Assistant Director of Finance

About Four Seasons
Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.

At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.

About the location:
The Four Seasons Hotel Taipei is a new build standalone 250-room luxury hotel with a total gross floor area of approximately 35,000m2 located in Xinyi District directly opposite Taipei 101, one of the most iconic skyscrapers in Asia.

The Hotel will offer the very best in events, wellness, and leisure with myriad amenities throughout the 31-storey building. Dining venues at the Hotel will include a high-end Chinese restaurant, destination bar, specialty restaurant, all-day restaurant, pool bar and lobby lounge. Surrounded by expansive glass paneling on both sides of the floor-to-ceiling design allows guests to look out across the cityscape, as well as up at the incredible presence of Taipei 101.

Essential Functions:

• Maintain harmonious and professional relationships with all departments and Home Office.
• Comply with and enforce Four Seasons' Category One and Category Two Work Rules and Standards of Conduct as set forth in Empact.
• Plan, organize, lead and control different projects and activities within the finance team.
• Identify coaching moments and ensure that those moments become opportunities of learning and development for the Finance team.
• Establish a rapport with the Finance team and other divisions within the hotel.
• Have a global working perspective and excellent communication skills – written and verbal.
• Great understanding of Self-Esteem and Self-Actualization of Team and ensure proper support and help is provided whenever needed.
• Have the ability to supervise the day-to-day duties of the Finance team and assist as necessary.
• Hold monthly department meetings with Accounting Staff to ensure communication and address any issues that are affecting the team.
• Participate in and develop staff training programs in order to minimize staff turnover and maintain high morale. Particular emphasis should be given to those individuals qualifying for future advancement.
• Supervise, train and motivate department staff to thoroughly understand all of their duties and responsibilities.
• Meet with the Director of Finance on a regular basis to communicate all accounting activities and results of the Accounting office meeting or any other related issues.
• Actively network within the community to attract potential candidates for recruitment purposes.
• Prepare reviews and development plans and take appropriate personnel-related action (i.e. hire, commend, discipline, evaluate, etc.) with Accounting staff as required.
• Conduct self in a professional manner at all times.
• Thoroughly understand and possess a working knowledge of the Accounting & Finance Manual.
• Excellent understanding of Month-End Process including, but not limited to, preparation of financial statements, accruals and journal entries, maintain reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts in established corporate formats and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
• Great attention to detail along with a continuous innovation of daily working of the Finance team under the direction of the Director of Finance.
• Coordinate, observe and prepare all operating equipment and supply inventories in accordance with corporate policies and as directed by the Director of Finance.
• Prepare Daily Cash Position report and maintain the highest level of investment of excess funds in accordance with corporate guidelines as prescribed in the Accounting & Finance Manual.
• Assist the Director of Finance in preparation of all budgets and forecasts.
• Excellent understanding of the current Edition of USALI.
• Prepare or oversee the preparation of all local, state and federal tax returns and other reporting (including 80-20 rule reporting) on a timely basis.
• Ensure rent expense is calculated accurately per the terms of the Management Agreement, Leasehold Agreement or Easement Agreement and that payments are made or the outstanding liability for the rent accrual exists and is accurate.
• Ensure the outstanding liability for all revenue/profit related fees (i.e. Management Fees, Incentive Fees, Marketing Fees, Advertising Fees, Royalty Fees) is accurate and complies with the respective Management Agreement(s).
• Ensure electronic payments have the signatory of a member of Group B on each individual page and the initials of a member of Group A and both members of Group A and B sign the Batch Total of the payment run.
• Ensure strict access controls over unused cheques to prevent improper or unauthorized use of the documents and ensure there is segregation of duties in place to safeguard the writing and voiding of negotiable bank cheques.
• Ensure accurate exchange rates in Financial Reporting are applied to the local currency (where applicable) and valued in the currency stipulated in the Management Agreement.
• Ensure post-departure credit card credit allowances are performed only by accounting and all such allowances are reviewed and signed per the SR-5 by Director of Finance or Assistant Director of Finance and all "Unmatched Credits" reports provided by credit card processing company are reviewed/scrutinized by DOF monthly and retained by the Director of Finance.
• Approve all journal entries with supporting documentation (as appropriate) and ensure all non-standard, non-recurring entries are countersigned by Director of Finance.
• Ensure the system is set up to prevent month end closing without all journal entries being posted, updated or otherwise entered into the General Ledger.
• Ensure that monthly reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts are prepared and all bank reconciliations are countersigned by Director of Finance on a monthly and on a quarterly basis; Director of Finance approves all reconciliations paying special attention to reconciling items.
• Coordinate and facilitate external and internal audits.
• As required, have a working knowledge of residential (or other entity) accounting procedures and how it affects the hotel's financials.
• Continuously strive for improvement of processes and efficiency.
• Monitor and control expenses of the hotel paying special attention to the daily reporting done by the auditor of the hotel and addressing issues that not only have material effect, but also effect the guest experience.
• Ensure that House Funds and Floats Counts are up to date and limit any kind of exposure that would affect the profitability.
• Assist the Director of Finance in Forecasting/Budgeting.
• Ensure gains/losses on the sale/disposal of fixed assets are properly disclosed and recorded on the Statement of Changes in financial position (SR-25 where applicable) and on the P&L statement.
• For locations that maintain full balance sheets including fixed assets, ensure accumulated depreciation accounts are accurate and properly recorded.

Non-essential Functions:

• To assist the Director of Finance in the administration of all financial aspects of the hotel's operation.
• To ensure that all local and corporate policies and procedures are observed, and
• To supervise the day-to-day operation of the Accounting office.

Knowledge And Skills:
Education:

• University degree – major in accounting or finance preferred; exception must be approved by Senior Vice President, Operations Finance.

Experience:

• From three to five years of experience in the related position with Four Seasons or other organization.

Skills And Abilities:

• Proven leadership skills in a Hotel/Resort environment.
• Highest level of integrity and transparency.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills to work with cross-functional teams; negotiate for resources and influence stakeholders and to gain acceptance of and commitment to plans, ideas, initiatives, etc.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Chinese language to prepare and deliver reports, effective presentations and to facilitate meetings.
• Promote a continuous learning environment that creates an atmosphere for professional development opportunities.
• Apply an ethical approach to influence the outcome of situations.
• Serve as a role model for others by demonstrating appropriate business conduct and ethical principles.
• Continuously seek to improve/develop the performance of others and continuously strive to improve his/her own performance.
• Work in a safe, prudent and organized manner.
• Require a working technical knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, Four Seasons Internal Controls, Policies and Procedures and job knowledge of all positions in Accounting, Purchasing and Food & Beverage control. Working knowledge is generally learned on the job or through a series of professional certifications.
• Require knowledge of and the ability to operate computer equipment and excellent Excel and computer skills. Sun, iScala and Opera Systems knowledge would be ideal and greatly valued.
• Strategic, analytical and solid business acumen.