Controller
Job Description Job Description Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) provides a positively rewarding, fast-paced environment in a competitive industry where a highly motivated driven individual will thrive. We serve as the global sales and marketing extension to a carefully curated portfolio of more than 250 of the world's most distinguished independent luxury hotels and resorts, cruise lines and destination management companies. Our team of nearly 80 professionals in 26 offices across North America and Europe is dedicated to delivering personalized service to our clients within the meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition marketplace. Working in tandem with our exclusive membership, ALHI provides unparalleled solutions for meeting and event professionals by identifying and presenting myriad options based on desired attributes that create successful programs, for our clients and their audiences. With hospitality and service at our core, ALHI serves as stewards for the hospitality and meetings industry, sharing best practices, connecting people, and fostering innovation to empower our community. Position: Controller Job Summary: The Controller is a senior accounting leader responsible for ALHI's full corporate financial operations. Reporting directly to the CFO, this role owns the complete accounting cycle including monthly close, financial reporting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll accounting, cash management, and internal controls for a corporate sales organization. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires both technical accounting depth and the organizational awareness to support a geographically distributed team. The Controller ensures the books are accurate, the controls are tight, and the CFO has the financial clarity needed to make confident decisions and support ALHI's member hotel relationships and ownership with confidence Supervisory Responsibilities: Oversees the operations of the Accounting Department, which include accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, and payroll. Oversees training programs and identifies training needs. Duties/Responsibilities: Financial Reporting and Month-End Close Own the full monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness across all revenue and expense lines. Prepare and deliver consolidated income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and variance analysis to the CFO on a consistent close calendar. Maintain a clean general ledger with well-supported account reconciliations, journal entries, and workpapers. Prepare complete and accurate internal financial reporting packages, income statements, variance analysis, cash summaries, and supporting schedules, and deliver them to the CFO for review, commentary, and distribution to leadership. Revenue and Membership Accounting Manage the recognition and recording of membership dues, contract fees, and other revenue streams in accordance with GAAP. Oversee billing and accounts receivable for member hotel fees and other contractual arrangements, ensuring timely invoicing and proactive collections follow-up. Maintain accurate deferred revenue schedules and ensure revenue recognition is applied consistently and defensibly across all contract types. Partner with sales and membership leadership to ensure financial terms of member agreements are accurately reflected in the accounting system. Accounts Payable and Expense Management Oversee the full AP function including vendor setup, invoice processing, payment runs, and expense report review. Manage corporate credit card programs, travel and entertainment policies, and reimbursement workflows. Monitor discretionary spending against budget and flag material variances to the CFO on a timely basis. Ensure vendor contracts are accurately reflected in AP and that all payment obligations are met within agreed terms. Payroll Accounting Coordinate with HR and payroll providers to ensure payroll is accurately recorded, allocated, and reconciled to the general ledger each period. Track and accrue earned but unpaid compensation liabilities and ensure payroll tax obligations are met across all states where ALHI has employees. Serve as the internal resource for questions related to payroll coding and compensation accruals. Cash Management and Treasury Manage daily cash positioning, bank reconciliations, and short-term liquidity forecasting. Maintain banking relationships and ensure accurate cash reporting for CFO review and decision-making. Monitor cash against operating needs and flag potential shortfalls or excess positions proactively. Internal Controls and Compliance Design, document, and enforce internal controls across all accounting functions appropriate for a corporate services organization. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax obligations including multi-state payroll tax, sales and use tax where applicable, and annual income tax filings in coordination with the CFO and external advisors. Own the preparation and organization of all audit and tax workpapers, schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation, delivering complete and accurate packages to the CFO who leads external engagements with auditors and tax advisors. Anticipate auditor and advisor requests, resolve open items proactively, and ensure the CFO is never in a position of chasing down supporting materials. Maintain accounting policies and procedures documentation and enforce consistency in how transactions are recorded and classified. Systems and Process Improvement Serve as the functional owner of the accounting ERP, ensuring data integrity, chart of accounts hygiene, and system configuration meet reporting needs. Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual effort, shorten close timelines, and improve reporting accuracy. Evaluate automation opportunities in AP, expense reporting, and reconciliation workflows. Train and support accounting staff or shared service resources on systems, policies, and procedures. Strategic Support and CFO Partnership Support the CFO in preparing board materials, budget-to-actual commentary, and financial projections. Contribute to the annual budgeting process by providing historical data, trend analysis, and corporate expense modeling. Serve as a trusted financial resource for department heads seeking clarity on budget status, expense coding, or financial policy. Qualifications & Experience 6 to 10 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a Controller, Assistant Controller, or senior accounting leadership role. Strong technical GAAP knowledge including revenue recognition, accrual accounting, and financial statement preparation. Experience managing full-cycle accounting operations in a corporate, professional services, or sales organization environment. Demonstrated ERP proficiency required; experience with NetSuite, Sage Intacct, SAP, or a comparable platform is expected. Experience preparing comprehensive audit and tax workpapers and supporting materials, enabling senior leadership to manage external relationships efficiently. Hands-on operator who is equally comfortable reviewing journal entries and preparing thorough, well-organized financial packages for CFO review. High attention to detail with a track record of maintaining clean, audit-ready financials. Preferred CPA designation preferred but not required for the right candidate with equivalent experience. Experience in a membership organization, association, professional services firm, hospitality, marketing agency or sales-driven business. Background in building or strengthening accounting infrastructure in a growing or scaling organization. Exposure to the hospitality, travel, or MICE industry is a plus but not required. Leadership and Interpersonal Skills Clear communicator who can translate financial results and accounting concepts for non-finance colleagues and senior leadership. Collaborative and service-oriented; this role supports a sales-driven organization and must be responsive to the pace of the business. High integrity, low ego, and a genuine commitment to accuracy and transparency. Team-oriented with a desire to develop others and contribute to a positive finance culture. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times. Able to travel as needed. Salary at ALHI is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual’s particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as organizational requirements. Benefits offered, but not limited to: Generous Bonus Structure Medical & Drug Vision & Dental Health Savings Account / Flex Spending 20 days of PTO 12 Holidays EAP 401(K) Retirement Plan with Match Contribution STD/LTD Life and Voluntary Life Insurances Employee Discounts ALHI is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation, or related medical conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local, or international law.
