Lead Senior Accounting Controller

About the job

About The Role We are seeking a Lead Senior Accounting Controller with strong hospitality and hotel accounting experience to join our team. This role is responsible for overseeing monthly financial deliverables, managing day-to-day accounting operations, and leading a dedicated accounting team to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and timely reporting. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in hotel or complex hospitality environments, operates comfortably at both the strategic and operational levels, and partners closely with hotel leadership to support business objectives. What You’ll Do • Lead all monthly accounting deliverables, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and consistency • Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, and cash management • Manage daily task assignments and workflows for the accounting team, ensuring scope of work is completed on time • Drive month-end close efficiency and continuous process improvement • Serve as the primary point of contact for hotel communications, translating financial information into clear, actionable insights • Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reporting packages • Perform variance analysis and collaborate with hotel leadership to explain financial results • Support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning • Ensure compliance with accounting standards, tax regulations, and hospitality industry best practices • Assist with audit preparation and coordination with external auditors • Support a smooth transition alongside an in-house Senior Controller, ensuring alignment of processes and controls • Mentor and develop junior accounting staff, reinforcing strong hospitality accounting practices Qualifications • Hospitality accounting experience is required — hotel or complex controller experience managing daily accounting operations and month-end close • 5+ years of experience in a Lead Controller or Senior Controller role • Proven experience in hospitality, hotel, or mixed-use property accounting environments • Industry ERP experience (M3 preferred) • Advanced Excel skills required • Strong leadership, organization, and task management skills • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA preferred)

Requirements

• Hospitality accounting experience
• Leadership skills
• Advanced Excel skills
• Communication skills

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in a Lead Controller or Senior Controller role

Preferred Technologies

• Hospitality accounting experience
• Leadership skills
• Advanced Excel skills
• Communication skills

About the company

About Howard Financial At Howard, we're more than just an accounting and finance firm—we’re a group of curious, collaborative, and driven people who thrive on helping businesses grow with clarity and confidence. Our team is made up of bookkeepers, accountants, controllers, and FP&A pros who care deeply about the quality of their work and the people they work with. We support an amazing portfolio of clients across real estate, hospitality, consumer products, and beyond—delivering everything from day-to-day bookkeeping and treasury support to financial modeling and investor reporting. But what truly sets us apart is our team-first culture. We’re big on transparency, ownership, and working smart. We keep things human and hands-on—supporting each other and our clients like true partners.