General Accountant at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago

Iconic architecture, a thriving culinary scene, beautifully landscaped public spaces and an array of museums are just part of what draws visitors to the Windy City. At The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, a luxury hotel set atop Water Tower Place in the historic Gold Coast, guests will have every chance to explore the city, from shopping along Michigan Avenue to viewing famous works at the Art Institute. Yet with our hotel’s spa, rooftop lounge, locally inspired restaurant, indoor lap pool and spacious accommodations overlooking the city, guests may not want to leave the premises.

As a member of the Accounting team at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, you would play a pivotal part in the guest experience by protecting privacy, security, and the company’s confidential information and assets.

The General Accountant is responsible for maintaining accurate controls, counting and arranging daily deposits. Manages the allocation and receiving of checks and currency to and from outlets and approved individuals. Verify, obtain approvals and pay all invoices from vendors and associates in a timely, accurate manner in accordance with accounting policies and procedures.

• Maintains strict currency management and controls including all banks issued out to departments and associate banks.

• Retrieves remittance envelopes of Front Office and Food and Beverage cashiers from deposit vault and verifies totals.

• Frequently performs bank audit at random.

• Processes all Food and Beverage and Front Office due backs.

• Performs regular change order times for all shifts and maintains proper change denominations.

• May handle guest inquiries and credit card charge-back research. Receive, consolidate and maintain records of all cash and check receipts and transactions.

• Prepare for daily bank deposit and armored-car pick-up.

• Prepare due-backs for and inventory daily deposits from any cash handling associates.

• Immediately reports to management, General Manager and Director of Finance missing deposits, missing cash or deposit discrepancies.

• Ensure sufficient funds are available for daily hotel operation and provide change to hotel staff according to established procedures and standards.

• Verify that purchasing procedures are followed; i.e., purchase order price compared to invoice price, purchase order quantity compared to invoice quantity, ensure that the purchase order number is valid. Maintain an accurate, up-to-date Purchase Order Log.

• Route invoices with Purchase Order attached to Department Heads and Executive Committee members for approval. Ensure account coding is accurate and all invoices are being returned on a timely basis.

• Process all approved invoices for payment --ensure all appropriate signatures and back-up attached. Pay all hotel invoices in a timely manner -ensuring accuracy of amount paid, account coding, invoice extension and that all discounts are taken.

• Handle all vendor inquiries and reconcile vendor statements. Maintain open invoices file, paid invoices file and voided check file in an organized and up-to-date manner. Interface checks and submit a log of all manual checks to the Assistant Controller.

Education/Formal Training

One to two years of post-high school education.

Experience

Accounting background preferred, but not required. Previous hospitality experience preferred. 

Knowledge/Skills

• Requires thorough knowledge of the practices and procedures of the accounting and hospitality professions.
• Requires knowledge of the hotel's and company policies and procedures and the ability to determine course of action based on these guidelines.
• Ability to compile facts and figures.
• Prefer intermediate MicroSoft Office skills. Excel and Word.
• Requires ability to investigate and analyze current activities and/or information involving readily available data and indicating logical conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to make decisions based on general policies and procedures.
• Ability to operate a computer and calculator.
• Must be able to understand and follow verbal/written instructions, communicate both verbally and in writing, utilize analytical thought processes, understand verbal/written technical and mechanical instruction, and be highly organized.
• Must have ability to communicate effectively and courteously with employees, guests and contractors in writing, via telephone and in person.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lifting, carrying of files/papers - typically 10-15 lbs.
• Bending/kneeling required for transporting documents and filing.
• Mobility - must be able to move between offices and hotel and help during an emergency situation.

Environment

Prolonged sitting at indoor, thermostatically climate-controlled work area under florescent lighting

The Perks
• Marriott Discount
• Sage Hotel Discounts Across the US
• Medical, Vision, & Dental Insurance
• Referral Bonus Eligible
• Access to the Sage Savings Spot (Beneplace)