Director of Finance

Sand & Sea•Santa Monica, CA

13d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Finance (Shared Services) leads accounting and financial operations across three Santa Monica hotels, with Shore Hotel as the primary work location. This hands-on role advises ownership and property leadership on profitability, capital allocation, investments, and portfolio strategy, and partners with ownership and senior leadership on operational and investment decisions. The Director oversees budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, working capital, and financial reporting; develops financial models and ROI analyses; improves workflows and financial systems; and leads cost-control initiatives. The role also directs core accounting operations, maintains sound internal controls and compliance, and develops the Finance team. The position reports to the General Manager (Operations) and CEO (Portfolio Strategy), and supervises the Assistant Director of Finance and Accounting Managers.

Requirements

At least 5 years of progressive hospitality finance experience, including 3 years in senior financial leadership.
Strong financial modeling, hotel accounting, forecasting, controls, and operating-performance analysis.
Demonstrated personal leadership of completed cost-saving, workflow redesign, technology integration, or automation initiatives supported by measurable outcomes.
Advanced Excel skills.
Independent, hands-on management style with sound judgment, clear communication, and consistent follow-through.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods.
Able to stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, and reach daily.
Able to lift and move up to 20 pounds occasionally.
Regular and on-time attendance.

Nice To Haves

Seven or more years of progressive hospitality finance experience is preferred.
Multi-property hospitality finance or shared-services experience is strongly preferred.
Experience with M3, OPERA, business intelligence tools, and practical AI-enabled finance applications is preferred.
CPA or MBA is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, working capital, and timely financial reporting for all three properties.
Partner with ownership and General Managers on portfolio profitability, operating performance, capital expenditures, financing analysis, and potential acquisitions.
Develop financial models, scenarios, and ROI analyses to support business decisions.
Review existing workflows and eliminate, simplify, consolidate, or reassign unnecessary steps before pursuing automation or new software.
Lead financial-system improvements, integrations, reporting automation, and appropriate AI-enabled solutions through implementation, adoption, and measurement of results.
Establish and manage a structured cost-control program covering purchasing, vendor contracts, labor, recurring expenses, and department budgets, and validate realized savings.
Direct accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll-related accounting, reconciliations, month-end and year-end close, reporting, and cash management while maintaining internal controls.
Maintain compliance with applicable accounting standards, USALI, taxes, and company policies.
Develop the Finance team, evaluate staffing and responsibilities, and establish clear ownership, deadlines, operating standards, and performance measures.