Accountant Job at Highgate Hotels L.P. in City of Gloversville

Compensation Type

Yearly

Highgate Hotels

Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco, and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.

Location

The Manhattan at Times Square is a convenient hotel with the best Times Square location directly on Seventh Avenue in the heart of Midtown. This comfortable hotel is within walking distance to the best Manhattan has to offer and is only steps from Broadway theaters, Times Square, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and much more. The Manhattan at Times Square has 659 oversized guestrooms. For guests seeking an upgraded experience, the hotel has unveiled their Executive Class accommodations; located on the 18th floor, these brand-new guestrooms feature ultra-modern amenities, plush bedding, and marble baths.

Overview

The Staff Accountant is responsible for assisting the Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Finance in maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting; ensuring acceptable levels of internal control; ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations and Highgate Hotels Standard Operating Procedures; and safeguarding owners/investors assets. For this role, the emphasis is placed on the management of Payroll, Income Audit, and Accounts Receivable processing and collections.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, prepare, and communicate financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels required due dates.
• Income Audit including entering information into the BiPortal on a daily basis.
• Utilize and maintain time and attendance system and process, daily, weekly, and bi-weekly payroll and related information to include verifying payroll information, recording earnings/deductions, etc.
• Prepare and input all required payroll journal entries.
• Maintain responsibility for the daily Accounts Receivable credit, billing, and collection process.
• Monitor payment requirements on groups or functions and process deposits.
• Approve or decline credit requests.
• Complete collection calls on each appropriate outstanding account and maintain collection files on each outstanding issue.
• Review and approve the City Ledger transfers daily and communicate to supervisor any deviation from established Accounting policies and procedures.
• Handle customer inquiries in a professional and timely manner, provide customers with accurate invoices, statements, and schedules.
• Process returned checks and credit card chargebacks.
• Conduct monthly credit meetings and maintain minutes (including returned checks/chargeback logs, credit trace reports, write-offs, bad debt allowances, etc.)
• Partner with the Sales and Events Team by establishing customer credit, including but not limited to application processing, reference checks, credit limitation, direct billing list, and deposit requirements.
• Maintain an efficient collection process to include organized filing and tracing system, issuing letters, monitoring returned checks and chargebacks, performing collection calls, and preparing bad debt write-offs.
• Update daily revenue reports both for internal distribution and corporate distribution.
• Monitor guest ledger, advance deposit ledger, and other related ledgers to ensure proper internal control.
• Keep management aware of any unusual operation or financial occurrences and/or significant deviations.
• Reconcile invoices against ledgers or schedules to ensure accuracy of invoicing.
• Assist in the monthly close process by posting journal entries related to daily/monthly responsibilities.
• Ensure overall guest satisfaction by attentive listening and immediately resolving guest issues or elevating to the Director of Finance or General Manager.
• Cross-train in other areas within the Accounting Department including accounts payable.
• Identify root causes of issues affecting staff or guests and provide actionable solutions to improve efficiency, environment, or guest experience.

Qualifications

• College courses in an associated or related field and/or related experience in a hotel or hospitality environment.
• Proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel and Basic Word).
• Accounts Receivable and Payroll experience preferred.
• Hotel PMS Opera experience preferred.
• Flexible with long hours required during peak times.
• Sedentary work requiring occasional exertion up to 10 pounds.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with all levels of employees and guests.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
• Professional, attentive, courteous, and service-oriented approach.
• Attend all required hotel meetings and training.
• Maintain regular attendance and high standards of personal appearance and grooming.
• Comply with hotel standards and regulations for safe and efficient operations.
• Proactive in problem-solving and confidentiality.
• Ability to understand complex information and data from various sources.
• Show initiative and anticipate guest or operational needs.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.