Job Description
Our client recently renovated and opened a new boutique hotel in the heart of the Ventura County, California restoring the property into its original form whilst adding some fine touches to the now iconic hotel.
Job Description
The Assistant Controller is a hands-on accounting leader responsible for the day-to-day execution and oversight of the hotel’s financial and accounting operations. This role is critical in a newly opened, privately owned boutique hotel with multiple food and beverage outlets and evolving systems.
The purpose of this role is to create operational stability, process discipline, and team leadership so the Controller can focus on strategic planning, oversight across entities, and higher-level financial leadership. This position serves as the Controller’s primary delegate for execution, reconciliation, and team management.
The ideal candidate has recent hotel accounting experience, is comfortable in a post-opening environment, and enjoys building structure, documenting processes, and leading a developing team.
Responsibilities and Job Duties
Accounting Operations & Month-End Close
- Oversee and actively support daily accounting operations for the hotel and multiple restaurant outlets.
- Review daily revenue, income audit, and POS activity across Opera Cloud and Simphony POS, ensuring accuracy and timely posting.
- Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, and adjustments.
- Own balance sheet reconciliations, including bank, cash, and credit card accounts; prepare complete support and present reconciliations to the Controller for review and final approval.
- Execute the operational aspects of month-end close in M3 Accounting, ensuring deadlines are met and issues are surfaced early.
- Provide oversight and review of payroll processing performed by the payroll team member using UKG; ensure accuracy, proper approvals, and reconciliation. Payroll funding remains with the Controller.
- Oversee accounts payable processing, including invoice coding, approvals, vendor setup, and payment preparation.
- Maintain and strengthen cash handling and deposit controls, including review of safe counts, investigation of variances, and documentation.
- Ensure consistent application of internal controls across decentralized operations.
- Develop, document, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for core accounting functions, including:
- Cash handling and deposits
Accounts payable workflows
Balance sheet reconciliations and documentation standards
Payroll review and controls - Deliver approximately one to two meaningful SOPs per month during the first year.
- Train accounting team members and relevant operational leaders on new procedures and expectations.
- Continuously refine processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and control as systems mature.
- Utilize and maintain financial integrity across all hotel systems, including:
Opera Cloud PMS
Simphony POS
UKG Payroll
Alice (operations platform)
Excel-based reporting and analysis tools
- Partner with the Controller on identifying system gaps, reducing reliance on spreadsheets, and supporting system improvements or implementations, including inventory systems.
- Lead and manage a small accounting team of approximately 2–3 team members, including a dedicated payroll specialist.
- Assign clear responsibilities, set expectations, and ensure accountability for daily work and month-end deliverables.
- Provide coaching and hands-on support to a capable but developing team.
- Lead with a calm, flexible, and solutions-oriented approach in a fast-moving environment.
- Prepare and review daily, weekly, and monthly financial reports for leadership and ownership.
- Support variance analysis, forecasting, and budgeting activities.
- Assist with internal and external audits; prepare schedules and serve as a point of contact as assigned.
- Ensure operational tax filings, licenses, permits, and compliance documentation are current and properly maintained.
- 3–5 years of recent hotel accounting experience required; boutique and multi-outlet experience strongly preferred.
- Prior hotel opening or post-opening stabilization experience required.
- Working knowledge of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI), including familiarity with the 11th and 12th editions.
- Strong Excel skills and demonstrated systems aptitude.
- Experience leading or supervising a small team.
- Positive, adaptable, and flexible mindset; comfortable building structure in an evolving environment.
- Requires walking or standing for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
Offer
A competitive remuneration package, plus temporary accommodation, will be provided to assist with relocation.
To learn more about this role, submit your CV or contact Ben Fitzgerald via ben@hastingspeople.com for a confidential discussion.
By applying to this role, you are agreeing to the terms set out in Hastings People's privacy policy available at the Hastings People website.
A competitive remuneration package, plus temporary accommodation, will be provided to assist with relocation.
To learn more about this role, submit your CV or contact Ben Fitzgerald via ben@hastingspeople.com for a confidential discussion.
By applying to this role, you are agreeing to the terms set out in Hastings People's privacy policy available at the Hastings People website.
