Director of Finance

Director of Finance

Reports to the General Manager; the position is exempt.

Who We Are

Hotels done differently. At Aparium, we believe in the power of People, Place and Character. We ensure our hotels are a place where individuals are valued and celebrated, elevating our associates’ pride in who they are, where they live and who we serve. Our hotel is a tribute to the neighborhoods and the people of the communities where we operate. Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, Hotel Heron offers guests the opportunity to see Old Town from a new perspective. With Washington, DC minutes away, Hotel Heron acts as a beacon across the river, inviting travelers to explore beyond the National Mall. Originally opened in 1926 as the George Mason Hotel, the property has been reimagined through an adaptive reuse that pairs the historic inn with a modern building housing event spaces and elevated guest rooms. Today, Hotel Heron is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, a global portfolio of distinctive, independently spirited hotels. The chic 134-room hotel hosts a signature ground‑floor restaurant serving hearth‑inspired Mid‑Atlantic cuisine, a cozy craft cocktail bar, and an open‑air seasonal rooftop bar with unparalleled views of the Potomac. Elevated amenities include a state‑of‑the‑art fitness center and meeting spaces designed for socializing, co‑working, creating, eating, drinking, and relaxing. The hotel brings together world travelers and neighbors alike while showcasing Alexandria’s rich legacy and knack for innovation through thoughtful touches from local businesses and artisans.

The hotel is managed by Aparium Hotel Group. Founded in 2011, Aparium is driven by the belief that all hospitality experiences should be fueled by the poetics of their surroundings and was born with an intense focus on unearthing the amazing moments unique to every city. Since its founding, Aparium has grown into a new kind of hotel brand, one that ventures off the beaten path, both geographically and philosophically. Recognized by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards as a leading hotel brand, Aparium is known for its singular ability to combine the business acumen of large hospitality companies with the charm of boutique hotels, bringing the disparate forces together in bustling, smaller markets.

Who You Are

You are confident in your abilities to be a General (strategic thinker) and a Soldier (tactical doer). Your experiences have led you to understand that there is an art + science in balancing a hotel’s financial responsibilities with the importance of engaged and valued hotel staff. You enjoy the camaraderie of a team and know that everyone plays an important role, no matter their title. When one of the members of the team goes down, you are the first to jump in and pick them up. You know the ins and outs of every accounting position in your office and are willing to jump in the trenches and find solutions to improving the process. Your past experience and history have enabled you to work with human resources and understand those responsibilities will drive how you approach this role, but you are always striving to learn more. Glasses are always half full to you and laughter is the best medicine.

THE ROLE

We seek a diverse leader for the role of Director of Finance, who will lead the accounting and finance responsibilities of the hotel. This position promotes and adheres to GAAP compliance, alignment with the AHLA Uniform System of Accounts, and implements human resources practices. The Director of Finance reports to the General Manager, collaborates closely with the Executive Committee and the Aparium Finance team to achieve financially sound and strategic business decisions.

What You Will Do

• Reinforce the company's Art + Science ideologies to ensure the experiences of translocal hospitality, intuitive service, and collaboration are implemented and modeled by yourself and every leader of the hotel.
• Lead and be responsible for the accounting and finance procedures, practices, and policies for the hotel, ensuring the execution of all accounting tasks and required deadlines are achieved.
• Lead the preparation of budgets and forecasts for the hotel; work collaboratively to establish and recommend major economic objectives and policies for the hotel.
• Develop and implement procedures and necessary training to promote the efficient, effective, and timely completion of accounting activities by property accountants and managers, and those responsible for cash handling.
• Provide financial analysis as required from Aparium key stakeholders; collaborate with the EVP of Finance, VP of Finance, and GM on hotel financial goals through reports and advising; track and prepare cash flow statements.
• Administer, maintain, and enforce legal and finance compliance initiatives, policies, and procedures (including SOX, PCI, and other legal financial reporting); ensure adherence to Aparium policies and all applicable laws.
• Oversee the hotel’s financial reporting and records management; coordinate and liaise with internal and external audits, prepare reports required by regulatory agencies; identify and communicate process inefficiencies or operational issues and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ensure Hotel Management Agreement compliance, which includes negotiating, administering, and monitoring contracts with vendors, serving as a liaison to hotel owners, other hotel departments, and assisting with the finance department and hotel‑related issues.
• Advise management on tax code revisions and desirable operational adjustments; ensure timely payment and filing of all federal, state & local sales taxes & fees, payroll, and vendor invoices; safeguard hotel resources, assets, and risk management assessments.
• Actively participate in interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and motivating team members to nurture ideas and develop future talent for succession planning.
• Ensure a sense of belonging for associates by upholding the company’s values and guidelines for a Respectful Workplace, a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive environment, behaviors outlined in the Manager Code of Conduct and Work Rules outlined in the Associate Handbook.
• Model the company’s open‑door policy and employee engagement practices, creating a great place to work; demonstrate a positive work ethic and guide and monitor business ethics and good business practice, and perform other job‑related duties as requested.
• Demonstrate a passion for “being in the know” by spending time in departments, attending shift briefings or department meetings; exhibit servant leadership by lending a hand during “crunch” time.
• Display a collaborative spirit with peers and managers by exchanging ideas and valuing differing opinions; facilitate focus groups and identify methods for employees to voice ideas or recommendations and ensure remedies are implemented.

How You Will Lead

• Highly analytical in thought and recommendations; never act like the smartest person in the room, continuously seek out the facts; can express a point of view without ego.
• Engages others in general conversation tactics to build rapport quickly, and can lead and adapt communication and presentation tactics to engage an audience; displays adaptable interpersonal skills for a wide range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Approaches fact‑finding and discovery missions in a collaborative effort; values input and experiences of others that create additional insights to uncover deeper issues that need to be addressed or removed as a barrier to implementation.
• Passionate about driving results of effort and others; can influence others to take direction to execute on the strategy through tactical methods, and is comfortable prioritizing their work and that of others.
• Comfortable being a “general” in identifying strategic needs, yet can be a “soldier” to ensure the implementation of a strategic plan.
• Values the importance of making decisions with integrity, maintaining confidentiality across internal workgroups, and knows how to use discretion when appropriate; understands the difference between transparency and confidentiality.

What You Will Need

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive accounting and finance management experience; experience progressing through ranks, understanding the responsibilities and tasks of your team.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Hospitality preferred though not required if you have years of proven experience.
• Background in hotel accounting would be great to understand the intricacies and terminology of hotel accounting, specifically the AHLA Uniform System of Accounts.
• Previous exposure and experience in leading and implementing human resources practices, such as recruitment, hiring processes, investigating employee relation cases, and meaningful engagement activities.
• Willing to work a flexible schedule as sometimes “month‑end” responsibilities and tasks require extra attention to ensure accuracy.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aparium Hospitality Services celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, and a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are, where they come from, and take pride in who we serve. Aparium is an E‑Verify employer.

#J-18808-Ljbffr