Finance Manager (Payroll & Accounts)

Job Description – Director of Finance (HOT0BONG) Job Description Director of Finance ( Job Number: Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch London The Mall, London London SW1A2WH The Waldorf Astoria Admiralty Arch is looking for a Director of Finance to form part of the pre-opening and leadership team for this brand-new luxury hotel set to open Spring 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Finance Leaderto support the opening of one of London’s most anticipated hotels. This luxury hotel will be housed in the iconic Admiralty Arch, a Grade I listed building located at the end of The Mall, opposite Buckingham Palace. The project is a collaboration between Hilton and Reuben Brothers, who acquired the property in 2022. The hotel will also include residential apartments and a private members\’ club, making it a versatile destination for both hotel guests and locals. Competitive salary + bonus · Private healthcare allowance · Free,healthy and high quality meals when on duty · Team Member Travel Program: discounted hotel nights plus 50% off Food and Beverages (subject to individual outlets) · Discounted dental and health cover · High street discounts: with Perks at Work · Holiday: 33 daysincluding bank holidays (increasing yearly to up to 38 days) · The Director of Finance plays a critical role in overseeing and enhancing the financial performance of the hotel. This role demands a strategic mindset, robust financial expertise, and deep knowledge of the hotel industry to maximize value creation, drive operational efficiency and effectiveness, and ensure sustainable profitability and ownership returns. The Director of Finance is also responsible for spearheading the financial strategy of the hotel, aligning it with company objectives, optimizing overall business performance, and fostering growth by providing financial analysis and insights to non-finance teams, enabling them to make informed commercial decisions. Develop pre-opening budgets, including operating and capital expenditure plans by working closely with Finance and Brand openings team. · Establish financial forecasts to ensure adequate funding for pre-opening activities. · Oversee the setup of financial systems, including accounting software and reporting tools. · Work closely with Compliance and Shared Services teams to establish internal controls and financial policies to ensure smooth operations post-opening. · Provide regular updates on pre-opening financial performance and risks. · Define training requirements and coordinate it with other relevant finance teams. · Manage and ensure timely completion for all critical finance pre-opening tasks for successful opening of the hotel. · Business partner with Hotel General Manager to ensure that informed commercial decisions are made during the business ramp-up phase including manning ramp-up. · Financial Strategy: · Collaborate with the hotel management team to develop annual operating and capital budgets, setting key financial objectives. · Oversee balance-of- year forecasting, effectively managing risks and opportunities to optimise business returns. Performance Monitoring: · Track and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs), including efficiency, profitability, guest experience, and other non-financial metrics, to achieve a strong balanced scorecard. · Utilize variance analysis provided by the FP&A team to identify commercial reasons for variances and implement corrective action plans to address negative trends. · Benchmark the hotel’s performance against internal and external competitors, identifying opportunities for improvement. · Evaluate financial performance using tools like Hotstats to assess competitiveness and create a strategic advantage. Compliance and contract oversight: · Work closely with hotel management and the Accounting & Control team to ensure that the hotel maintains a strong culture of compliance and operates within Hilton policies and procedures. · Ensure compliance with hotel management or lease agreements, addressing any risks with senior leadership. · Manage vendor and operator contracts in alignment with Hilton’s global policies, negotiating terms to maximize value in collaboration with Legal, Supply Management, and Engineering teams. Prepare detailed financial reports and presentations for ownership and leadership, with robust variance analysis and commentary. · Facilitate monthly profit and loss (P&L) reviews and forecast meetings with department heads, developing actionable plans to enhance performance. Collaborate with FP&A, Accounting & Control, and Centre of Excellence teams to ensure seamless delivery of financial objectives. Lead the development of capital budgets, maintaining compliance with brand standards. · Initiate and support return-on-investment projects, providing analytical insights to calculate payback periods and net present values (NPVs). · Financial Modelling and Insights: · Develop and implement advanced financial analysis tools, including value chain analysis, opportunity assessment, and cash flow forecasting, to support strategic decision-making. · Educate non-finance teams on utilizing commercial finance tools for operational benefits. Support discussions with asset managers and owners regarding working capital requirements. Provide training in finance for non-finance teams, enhancing financial literacy and enabling informed decision-making across departments. · Project Management: · Participate in key hotel and regional projects aimed at revenue generation and cost optimization, driving hotel profitability. Review month-end P&L results produced by the Centre of Excellence, ensuring financial accuracy before finalization. · Assist Centre of Excellence and Accounting & Control teams during audits and with bad debt provisions. We seek a dynamic finance professional with at least five years of progressive senior leadership experience in hotel operations preferably within a luxury environment and a degree in Accounting, Finance, or Tourism Administration. Advanced qualifications such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or MBA are highly desirable. Comprehensive knowledge of the hotel industry, coupled with expertise in financial modelling, reporting systems, and performance tracking tools. · Experience leveraging models, tools, and big data to drive results. · Passion for finance or the hospitality sector.