Financial Controller

Royal Caribbean Group; Lombardia; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Caribbean Group is seeking a Financial Controller to lead shipboard financial operations, ensuring accurate payroll processing for crew and robust revenue reporting. You will manage cash operations, enforce internal controls, and drive budgeting and forecasting across departments on the vessel.

The role requires strong leadership in multicultural teams, high analytical capability, and proficiency in MS Office.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical, administrative, and accounting skills with ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of HR policies and practices, including coaching and discipline processes.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop multicultural teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Financial Operations onboard, assigning responsibilities, ensuring compliance with labor policies, and maintaining high-performance standards.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing for crew (salaries, gratuities, supplements) and resolve discrepancies with zero-error target.
• Oversee accurate revenue and expense reporting through proper financial records and reports (e.g., Purser’s Journal).
• Review and approve CAMEX and operational expenses, ensuring adherence to company financial policies.
• Manage cash operations, including safes, floats, foreign exchange, and overall financial security.
• Enforce financial controls and compliance (SOX, audits, policies) through training, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor budgets and forecasts, identify efficiencies, and guide departments to stay within financial targets.
• Conduct audits and risk management, ensuring compliance, preventing losses, and resolving audit findings proactively.
• Develop and support team performance and retention through training, scheduling, mentoring, recruitment support, and maintaining confidentiality and safety standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Payroll processing

Leadership

MS Office

Cash handling

Multicultural teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality/Business/Accounting

Tools

MS Office

Job description

The Financial Controller leads the ship in all areas of fiscal responsibility and procedural compliance of the ship's financial operation, focusing on the effective and accurate exchange of financial information between Shipboard Financial Operations, Operations Accounting and Finance Administration; maintains the company’s integrity of all shipboard accounting and audit procedures relating to the complete payroll process, cash payments, credit card processing, fraud prevention, revenue reporting, expenditure reporting, and shipboard forecasts; manages the functions of the Crew Payroll Manager, 2nd Purser Payroll, Guest Accounts Purser and Apprentice Pursers. The Financial Controller continuously strives to exceed hospitality industry standards in the delivery of the highest level of service possible while ensuring complete guest and team satisfaction.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate the ROYAL WAY values (Friendly, Passionate, Committed) through professional and courteous behavior at all times, both on and off duty.
• Lead Financial Operations onboard, assigning responsibilities, ensuring compliance with labor policies, and maintaining high-performance standards.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing for crew (salaries, gratuities, supplements) and resolve discrepancies with zero-error target.
• Oversee accurate revenue and expense reporting through proper financial records and reports (e.g., Purser’s Journal).
• Review and approve CAMEX and operational expenses, ensuring adherence to company financial policies.
• Manage cash operations, including safes, floats, foreign exchange, and overall financial security.
• Enforce financial controls and compliance (SOX, audits, policies) through training, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor budgets and forecasts, identify efficiencies, and guide departments to stay within financial targets.
• Conduct audits and risk management, ensuring compliance, preventing losses, and resolving audit findings proactively.
• Develop and support team performance and retention through training, scheduling, mentoring, recruitment support, and maintaining confidentiality and safety standards.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; degree in Hospitality, Business, Accounting, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years Financial Operations experience on cruise ships and 4+ years managerial experience in hospitality or finance preferred.
• Cash handling expertise (minimum 2 years), including knowledge of US currency and exchange rates.
• Strong analytical, administrative, and accounting skills with ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of HR policies and practices, including coaching and discipline processes.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop multicultural teams, with strong teamwork and succession planning focus.
• Excellent communication, customer service, confidentiality handling, and computer skills, including MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).