file all federal, state & local sales taxes & fees, payroll, and vendor invoices; and of course, safeguard hotel resources, assets, and risk management assessments
• Actively participate in the interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and motivating team members to create an environment that nurtures ideas and develops a future talent for succession planning
• Ensure a sense of belonging for associates by upholding the company’s values and guidelines for a Respectful Workplace, Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive environment, behaviors outlined within the Manager Code of Conduct, and Work Rules outlined in the Associate Handbook
• Role model the company’s open-door policy and employee engagement practices, which makes the hotel a great place to work; demonstrate a positive work ethic and environment; consistently guide and monitor business ethics and good business practice, and perform other job-related duties as requested
• Demonstrates a passion for “being in the know” by spending time in departments, attending shift briefings or department meetings; exhibits servant leadership by lending a hand during “crunch” time
• Displays a collaborative spirit with peers and managers by exchanging ideas and valuing differing opinions; facilitates focus groups and identifies methods for employees to voice ideas or recommendations and ensures remedies are implemented

How You Will Lead

• Highly analytical in thought and recommendations; although will never act like the smartest person in the room, and continually seek out the facts; can express a point of view without it being driven by an ego
• Engages others in general conversation tactics to build rapport quickly, and can lead and adapt communication and presentation tactics to engage an audience; displays adaptable interpersonal skills for a wide range of audiences and stakeholders
• Approaches fact-finding and discovery missions in a collaborative effort; values input and experiences of others that creates additional insight to uncover deeper issues that need to be addressed or removed as a barrier to implementation
• Passionate in driving results of their effort and others; can influence others to take direction to execute on the strategy through tactical methods, and is comfortable in prioritizing their work and that of others
• Comfortable in being a “general” in identifying strategic needs, yet can be a “soldier” to ensure the implementation of a strategic plan is implemented
• Values the importance of making decisions with integrity, maintaining confidentiality across internal workgroups, and knows how to use discretion when appropriate; understands the difference between transparency and confidentiality.

What You Will Need

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive accounting and finance management experience; we like to see that you have worked yourself up the ranks, so you understand the responsibilities and tasks of your team
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Hospitality is preferred though not required if you have years of proven experience
• Background in hotel accounting would be great so you understand the intricacies and vernacular of hotel accounting, specifically AHLA Uniform System of Accounts
• Previous exposure and experience in leading and implementing human resources practices, such as recruitment and hiring processes, investigating employee relation cases, and meaningful engagement activities
• Willing to work a flexible schedule as sometimes “month-end” responsibilities and tasks need extra attention to ensure accuracy

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from, and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E-Verify employer.