Complex Staff Accountant

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing Caribbean and Latin America footprint. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, London, Miami, and Seattle. www.highgate.com.

Only steps from white sand beaches and world-class shopping, the Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach hotel in Honolulu offers rest and relaxation from your day's island adventures. Relax in the comfort of 403 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, each with modern amenities and some with balconies. Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach has a convenient location in Waikiki, within walking distance signature restaurants and exciting nightlife.

Courtyard Waikiki Beach

The Staff Accountant provides consistent financial leadership and supports the daily, monthly, and annual accounting functions for one or more hotel properties. This position ensures accuracy and integrity of financial information, maintains strong internal controls, and safeguards company assets, and ensures compliance with all internal policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Responsibilities include daily income audit review, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger reconciliations, cash handling, financial reporting, variance analysis, and participation in month-end and year-end close processes. The Staff Accountant partners closely with property operations and support profitability and operational efficiency.

Serve as General Cashier, including audits of house banks, daily deposits, change orders, and cash reconciliation with the Property Management System.
• Ensure strong internal controls over purchasing, cash handling, inventories, disbursements, payroll, and asset management.
• Each month, ensure that all balance sheet accounts are reconciled accurately and timely.
• Review and reconcile credit card activity in Property Management System, credit card processor, and bank.
• Respond to and track credit card chargeback requests, documenting outcomes and trends.
• Verify invoice accuracy, approvals, and coding in accordance with USALI and company policies.
• Process vendor payments and maintain AP aging.
• Prepare billing, monitor collections, and maintain AR aging.
• Assist in preparing financial statements, forecasts, cash flow reports, and key statistics.
• Analyze financial data and provide meaningful insights and variance explanations.
• Support annual planning processes, including budgets, capital plans, and long-term forecasts.
• Prepare required weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations as well as internal standards and SOPs.
• Assist with regulatory requirements including licenses, taxes, leases, and contracts.
• Respond to internal and external audit requests in a timely and accurate manner.
• Attend and contribute to periodic departmental and property-level meetings.
• Support operations teams by providing financial guidance and promoting efficiency and accuracy in financial processes.
• Participate in training and development to support continuous improvement within the Accounting team.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and progressive hotel accounting experience.
• 1 - 4 + years of accounting experience; hotel accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) , internal controls, and standard accounting practices.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook)
• Experience with ERP System preferred
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, which include wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Strong attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sounds judgement.