VP of Finance

Highgate Hotels•Honolulu, HI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Highgate Hotels is seeking a VP of Finance to lead financial strategy for its Hawaii portfolio. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Finance and partnering closely with the Group President – Hawaii, this leader will work with hotel leadership and ownership groups to improve performance, strengthen operations, and create long-term value. The position serves as a strategic commercial partner to properties and regional leadership, rather than functioning solely as a reporting resource. The role oversees portfolio-wide financial reporting, planning, controls, treasury, compliance, and ownership relations. It also develops finance leaders, builds succession readiness, and supports talent retention across the islands. Success calls for a collaborative, relationship-first leader who maintains an in-person presence at properties, develops local talent, and leads with humility, integrity, and respect for Hawaii’s host culture. Regular travel between islands and periodic mainland travel are required; residence in or relocation to Hawaii is required.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressive hotel finance experience, including multi-property leadership as an Area Director of Finance, Regional Director, or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to partner with General Managers and senior operations leaders and influence commercial decisions.
Proven owner-relations experience, including presenting to ownership groups, managing owner reporting, and handling sensitive capital and cash discussions.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with long-tenured property teams while respecting local culture.
Strong technical command of hotel finance systems and advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, complex formulas, and financial modeling.
Deep knowledge of USALI, GAAP, internal controls, and hotel management agreement structures, including incentive fee, reserve, and reporting provisions.
Proven experience hiring, coaching, evaluating, and developing property finance leaders and succession pipelines.
Excellent written and verbal communication, with the judgment to tailor messaging to owners, brand partners, executives, and line-level teams.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment on sensitive ownership, personnel, and transactional matters.
Willingness to travel regularly between islands and periodically to the mainland.
Residence in, or willingness to relocate to, Hawaii.

Nice To Haves

Four-year degree with an Accounting or Finance concentration preferred.
Hawaii market experience, including familiarity with GET/TAT, resort operations, and the state’s labor environment.
Experience managing finances under collective bargaining agreements.
Experience with Oracle, TM1 or comparable planning tools, Birchstreet, and AuditBoard.
CPA, CHAE, or equivalent certification; not required.

Responsibilities

Serve as strategic finance partner to General Managers and Executive Committees across the Hawaii portfolio, participating in property strategy, pricing, and profitability decisions.
Partner with the Group President – Hawaii on regional strategy, portfolio performance reviews, ownership relations, and market positioning; translate portfolio results into actionable direction for property teams.
Report to and partner with the SVP Finance on company and regional initiatives, portfolio risk management, and finance talent strategy, ensuring corporate standards and reporting expectations are consistently executed.
Proactively escalate emerging cash, control, ownership, and operational risks, including labor, safety, systems, and property-condition issues with financial impact.
Work with ownership groups and asset managers on cash requirements, distributions, ROI initiatives, capital planning, and reporting needs; represent Highgate in owner meetings and build trust-based relationships.
Guide and train Area Directors of Finance, property Directors of Finance, and Controllers; develop succession readiness and consistent standards across properties.
Oversee accurate and timely regional financial reporting, including month-end close, balance sheet and bank reconciliations, forecasts, budgets, and five-year operating and capital plans.
Ensure adherence to USALI, GAAP, internal audit standards, and Highgate accounting policies; lead internal audits, self-audits, and external reviews.
Ensure compliance with Hawaii tax and regulatory requirements, including GET, state and county TAT, licenses, permits, leases, and contractual obligations.
Oversee portfolio treasury and working capital, including cash-flow forecasts, credit-card reconciliations, deposit controls, and corporate cash-management protocols; train property teams.
Oversee purchasing, vendor compliance, inventory, and expense-classification controls, accounting for island-market freight, lead times, and vendor availability.
Support financial management of properties operating under collective bargaining agreements, including payroll, benefits, and labor-cost forecasting.
Monitor regional revenues and expenses, investigate variances to budget and prior year, and recommend practical improvements to management.
Coordinate with the centralized taskforce team to provide interim financial oversight, training, and mentorship during leadership transitions or vacancies.
Recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain finance talent across the region, emphasizing local talent and long-tenured teams.
Maintain a visible, in-person presence at properties across the islands and build lasting relationships with property teams, owners, and community partners through humility, listening, and respect for local culture.

Benefits

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
Paid holidays
Paid vacation
Paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Educational opportunities and tuition reimbursement
Paid jury duty leave, personal leave, medical leave, and military leave in accordance with applicable law