Finance Director

JOB DESCRIPTIONFinance DirectorHotel: The Dubai EDITION Location: Dubai, UAEPOSITION SUMMARYThe Dubai EDITION is looking for an experienced, commercially driven and strategic Finance Director to lead the hotel's Finance & Accounting function.The Finance Director will be responsible for overseeing the complete financial operations of the hotel, ensuring strong financial controls, accurate reporting, effective cost management and sustainable commercial performance.The ideal candidate will have strong experience in luxury/upscale hotel finance, excellent knowledge of hotel accounting and financial controls, and a proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and business partnering.Previous experience with Marriott International is strongly preferred, particularly candidates who have worked within Marriott's luxury or upscale hotel portfolio.This is a senior leadership position requiring strong commercial acumen, financial discipline, strategic thinking and the ability to work closely with the General Manager, Executive Committee, ownership and corporate stakeholders.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES1. Financial Leadership & StrategyLead and oversee the complete Finance & Accounting function of the hotel.Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with the hotel's business objectives.Provide strategic financial advice to the General Manager and Executive Leadership Team.Support management in making informed commercial and operational decisions.Monitor overall financial performance and identify opportunities to improve profitability.Ensure effective financial governance, controls and risk-management practices.Act as a strategic business partner to the hotel's operational departments.2. Budgeting & ForecastingLead the preparation of the hotel's annual operating budget.Develop financial forecasts, business plans and long-term financial projections.Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast.Analyse significant variances and develop corrective action plans.Work closely with department heads to ensure departmental budgets are properly managed.Provide regular financial updates and forecasts to senior management and ownership.Support the preparation of capital expenditure budgets and business cases.3. Financial Reporting & AnalysisOversee the preparation of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.Review financial statements and management reports before submission.Analyse revenue, departmental profitability, operating expenses, cash flow and overall hotel performance.Provide meaningful financial analysis and recommendations to management.Monitor key financial indicators and identify trends, risks and opportunities.Ensure financial information is accurate, complete and delivered within required deadlines.Prepare financial presentations and reports for ownership and senior management.4. Hotel Revenue & Commercial PerformanceWork closely with the General Manager, Commercial team and Revenue Management to maximise hotel profitability.Monitor Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, GOP and other key hotel performance indicators.Analyse business mix, room revenue, F&B revenue, meetings and events revenue and other income streams.Provide financial insights to support pricing, sales and revenue-management strategies.Evaluate the financial impact of commercial decisions, contracts and business opportunities.Identify opportunities for revenue enhancement and profitability improvement.5. Cost Control & ProfitabilityEstablish and maintain effective cost-control procedures across the hotel.Monitor departmental expenses and identify areas of unnecessary expenditure.Review payroll, operating expenses, food and beverage costs, utilities and other major cost categories.Work closely with department heads to achieve approved cost and profitability targets.Monitor F&B cost percentages, inventory controls and purchasing practices.Develop cost-saving initiatives without compromising guest experience or operational standards.Ensure proper approval and authorization procedures are followed for expenditure.6. Accounting Operations & Internal ControlsOversee Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Income Audit, Cashiering and related finance functions.Ensure accurate recording and reconciliation of all financial transactions.Maintain strong internal controls over cash, revenue, receivables, payables and inventory.Ensure appropriate segregation of duties within the Finance Department.Review financial processes and continuously improve operational efficiency.Ensure compliance with Marriott and hotel financial policies and procedures.Monitor credit control and collection activities.7. Audit, Compliance & Risk ManagementCoordinate internal and external financial audits.Ensure timely completion of audit requirements and implementation of audit recommendations.Maintain compliance with applicable UAE financial, tax and statutory requirements.Ensure proper application of accounting standards and hotel financial policies.Oversee VAT-related financial processes and statutory reporting requirements.Identify financial and operational risks and establish appropriate controls.Maintain appropriate documentation and financial records for audit and compliance purposes.8. Cash Flow & Working Capital ManagementMonitor the hotel's cash position and working capital requirements.Manage cash-flow forecasting and liquidity planning.Monitor accounts receivable collections and outstanding balances.Ensure effective management of supplier payments and hotel liabilities.Review bank reconciliations and cash-management procedures.Maintain appropriate cash controls and authorisation procedures.9. Procurement, Inventory & Stock ControlWork closely with Procurement and Operations to ensure effective purchasing controls.Monitor purchasing procedures, supplier contracts and payment terms.Oversee financial controls relating to hotel inventories.Ensure regular stock counts and reconciliations are conducted.Monitor food, beverage, operating supplies and other inventory costs.Analyse purchasing trends and identify opportunities for cost optimisation.10. Capital Expenditure & Asset ManagementReview and monitor capital expenditure projects and budgets.Evaluate financial justification for major capital investments.Ensure appropriate approval procedures are followed for CAPEX.Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.Maintain accurate records of hotel assets and capital expenditure.Work with Engineering and Operations on asset-management and replacement planning.11. Team Leadership & DevelopmentLead, manage and develop the Finance & Accounting team.Establish departmental objectives, KPIs and performance standards.Coach and mentor finance team members to strengthen technical and leadership capabilities.Ensure appropriate staffing levels and efficient allocation of responsibilities.Promote a culture of accountability, integrity and continuous improvement.Conduct regular performance reviews and support career development within the Finance Department.12. Stakeholder & Ownership ManagementWork closely with the General Manager, Executive Committee and department heads.Provide financial information and analysis to hotel ownership and corporate stakeholders.Maintain professional relationships with banks, auditors, suppliers and other financial partners.Participate in management meetings and provide financial recommendations.Communicate financial performance, risks and opportunities clearly to non-finance stakeholders.Support ownership and management in evaluating major commercial and investment decisions.13. Marriott Brand & Financial StandardsEnsure compliance with Marriott International financial policies, procedures and reporting standards.Maintain strong understanding of Marriott financial systems, processes and reporting requirements.Ensure hotel financial operations are aligned with applicable Marriott standards and controls.Support Marriott-related audits, reviews and corporate reporting requirements.Maintain strong collaboration with Marriott corporate and regional finance stakeholders where applicable.QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCEBachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration or a related discipline.Professional qualification such as CA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA or equivalent is highly desirable.Minimum 10–15 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, preferably within the hospitality industry.Previous experience as a Finance Director, Director of Finance, Financial Controller or Assistant Director of Finance in a hotel environment.Previous Marriott International experience is strongly preferred.Experience within a luxury, upscale or internationally branded hotel is highly desirable.Strong knowledge of hotel financial operations, budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting.Strong understanding of USALI / hotel accounting principles.Proven experience in cost control, profitability management and commercial financial analysis.Strong knowledge of UAE financial, VAT and statutory requirements.Experience managing and developing a multi-disciplinary Finance team.Strong understanding of hotel operations and the financial relationship between Rooms, F&B, Sales, Revenue Management and other departments.Excellent analytical, leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills.Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and hotel finance/accounting systems.Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced luxury hospitality environment.