Director of Finance (Park City, UT)

Our Company & Our Property

Whether traveling on a ski trip to Aspen or taking a romantic escape in Santorini for a special anniversary, it is the simple things that are most important to the guests of Auberge Resorts Collection.  At Auberge, we offer the opportunity to create personal stories; tasting freshly picked tropical fruit in Cabo San Lucas, or horseback riding with a local cowboy in Costa Rica. People who know us choose to return for experiences that connect them to local cultures and which will be forever embedded in their soul.

Nestled snugly in the heart of Deer Valley in Utah's Wasatch Mountains, the Goldener Hirsch Inn and Residences is just steps from the Silver Lake Express lift and ski access. You can also easily set off hiking, and biking on the trails, and soak in the breathtaking views of Bald Eagle Mountain. The Inn features just 18 rooms, and the Residences showcases 49 newly renovated rooms, allowing us to offer you the ultimate in intimate, personalised service alongside five-star amenities--including European king beds, plush robes and slippers, and an acclaimed restaurant consistently attracting rave reviews.

Named after the Hotel Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg, Austria, the Goldener Hirsch Inn is Deer Valley’s premier small luxury hotel. It opened in 1991 by the Countess Harriet Walderdorff, the grand dame who changed Europe's sense of "Luxury accommodations" from overt extravagance to a casual, yet sophisticated style.  Her introductions to the same Austrian furniture makers as the original hotel inspired the hotel's décor and ambience.  We love her style, and we know you will, too.

Role Summary

Join our team as Director of Finance and become one of the authors of our story. As part of the Auberge family, you will be responsible for functions as the on-property Financial Business Leader  As a member of the Executive Committee, this role champions, develops and implements hotel-wide strategies that deliver products and services to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of guests, team members, and owners. This position creates and executes a business plan that is aligned with the hotel’s business strategy with a primary focus on the execution of financial and accounting activities and the delivery of financial results.

Core Responsibilities

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of everything that needs to be done!  Within the Auberge family, our people always find new ways to look after the business, their guests, and their team-mates. Within this, the key responsibilities for this position are:

• Lead and facilitate the achievement of property annual goals and targets to ensure profitability and revenue growth. Actively participate in cross-functional teams to drive overall business performance (e.g., revenue management and sales and marketing).

• Manage working capital, cash flow, capital, overall expenses and daily accounting activities to obtain highest value. Identify risk exposure and effectively manage financial and business risk to create and preserve value, ensuring effective systems of controls are in place.

• Ensure strong relationships with hotel owners, lenders, insurance brokers and other constituents.

• Function as a strategic business partner to the General Manager and the Executive Committee. Leverage strong financial expertise and business acumen to influence the strategic direction of operations, identify opportunities for growth, optimize allocation of financial resources, and drive business results.

• Effectively lead the execution of finance and accounting responsibilities for the property, including the preparation of the annual business plan and operating budget, forecasting, internal controls, financial analysis, cash management, balance sheet reconciliation, financial reporting, P&L accuracy, capital expenditure budget, etc. 

• Educate property team on key financial processes. 

• This position is also responsible for legal entities relating to ownership (e.g. taxes, re-financing of debt and debt compliance, etc.)

• Focus on maximizing the property’s revenue by supporting the development of revenue-generating strategies for different areas of the hotel and related lines of business. Work with revenue management to develop effective revenue management strategies and set aggressive goals; participate in sales strategy meetings and use financial expertise and analytical models to evaluate mix of transient and group revenue and provide pricing and inventory recommendations to increase market share and attain growth and profit goals.

• Analyze financial data and market trends and produce accurate forecasts that enable operations to react to changes in the business; monitor and take steps to enhance forecast accuracy; facilitate meetings to review information with management team.

• Use financial analysis and market information to anticipate needs, identify business/financial issues, and recommend actions to maximize financial return. Identify opportunities to create value by challenging existing processes, encouraging innovation and driving necessary change through calculated risk taking.

• Ensure a strong accounting & operational control environment to safeguard assets, improve operations and profitability. Ensure compliance with standard and local operating procedures, and local regulations.

• Leverage technology and effectively use information systems and tools to create operational efficiency and generate information to support decision-making. Oversee the acquisition and maintenance of property based systems under Auberge Resorts’ guidelines.

• Oversee internal, external, and regulatory audit processes and ensure compliance with SOPs; make sure appropriate corrections are made.

• Reconcile balance sheet and ensure account balances are supported by appropriate supporting documentation in accordance with SOPs.

• Effectively manage property working capital and cash flow.

• Analyze ROI capital projects prior to commit funds and upon completion determine if anticipated results were achieved.

• Engage with insurance brokers, when appropriate. Serve as a liaison between home office, property, and insurance carriers when claims are filed.

• In partnership with the GM, develop a trusting and effective business partnership with the property owners by understanding the management contracts, deal structures, and owners' ROI expectations. Provide valuable information to owners and the home office team, give meaning or context to the financial results, and demonstrate a solid understanding of cash flow and owner priorities. Proactively anticipate and address owners' needs and manage an effective balance between the owners' and Auberge's interests, developing solutions that create value for both. Pull in resources as necessary to help resolve owner relations/contract issues.

• Be accountable for compliance with contract and reporting requirements for the property. Ensure the rest of the executive and property management team is familiar with the management contract and structure of the deal, and in compliance with contract requirements.

• Hire, retain, and continually develop diverse, high-caliber talent that make a strong, positive impact on the organization.

• Set goals and expectations for direct reports using the performance assessment process and holds staff accountable for successful performance; coach team by providing specific feedback to improve performance. Create appropriate developmental plans and develop team members based on their individual strengths, development needs, career aspirations, and abilities.

• Celebrate successes and recognize the contributions of team members.

Required Qualifications

• Experience required varies by size and complexity of property. At least 4-5 years of related experience as Director of Finance or as a seasoned Assistant Director of Finance. Lodging/hospitality industry knowledge preferred.

• Excellent finance, accounting and analytical skills, including experience with cash management, forecasting, revenue management strategies, capital expenditure planning and budgeting, and project management

• Experience evaluating business trends and developing and successfully implementing new business programs and strategies that enhance financial performance

• Experience in owner relations

• Experience with complex operating and financial agreements; demonstrated success in evaluating risks and developing proactive strategies and plans to mitigate business issues

• Experience managing people

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field required (completed Intermediate Accounting and one advance accounting course at a minimum)

• MBA, CPA (or equivalent) preferred depending on size and complexity of hotel

• Knowledge of US GAAP and USALI

What Else?

At Auberge, we are passionate about our mission to be the best loved manager of one-of-a-kind luxury properties and experiences.  We are storytellers and story-makers, delivering simple pleasures and creating indelible memories. Born in Napa and inspired by the most relaxing places in the world, we prize simplicity, comfort and beauty.  Whatever role we play in Auberge, and wherever we reside and work, we all live by the view that our core purpose is to enrich people’s lives.

If that philosophy resonates with you and you feel that our approach is aligned with your own passions and beliefs, then please talk to us about becoming part of our family.

Goldener Hirsch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Goldener Hirsch provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all team members and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Goldener Hirsch complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Department: Finance
This is a management position
This is a full time position