Chief Accountant

Job Description

Department: Finance & Accounting

Property: Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Chief Accountant to join the Finance team at Radisson Beach Resort Palm Jumeirah. The Chief Accountant will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day accounting operations of the hotel, ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, timely month-end closing, and compliance with UAE statutory and hotel financial policies.

The ideal candidate should have strong UAE hospitality/hotel accounting experience, excellent knowledge of hotel finance operations, and hands-on experience with Opera PMS, POS systems, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Income Audit, General Ledger, Cost Control and financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

1. General Accounting

• Manage and supervise the day-to-day accounting activities of the hotel.
• Maintain accurate and complete accounting records in accordance with company and hotel policies.
• Review and post journal entries, accruals, provisions, prepayments and adjustments.
• Monitor General Ledger accounts and ensure all balances are properly reconciled.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment and classification of all financial transactions.
• Review the trial balance and investigate unusual or outstanding balances.
• Maintain the hotel chart of accounts and ensure correct account coding.

2. Month-End & Year-End Closing

• Lead the monthly financial closing process within the required deadlines.
• Prepare and review month-end journals, accruals, provisions and reconciliations.
• Ensure all revenue, expenses and liabilities are recorded in the correct accounting period.
• Prepare schedules and supporting documents for month-end reporting.
• Assist in annual budgeting, forecasting and year-end closing activities.
• Coordinate with the Director of Finance during monthly and annual financial reporting.

3. Hotel Revenue & Income Audit

• Review daily hotel revenue generated from rooms, F&B, banquets, events and other operating departments.
• Review daily revenue reports from Opera PMS and POS systems.
• Ensure all revenue is accurately captured, reconciled and posted.
• Review the Daily Revenue Report and investigate discrepancies.
• Coordinate with the Income Auditor and Front Office/F&B teams regarding revenue variances.
• Ensure cash, credit card, city ledger and other payment transactions are properly reconciled.

4. Accounts Receivable

• Supervise Accounts Receivable activities and ensure timely collection of outstanding balances.
• Review guest and company ledger balances.
• Monitor credit accounts and follow up on overdue receivables.
• Ensure proper posting and reconciliation of credit card and city ledger transactions.
• Review AR ageing reports and highlight long-outstanding balances to management.
• Coordinate with Sales, Reservations and Front Office teams regarding credit-related issues.

5. Accounts Payable

• Review supplier invoices, payment requests and supporting documentation.
• Ensure invoices are properly approved, coded and recorded.
• Monitor supplier balances and AP ageing.
• Review payment runs and ensure payments are processed accurately and on time.
• Reconcile supplier statements and resolve discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with approved purchasing and payment procedures.

6. Bank & Balance Sheet Reconciliation

• Prepare and review monthly bank reconciliations.
• Reconcile balance sheet accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Monitor outstanding cheques, deposits, transfers and other reconciling items.
• Maintain proper supporting documentation for all reconciliations.

7. Financial Reporting

• Prepare accurate monthly financial statements and management reports.
• Assist in preparation of hotel financial reports in accordance with corporate standards.
• Provide financial analysis and explanations for significant variances.
• Prepare departmental expense and revenue analysis.
• Support the Director of Finance with financial information required for management decisions.

8. Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist in preparation of the annual hotel budget.
• Support monthly forecasting and reforecasting activities.
• Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast.
• Analyze revenue, payroll and operating expense variances.
• Provide recommendations to improve financial performance and cost efficiency.

9. VAT & UAE Compliance

• Ensure accounting records and transactions comply with UAE VAT requirements.
• Assist with VAT calculations, reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with external auditors and tax consultants when required.
• Ensure compliance with UAE statutory accounting and reporting requirements.
• Maintain proper records for audit and tax purposes.

10. Internal Controls & Audit

• Maintain strong financial controls across all hotel departments.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, procedures and corporate finance standards.
• Identify control weaknesses and recommend corrective actions.
• Coordinate internal and external audit requirements.
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documents.
• Follow up on audit observations and ensure timely implementation of corrective actions.

Key Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• 5–8+ years of accounting experience, preferably within a hotel or resort environment.
• Minimum 3 years of UAE hospitality/hotel accounting experience is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of hotel accounting operations.
• Hands-on experience with Opera PMS and hotel POS systems is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of General Ledger, Income Audit, AP, AR, bank reconciliation and month-end closing.
• Good knowledge of UAE VAT and statutory requirements.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Previous supervisory or team leadership experience is required.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict financial reporting deadlines.