Director of Finance – Hospitality

Suburban Detroit Hotel/Golf/Conference Center is seeking a Director of Finance. This is a highly visible position that will work closely with Senior Management, Mid-level Management and Ownership. Besides full responsibility for the day-to-day accounting activities of the Complex, this position will require close work with the management group, taking the lead on preparation of the monthly report to ownership, providing financial information to Senior Management and communicating daily with the Management Team.

The position will take the lead in the annual budget process and recommend to Management major objectives and policies for the entire Complex. The Complex currently does a significant amount of Food and Beverage, with more to come with an existing renovation to all of the facilities, including golf, now under way. 

In addition to leading the finance function and making strategic business decisions, this position will:

• Preparation of monthly report to ownership
• Providing financial information to Senior Management and communicating daily with the Management Team.
• Leading annual budget process and recommend to Management major objectives and policies for the entire Complex
• Analyzing of monthly financial statements, investigating any unusual or large budget variances
• Presenting forecasting and financial/operational dashboards to leadership on a consistent basis
• Diagnosing & influencing key drivers of the business, including determining opportunities to streamline operating expense items, payroll costs and other costs
• Providing decision support to leadership through modeling and analysis
• Supporting contract negotiations with resort’s vendors
• Safeguarding hotel resources & assets and risk management assessments
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures and all applicable laws
• Negotiate, administer and monitor contracts with hotel’s vendors
• Create, administer, maintain and enforce legal and finance compliance initiatives 
• Advise management of tax code revisions and desirable operational adjustments
• Prepare annual budgets and monthly forecasts
• Safeguard hotel resources & assets and risk management assessments
• Ensure timely payment & file all federal, state & local sales taxes & fees, payroll and vendor Invoices
• Ensure Management Agreement compliance

Educational Requirements

• 4-year college degree with a preferred emphasis in Finance, Accounting or Hospitality Management
• A minimum of 5 years of progressive Finance management experience
• Proficiency in financial modeling, Microsoft Excel, and other applicable computer systems.
• Budgetary analysis capabilities required
• Must be able to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions
• Previous Hotel/Hospitality financial management preferred

Additional Requirements

• Must commit to representing the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation’s mission
• Willing to work a flexible schedule in order to accomplish all required tasks
• Work with integrity, confidentiality, and discretion
• Conduct self in a most professional manner at all times and treat other team members and third parties with dignity and respect
• Highly organized and has the ability to plan multiple activities and meet deadlines with the
• Display a strong work ethic, drive, and ‘gritty’ determination
• Able to work alone without direct supervision
• Assist with responsibilities and duties in other departments and as assigned by management
• Due to the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, associates may be required to work varying schedules to reflect the business needs of the hotel

About Saint John’s Resort

Saint John’s Resort, the premier resort destination in Detroit features 200 acres of luscious grounds, 118 luxurious hotel rooms, three bars and restaurants – upscale FIVE Steakhouse, The Wine Grotto, and Doyles Pub (opening Summer 2024), and more than 50,000 square feet of unique event and wedding space. With a rich history that dates back to the late 1940s, Saint John’s Resort originally opened its doors as a seminary. After more than 40 years, the seminary closed, and it was re-opened in the late 90s as a retreat center for youth and families, before converting to a conference center and hotel. In 2021, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation acquired the Inn at St. John’s and began converting it into what it is now – Saint John’s Resort. Undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, the property will open an additional 50,000 square feet of meeting space along with a new 18-hole championship golf course, seven-hole Par 3 course, and two-acre putting course. The resort is part of the Pulte Family Foundation’s “Humanitarian Hotels” strategy – undertaking initiatives for employees, guests, and their communities that represent the Foundation’s mission of serving those in need. Additionally, 100% of the net profits from the resort are donated to educational and humanitarian initiatives from Metro Detroit and around the globe. ­

Source: Hospitality Online