Chief Accountant Job Vacancy at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.

At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.

About the location:

Join us deep in the heart of the world’s most celebrated wildlife reserves, where the Big Five – the lion, the leopard, the buffalo, the elephant and the rhinoceros – run free on the endless, untamed landscape. Perched on a series of elevated platforms and walkways, our Lodge sits next to an animal watering hole, where you can watch a family of elephants stop for their morning drink. Nestled in the heart of Central Serengeti amid wide-open plains, our Lodge is just a 45-minute drive from the Seronera Airstrip, accessible by connecting flights from three main airports within Tanzania. This beautiful lodge opened under the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts family in December 2012, and has 77 rooms including 12 suites and 5 villas, 3 stunning Food and Beverage venues, our unique Discovery Centre offering an interactive experience where you can learn about the wildlife, history and people of the Serengeti, Kijana Kids Club, a spa with 6 free-standing treatment pavilions offering bespoke rituals and treatments that celebrate Africa’s magic and mystique, fitness center and a dedicated team bringing your magical wildlife safaris experiences to life.

Essential Functions

• To assist the Director of Finance in the administration of all financial aspects of the Lodge and Saba Saba operation,
• To ensure that all local and corporate policies and procedures are observed, and to supervise the day-to-day operation of the accounting office.
• Continuously deliver the highest level of product with respect to financial reporting and analysis, internal control compliance and business management. Ensure this is done with both integrity and accuracy.
• Ensure that bank accounts are opened in consultation with owners with a bank of strong financial standing and if local rating services are available, they should be utilized for verification of financial strength.
• Ensure all cheques are signed only by authorized parties and that positive pay and positive payee is in place on all bank accounts (where available) and that source documents are approved by one member of Group B.
• Ensure the preparation of a comprehensive monthly report of the entire financial results of the hotel in established corporate formats and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
• Effectively advocate Finance Department programs and policies to Planning Committee, Department Heads, and employee groups.
• Monitor the status of Accounts Receivable aging and billing collections to achieve company standards.
• Maintain files on all contracts, leases and agreements and ensure compliance with their requirements; ensure proper authorization has been obtained for all hotel specific contracts (including Engineering), leases and other agreements and competitive bids are on file where applicable and reviewed prior to execution of contract.
• As applicable, ensure compliance with all loan covenants and the balance of long-term debt is accurate and agrees to all supporting documentation and verified when payments are made.
• As appropriate, based on the hotel’s accounting on behalf of owners, interest accruals on long-term debt may be recorded on the hotel’s books; the Director of Finance should ensure accuracy of the unpaid balance and applicable interest rate, and accrue the expense to the Interest Expense line item and record the corresponding liability in the Accrued Interest liability account.
• Ensure that monthly reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts are prepared and signed off on in accordance with policy.
• Review and sign off on all bank reconciliations monthly, paying special attention to reconciling items.
• Continuously strive for improvement of processes and efficiency.

Non-essential Functions

• Monitor, control and record all sales, purchases, salaries, and expenses of the hotel.
• Closely monitor and effectively manage labor costs; plan vacations effectively and ensure proper service levels are provided with the labor standards, while minimizing OT. Comply with applicable Employment Laws.
• Prepare forecasts and budgets as required locally, by corporate office or Management Agreement.
• Review the cash position of the hotel daily to optimize the use of funds.
• Ensure gains/losses on the sale/disposal of fixed assets are properly disclosed and recorded on the Statement of Changes in financial position and on the P&L statement.
• For locations that maintain full balance sheets including fixed assets, ensure accumulated depreciation accounts are accurate and properly recorded.
• Always search out and drive new business opportunities that benefit the hotel.

Knowledge And Skills

Education: High School education or equivalent experience

Experience: Two (2) to five (5) years’ experience with a Finance Department, preferably within a hotel in a managerial role

Skills And Abilities

• Require a working technical knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and all corporate policies and procedures.
• Require knowledge of and the ability to operate computer equipment and excellent Excel and Computer Skills. Sun, Micros, Material Control and Opera Systems knowledge would be ideal and greatly valued.
• Strategic, analytical and have solid business acumen.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to prepare and deliver reports, effective presentations and to facilitate meetings.