Controller Hospitality Industry

Howard Financial is a full-service back-office solution for high-growth companies with bookkeeping, payroll, and bespoke reporting needs that require accuracy, timeliness, and institutional-quality reporting without the burden of full-time staff. We are an experienced team of bookkeepers and administrators with multiple decades of combined experience across industries allowing companies to focus on their core business while we handle the rest.

Founded in 2023, our team of ~100 professionals supports ~75 clients across a diverse range of industries. We recently reached $6M of contracted ARR and are growing rapidly (over 200% LTM growth).

About The Role

Howard Financial is seeking an experienced Hospitality Controller to support our growing portfolio of hospitality clients and operating businesses, including hotels, resorts, and food & beverage operations.

This leadership role provides full-service financial oversight and acts as a trusted finance partner to hospitality operators, property leaders, and finance executives. The Hospitality Controller ensures accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and efficient accounting processes while supporting operational decision-making.

The role combines technical accounting expertise, operational finance knowledge, and team leadership to deliver high-quality financial support for hospitality businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Accounting

• Oversee accounting operations for hospitality clients and properties
• Supervise bookkeeping, month-end close, and financial statement preparation
• Review accrual entries, reconciliations, and general ledger activity
• Ensure proper revenue recognition across hospitality revenue streams (rooms, food & beverage, events, and other services)
• Maintain strong internal controls and compliance with accounting standards
  
  

Financial Systems & Process Improvement

• Improve accounting workflows and financial processes to increase efficiency and accuracy
• Support implementation and management of financial systems and integrations
• Utilize modern finance tools
• Document accounting procedures and develop scalable financial processes
  
  

Client Partnership & Operational Understanding

• Serve as a trusted finance partner to hospitality operators and leadership teams
• Work closely with CFOs, Finance Directors, and property leadership
• Develop a deep understanding of each client’s hospitality business model and operations
• Maintain clear communication and documentation to ensure transparency and alignment
  
  

Reporting & Financial Insights

• Prepare accurate monthly financial reporting packages
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes in partnership with the FP&A team
• Deliver variance analysis and insights related to hospitality performance metrics
• Provide financial insights that support operational improvements and profitability
  
  

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor and coach junior accounting team members
• Review work to ensure technical accuracy and high-quality deliverables
• Delegate day-to-day accounting work to junior team members while maintaining oversight
• Support the development of a high-performing finance team
  
  

The Hospitality Controller is expected to act as the technical “first catch” for accounting issues, ensuring accuracy before financial information reaches leadership or clients.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business
• 5+ years of accounting experience, preferably in hospitality or operating businesses
• Strong knowledge of technical accounting principles and financial reporting
• Experience managing month-end close processes and financial statements
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
  
  

Preferred

• Experience supporting hospitality businesses such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, or hospitality groups
• Prior experience supervising or mentoring accounting team members
• CPA or similar professional certification is a plus
  
  

What Success Looks Like

• Hospitality clients receive accurate and timely financial reporting
• Accounting processes are efficient and well-documented
• Communication with clients and internal teams is proactive and professional
• Junior team members manage routine accounting tasks successfully
• The Controller helps onboard new hospitality clients and strengthen financial operations
  
  

Growth Opportunities

This role offers the opportunity to grow with a rapidly expanding finance team. Successful Controllers will play a key role in improving financial processes, supporting client growth, and helping build the hospitality finance services platform at Howard Financial.

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