Administrative Director

Hornblower Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City Cruises Chicago, part of Hornblower Group, seeks an Administrative Director to oversee daily administrative operations with emphasis on accounting, HR, office management, and IT coordination aboard a Coast Guard‑inspected vessel. You will ensure timely billing, revenue recognition, payroll support, onboarding, and audits while partnering with departments to maintain operational excellence.

The role requires strong accounting and cash handling skills, multi‑tasking across finance and admin,

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum four (4) years administrative experience with accounting responsibilities (A/P and A/R).
• Minimum three (3) years of cash handling experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities/tasks.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Proficient computer and Microsoft Office skills (Word & Excel).

Responsibilities

• Oversee the city’s Cash Management function, including office petty cash, local checking account, and audits of restaurant / ticket booth daily closeouts, deposits, and petty cash.
• Enter onboard sales in Anchor for revenue recognition and audit onboard close-outs for any unusual activity, such as high voids and comps or cash shortages.
• Administer timely billing of all direct bill accounts; assist Sales Director in monitoring open receivables and collecting on balances due; submit adjustment requests for any close order corrections.
• Manage the city’s invoice submission process according to established Company procedures.
• Act as city contact and assist Accounting Team with general requests and inquiries related to accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger activity.
• Generate all month-end reports and accruals according to the schedule established by the Accounting Department.
• Analyze and forecast the Administration Department’s monthly expenses; submit adjustments and explanations for variances.
• Participate in the weekly Manager’s Meeting; Administer donation and comp pass requests; Coordinate follow up with guest complaints/injuries; Manage office equipment maintenance; Liaise with security and landlords.
• Act as the city’s primary IT contact; escalate IT issues; coordinate setup of telephone/computers for new shipmates; coordinate installations and vendor support; provide basic training.

Skills

Cash handling

Accounts payable

Accounts receivable

Microsoft Office

Excel

Discretion and confidentiality

Education

High School diploma

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

Anchor

OKTA

Job description

Hornblower Groupis a global leader in experienceand transportation.Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water- and land-based experiences and ferry and transportation services. City Experiences, Hornblower Group’s premier experience division, offers dining and sightseeing cruises and walking and food tours through the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour brands. City Ferry, part of Hornblower Group’s Ferry and Transportation Division, is the largest private operator of high-speed passenger and vehicle ferries in the United States, carrying more than 10 million passengers annually and operating services including NYC Ferry, Puerto Rico Ferry, and other regional ferry systems.Hornblower Group’s subsidiaries include Hornblower Marine, which provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Seaward Services, Inc., a full-service shipping, waterfront logistics and management company that specializes in the operation and maintenance of government and commercial vessels.Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a Hornblower Group subsidiary and independent entity,provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers over 10 countries, over 50 U.S. cities and serves more than 20 million guests annually. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Hornblower Group’s additional corporate offices reside in San Francisco, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada. For more information, visit hornblowercorp.com.

City Cruises Chicago

Position Summary:

The successful Administrative Director oversees the city’s day-to-day administrative operations with a focus on accounting, finance, HR, office management, and IT coordination. This multifaceted role ensures smooth financial processes, efficient onboarding and payroll support, and responsive administrative services—all while partnering with key departments to maintain a high standard of operational excellence.

Duties And Responsibilities

Accounting & Finance

• Oversee the city’s Cash Management function, including office petty cash, local checking account, and audits of restaurant / ticket booth daily closeouts, deposits, and petty cash
• Enter onboard sales in Anchor for revenue recognition and audit onboard close-outs for any unusual activity, such as high voids and comps or cash shortages
• Administer timely billing of all direct bill accounts. Assist sales director in monitoring open receivables and collecting on balances due. Submit adjustment requests to Accounting as needed for any closed order corrections needed.
• Manage the city’s invoice submission process according to established Company procedures
• Act as city contact and assist Accounting Team with general requests and inquiries related to accounts payable, accounts receivable and general ledger activity
• Generate all month-end reports and accruals according to the schedule established by the Accounting Department
• Analyze and forecast the Administration Department’s monthly expenses. Submit adjustments and corrections and provide explanations for significant variances

Administration - Office Management

• Participate in the weekly Manager’s Meeting
• Administer donation and comp pass requests
• Coordinate follow up with guest complaints
• Coordinate follow up as needed for any guest or shipmate injuries
• Coordinate and ensure all office equipment is functioning, and office equipment repairs, and maintenance occur in a timely manner, including copier and postage machine. Troubleshoot and provide technical support when possible.
• Manage shipmate parking privileges or other soft benefits (if applicable)
• Manage purchasing of office supplies and printing including business cards, and stationery, drink tickets, vouchers, etc.
• Act as primary liaison with the office security company and secondary contact with landlords

Information Technology

• Act as the city’s primary contact with the IT Department
• Escalate city IT (hardware & software) questions/issues to the IT Department when unable to resolve at the city level
• Coordinate set-up of telephone and computer for all new shipmates
• Coordinate all office computer installations, maintenance & repairs in conjunction with the IT Department or outside service vendors when appropriate
• Coordinate service/repair with outside service vendors when appropriate
• Basic training for new shipmates in log-on procedures, Outlook, OKTA, as appropriate

Other

• Additional duties as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum four (4) years administrative experience with accounting responsibilities (Accounts Payable (A/P) and Accounts Receivable (A/R) experience)
• Minimum three (3) years of cash handling experience
• Staff management experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred
• Ability to analyze and solve problems
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities/tasks
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Provide advice/opinion and exercise discretion concerning confidential and sensitive matters
• Proficient computer and Microsoft Office skills (especially Word & Excel)

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work onboard a moving vessel in varying weather and sea conditions, including maintaining balance and stability while underway.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, frequently throughout a shift.
• Ability to navigate stairs, ladders, narrow passageways, and confined spaces commonly found onboard vessels.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull supplies, equipment, and inventory weighing up to 40 pounds independently.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach overhead, and perform repetitive motions as required in food service and hospitality operations.
• Ability to respond quickly and effectively during normal operations, guest service situations, and emergency procedures.
• Ability to safely work in a fast-paced environment with exposure to moving equipment, wet surfaces, temperature variations, and moderate noise levels.
• Ability to visually inspect service areas, food presentation, cleanliness standards, and safety conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with guests, crew members, and management in person and via radio or other communication devices.
• Successfully complete vessel‑specific safety and emergency training.
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended shifts as operational needs require.

Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily onboard a Coast Guard‑inspected passenger vessel, with duties split between dining, service, storage, galley‑adjacent, and administrative areas.
• Position requires regular movement throughout multiple decks and may involve occasional exposure to outdoor marine environments, including heat, humidity, rain, wind, and sunlight.
• Must be able to safely perform duties while the vessel is docked or underway.

The RESPECT Service System embodies our mission, vision, values and operating principles. By creating a company culture that puts RESPECT at its core, we believe it will drive us to achieve our goal of becoming a Global Experiences and Transportation Leader.

EEO / Disabled / Protected Veteran Employer. Hornblower is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibit discrimination and/or harassment of any type, including but not limited to discrimination and or harassment based upon race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy or relation medical conditions, childbirth, breastfeeding, parental status, veteran and/or military status, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, political affiliation, domestic violence survivor status, marital status, or other characteristics prohibited by federal, state, or local law. Additionally, as a federal, state, and local contractor, Hornblower complies with government regulations, including affirmative action responsibilities for qualified individuals, where and as they apply. The company also participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations.