Cluster Director of Finance

Job Scope:

The Cluster Director of Finance will be responsible for the strategic financial leadership of multiple hotels in a shared services enviroment. This role oversees financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, risk management, and compliance to ensure optimal financial performance and alignment with corporate standards. The Director acts as a business partner to hotel leadership teams, driving profitability, operational efficiency, and financial integrity.

Key Responsibilities:

Engaging in Strategic Planning and Analysis

• Lead the financial planning process across the cluster—including annual budgets, forecasts, long-range plans, and performance reviews.
• Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive annual business plan which is aligned with the company’s and brand’s strategic directions.
• Provide strategic insights and financial analysis to guide decision-making and improve profitability.
• Thinks creatively and practically to develop, execute and implement new business plans.
• Colaborates with Operations and Revenue Managers to develop collective revenue management strategies.

Preopening Experience

• Strong pre-opening experience with multiple hotel openings.

Shared Services

• Set up of Shared Services including Record to Report (R2R), Procure to Pay (P2P) and centralized Payroll.

Developing and Maintaining Finance and Accounting Goals

• Ensures Profit and Losses are documented accurately.
• Monitors all taxes that apply, ensuring that taxes are current, collected and/or accrued.
• Submit reports in a timely manner, ensuring delivery deadlines.
• Improves profit growth in operating departments.
• Coaches Management teams across the portfolio to ensure revenue goals are met and opportunities are identified and addressed.
• Set aggressive goals that will drive the cluster’s financial performance.
• Provide pricing and inventory recommendations that increases market share and attain revenue growth and profit goals.

Managing Projects and Policies

• Champions the use of technology to create operational efficiency.
• Reconcile balance sheets to ensure account balances are supported by appropiate documentation in accordance with SOPs.
• Identifies key projects and manages Capital Expenditure funds for implementation of brand initiatives, product improvement and increased revenue potential.

Key Stakeholders relations:

• Understands and meeting the needs of key stakeholders (owners, corporate, etc.).
• Ensures timely and accurate completion of all Owner reporting requirements.
• Advises the GMs, Directors of Finance and executive commitees on existing and evolving operating and financial issues.
• Understands the owner’ perspective and ROI expectations.
• Attend meetings and communicating with the owners, understanding the priorities and strategic focus.

Leading Finance & Accounting Cluster Teams:

• Utilizes communication skills to lead, influence and encourage others; advocates sound financial and business decision making; demostrates honesty and integrity; leads by example.
• Communicates the strategic goals, the focus and the owner priorities to all Directors of Finance in a clear and precise manner.
• Provides ongoing analytical support by monitorig the operating departments’ actual and projected sales.
• Uses financial expertise and analytical models to evaluate market mix.
• Ensures employees are treated fairly and equitably.
• Holds staff accountable for successful performance.

Budget Management Support:

• Manage the hotels budgeting process, including revenue projections, expense control, and variance analysis.
• Monitor financial performance against budget targets and implement corrective actions as necessary.

Cash Flow Management:

• Oversee cash flow planning, liquidity management, and capital allocation to optimize financial resources.
• Implement effective cash management strategies to maintain adequate liquidity levels for operational needs.

Compliance and Audit Support:

• Ensure compliance with financial regulations, tax laws, and reporting requirements in all financial operations.
• Coordinate with auditors, regulatory authorities, and internal teams to facilitate financial audits and reviews.

Technological and automation mindset:

• Proven experience in implementing and optimizing procurement and finance systems;Expert in COA mapping across multiple systems, including PMS and POS.

Management Competencies

Leadership

Adaptability – Develops strategies and identifies resources to implement and manage change; models flexibility in adjusting priorities; and communicates the need for change in a positive way that encourages commitment.

Communication – Actively listens and uses appropriate communication styles to deliver complex information in a clear concise way and influences others to accept a point of view, gain consensus, or take action.

Problem Solving and Decision Making – Models and sets expectations for solving complex problems, collecting and comparing information to evaluate alternatives, considering their potential impact before making decisions, involving others to gain agreement and support, and guiding others to implement solutions.

Professional Demeanor – Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values.

Managing Execution

Building and Contributing to Teams – Leads and participates as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of common goals while fostering cohesion and collaboration among team members.

Driving for Results – Focuses and guides others in accomplishing work objectives.

Planning and Organizing – Gathers information and resources required to set a plan of action for self and/or others; prioritizes and arranges work requirements self and/or others to accomplish goals and ensure work is completed.

Building Relationships

Coworker Relationships – Develops and uses collaborative relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals.

Customer Relationships – Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards.

Global Mindset – Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential.

Generating Talent and Organizational Capability

Organizational Capability – Evaluates and adapts the structure of organizational units, jobs, and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit.

Talent Management – Provides guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives.

Learning and Applying Professional Expertise

Applied Learning – Seeks and makes the most of learning opportunities to improve performance of self and/or others.

Business Acumen – Understands and utilizes business information (e.g., data related to employee engagement, guest satisfaction, and property financial performance) to manage everyday operations and to generate innovative solutions to address business and administrative challenges.

Technical Acumen – Understands and utilizes professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration and related field; MBA or CPA certification preferred.
• Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking and financial acumen.
• Excellent knowledge of financial principles, accounting standards, and financial software.
• Strong understanding of USALI, hospitality KPIs, and hotel systems (e.g., PMS, POS, ERP platforms).
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, priorities tasks and drive financial performance.
• Cluster or multi-property leadership experience.