Director of Finance

Terranea Resorts•Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

31d•$145,000 - $165,000•Onsite

About The Position

Play an ongoing role in the creation, execution and refinement of profitable financial strategies designed to maximize opportunities for Terranea, while also ensuring excellence in the Company’s day-to-day financial accounting, reporting, analytical and planning functions, as well as the integration of best practices. Provide clear leadership and direction to the Resort finance team. Create an accountable, communicative, team-oriented environment such that the finance team is striving to achieve and exceed expectations. Communicate and work effectively with other key executives across various functional lines to build and maintain productive relationships.

Requirements

The Director of Finance must be an effective leader, an extremely well organized, take-charge professional who makes things happen, and who has a strong orientation to quality, accuracy, and timeliness.
The individual must have seasoned business savvy and be value-added, constantly maintaining a "big picture" perspective relative to long-term objectives as well as current Resort operations, performance, profitability and goal achievement.
The Director of Finance must be entrepreneurial and detail-oriented; willing to roll up their sleeves and is hands-on whenever necessary.
They must have an analytical mind sufficient to assess business performance and opportunities, as well as to evaluate problems and develop solutions.
The Director of Finance must be a polished and dynamic team player, an open, willing communicator who is not uncomfortable or shy in dealing directly with challenging issues.
Effective communication is a key ingredient to success in this position.
The Director of Finance must also be professional and ethical, demonstrating personal integrity, loyalty, tact, sound judgment, openness and diligence.
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance or equivalent
A minimum of 15 years experience in hospitality and real estate industry four and five-star brands and | or properties
A minimum of five (5) years experience in senior management
They must have a proven track record of success developing strong and innovative Finance organizations in a fast-paced resort environment
Experience in hospitality opening or expansion (large resort)
Experience with complex hospitality operation with complex accounting
Exceptional leadership and communication skills

Nice To Haves

Experience in resort development and homeowner associations is ideal
Experience with complex capital and debt structures is ideal
Experience with partnership financing and reporting is ideal
10 years in hotel | resort environment is ideal
Experience with NetSuite ERP system for daily accounting functions

Responsibilities

Actively invest the time and energy necessary to become familiar with Terranea, the investors and partners, the lenders in all aspects of the project including the underlying vision, business model, culture and values, competitors, financial data and projections, budgets, timelines, long-range plans, and key priorities.
Review the business plan, strategy, timelines and budgets for the Resort, including the definition, prioritization and implementation of specific capital expenditures, and make suggestions where appropriate.
Direct and assume responsibility for proper execution of the Resort’s accounting practices, maintenance of accurate financial records, and the timely preparation of financial reports. Utilize standard reporting, as well as insightful comprehensive metrics, to drive continuous improvement for the Resort. This responsibility also includes Resort financial planning, budgeting, accounting and cash management.
Assist in nurturing the important relationship with the Resort owners. Be responsible for supervising and coordinating reporting as required. Provide timely, concise monthly reporting for the Resort, custom reports as requested, respond quickly to questions or requests and participate in Partner and other appropriate meetings.
Provide oversight to accounting functions required by HOA and Condominium Owners. Act as liaison between Resort financial operations and the HOA board. Ensure that legal, fiduciary, reporting and financial service requirements of unit owners are satisfied.
In conjunction with the Vice President of Finance, ensure that the Management Agreement, Development Agreement, LLC Agreement, lending agreements and any related legal requirements are carried out.
Work with the appropriate property and corporate personnel to prepare the Capital Improvement and Development budgets. Ensure that all of the capital expenses have been approved, and are properly classified and tracked as required by the corporate office.
Complete the year-end audit process. Review and approve all reconciliations and audit work papers. Coordinate external auditor’s visits, respond to auditor requests, approve any and all adjustments, reconcile the audit numbers to the property numbers and approve the final audit.
Review historical and projected cash flows. Take required actions to ensure cash flow is appropriately managed. Communicate to the responsible Property Operations executive, Regional Controller and others, including owners, as necessary.
Supervise and participate in the preparation and review of all monthly and annual financial statements. Investigate, review and analyze the variance explanations, and involve the department managers in this process. Ensure all narratives are well written and explain why the variance occurred.
Interpret operating results as they affect the financial aspects of the Resort, making specific recommendations that will result in cost reductions, profit improvement and benefit to the Resort overall. Utilize staff as needed to conduct related analyses.
Organize and drive the annual budgeting process for the Resort. Monitor and assist in preparing the property budgets, capital budgets, development budgets and business plans. Ensure accuracy and completion of the budgets on or before the due date. Aid in the preparation and final review of the annual business plan.
Check appropriation requests against approved budgets prior to committing funds; exercise accounting control to ensure that budgeted expenditures do not exceed authorized levels.
Supervise the Development Finance and Accounting function including participation in the review and analysis of the development pro forma and coordinating, obtaining and exonerating payment and performance bonds for completion of off-site infrastructure improvements and escrow deposits.
Coordinate integration of the development financial activity into the operating activity with the result being concise, timely reporting for the overall Resort.
Have a sound understanding of the Resort’s operational and back office systems as well as Microsoft Office products.