Staff Accountant

The Observatory Sun Valley, A Viceroy Resort; Ketchum (ID); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Observatory Sun Valley, A Viceroy Resort is seeking a Staff Accountant responsible for maintaining accurate financial reports and ensuring compliance with regulations. This role involves preparing payroll, managing accounts receivable, and assisting in financial audits.

The ideal candidate will have a background in hospitality, strong Excel skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with guests and staff. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a leading resort in Ketchum, Idaho.

Qualifications

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office with intermediate Excel skills.
• Preferred experience in Hotel Industry or Hospitality.
• Effective communication with employees and guests.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, prepare, and communicate financial reports.
• Handle customer inquiries in a professional manner.
• Assist in the monthly close process by posting journal entries.

Skills

Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel, Basic Word)

Accounts Receivable

Payroll processing

Customer service

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Education

College courses in a related field

Tools

Hotel PMS Opera

Job description

Location

The property is located at the southeast corner of Main Street and River Street East, the gateway to downtown Ketchum, Idaho, just minutes from Bald Mountain’s River Run base. It features 73 guest rooms and 12 single‑level penthouse residences.

Overview

The staff accountant will assist the Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Finance in maintaining accurate and timely financial reporting, ensuring internal controls, compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, and safeguarding owners/investors assets.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, prepare, and communicate financial reports in accordance with Highgate Hotels required due dates.
• Income Audit including entering information into the BiPortal on a daily basis.
• Utilize and maintain time and attendance system and process, daily, weekly, and bi‑weekly payroll and related information to include verifying payroll information, recording earnings/deductions, etc.
• Prepare and input all required payroll journal entries.
• Maintain responsibility for the daily Accounts Receivable credit, billing, and collection process.
• Monitor payment requirements on groups or functions and process deposits.
• Approve or decline credit requests.
• Complete collection calls on each appropriate outstanding account and maintain collection files on each outstanding issue.
• Review and approve the City Ledger transfers daily and communicate to supervisor any deviation from established Accounting policies and procedures.
• Handle customer inquiries in a professional and timely manner, provide customers with accurate invoices, statements, and schedules.
• Process returned checks and credit card chargebacks.
• Conduct monthly credit meetings and maintain minutes (including returned checks/chargeback logs, credit trace reports, write‑off, bad debt allowances, etc.)
• Partner with the Sales and Events Team by establishing customer credit, including but no limited to application processing, reference checks, credit limitation, direct billing list, and deposit requirements.
• Maintain an efficient collection process to include organized filing and tracing system, issuing letter, monitoring returned checks and charge backs, performing collection calls and preparing bad debt write‑offs.
• Update daily revenue reports both for internal distribution and corporate distribution.
• Monitor guest ledger, advance deposit ledger and any other related ledgers to ensure proper internal control.
• Keep management aware of any unusual operation or financial occurrences and/or significant deviations.
• Reconcile invoices against ledgers or schedules to ensure accuracy of invoicing.
• Assist in the monthly close process by posting journal entries that are related to daily/monthly responsibilities.
• Ensure overall guest satisfaction by attentive listening and then immediately resolving guest issues or elevating to the Director of Finance or General Manager.
• Cross‑Train in other areas within the Accounting Department including accounts payable.
• Ability to identify root causes of issues that may affect staff or guests and provide actionable and measurable solutions to improve efficiency, overall work environment, and/or guest experience.

Qualifications

• College courses in an associated or related field and/or related experience in a Hotel or Hospitality environment.
• Must be proficient in Windows, Microsoft Office (Intermediate Excel and Basic Word).
• Accounts Receivable and Payroll experience is preferred.
• Hotel PMS Opera is preferred.
• Flexible and long hours sometimes required, especially during the last and first few days of the month.
• Sedentary work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor at all times.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in a professional, attentive, friendly, courteous and service‑oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meeting and trainings.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotels Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming.
• Comply with Highgate Hotels Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Must be able to show initiative, including anticipating guests or operational needs.
• Perform other duties as requested by management.