Controller - Establish accounting with launch team for exciting new hotel

Vaco by Highspring; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance 80% covered

Dental and vision

LTD/STD/Life insurance

Paid holidays

PTO days

401K match

Ground-floor opportunity

Team-oriented culture

In-person daily

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks a seasoned Controller to oversee the financial operations of a new luxury hotel in San Antonio. You will manage accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance, driving accurate reporting and strong controls.

Lead the finance team, partner with Ownership and the Hospitality Group CPA, and ensure GAAP adherence while supporting capital projects and strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive finance/accounting experience, with 3+ years in a hotel - must have.
• Strong knowledge of hotel financial systems and USALI.
• Proven budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis experience for a single-property hotel.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic partnership overseeing day-to-day hotel finance responsibilities.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting with internal teams and Ownership.
• Oversee daily accounting operations including A/P/A/R, payroll, and G/L.
• Ensure timely month-end close and GAAP-compliant reporting.
• Mentor the hotel finance team and advise Ownership on staffing.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Hotel finance

Budgeting

Forecasting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Job description

Exciting new upscale, modern, all-suite hotel in San Antonio

OUTSTANDING COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Base up to $130K +24% incentive target
• Company pays 80% of medical insurance costs available on Day 1; dental, vision also offered
• LTD, STD, life insurance company paid
• 10 paid holidays, 15 PTO days/year prorated for first year if not full year
• 401K Match 100% of the first 3% contributed and then 50% of the next 2% contributed. Company match is fully vested when contributed.
• Opportunity to be in on the ground floor before the hotel opens, establishing financial infrastructure under parent company umbrella
• Exceptional, tight knit team who deliver best results and truly care about doing the best job they can
• In person daily

ROLE WITH THE COMPANY

The Controller will oversee the financial functions of the hotel, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. This role is critical in shaping the financial operations and reporting for the property, with a primary focus on the day-to-day financial performance and controls of the hotel. The Controller combines hospitality industry expertise with strong analytical skills and a proactive, hands-on approach to financial leadership.

Financial Strategy & Planning

• Provide strategic partnership in overseeing the day-to-day hotel finance department responsibilities.
• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes in partnership with both internal operating functions and Ownership for current hotel operations.

Accounting & Reporting

• Oversee daily accounting operations, including accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and general ledger.
• Develop and execute an efficient month-end closing calendar to allow timely delivery of financials in accordance with the hotel operating agreement.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in compliance with GAAP and local regulations, supporting the Hospitality Group CPA - the primary point of contact for external auditors - with documentation and on-site fieldwork during the annual audit cycle.
• Maintain accurate general ledger records and reconcile balance sheet accounts on a monthly basis, submitting reconciliations to the Hospitality Group CPA for review and approval.

Cash Flow & Risk Management

• Monitor cash flow and manage liquidity to support the hotel's operational needs and capital projects.
• Identify financial risks specific to hotel operations and implement mitigation strategies.

Compliance & Controls

• Enact and instill internal controls throughout the hotel's finance operations, incorporating advisory guidance from the Hospitality Group CPA, and ensure compliance with tax laws, hospitality regulations, and audit requirements.
• Ensure adherence to the hotel's policies & procedures as well as applicable brand and ownership reporting standards.
• Support the Hospitality Group CPA - the primary point of contact for tax compliance matters across the portfolio - by ensuring timely completion of the hotel's property-level tax filings and providing required documentation.
• Manage and mentor the hotel finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Provide staffing recommendations to Ownership to ensure optimal finance department performance at the property.
• Collaborate with the Hospitality Group CPA, who serves as the primary point of contact for external audits, balance sheet reconciliations, and tax compliance across the two-property portfolio, and provides advisory guidance on internal controls; this is a peer/support relationship, not a reporting line.

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor the hotel finance team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Provide staffing recommendations to Ownership to ensure optimal finance department performance at the property.
• Collaborate with the Hospitality Group CPA, who serves as the primary point of contact for external audits, balance sheet reconciliations, and tax compliance across the two-property portfolio, and provides advisory guidance on internal controls; this is a peer/support relationship, not a reporting line.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Supervises members of the hotel accounting and finance team, including accounts payable/receivable staff and income audit, and carries responsibility for hiring, coaching, and performance management within the department.

Background Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive finance/accounting experience, with 3+ years' experience in a hotel - must have.
• Strong knowledge of hotel financial systems and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI).
• Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for a single-property hotel operation.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).