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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Income Auditor

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

AccountingFinanceHospitality

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires a meticulous and analytical Income Auditor to join our finance team. In this pivotal role, you will be the guardian of our property's revenue streams, ensuring every dollar is accurately captured, recorded, and reconciled. You will serve as a key link between our operational departments and the accounting office, responsible for auditing the daily work of all revenue-generating areas to maintain financial integrity and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented professional with a strong background in hotel accounting or night audit, who thrives in a deadline-driven environment and is committed to upholding the highest standards of accuracy.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Night Auditor
  • Accounts Receivable / Accounts Payable Clerk
  • Front Office Supervisor

Advancement To:

  • Assistant Financial Controller
  • Hotel Controller / Director of Finance
  • Regional Director of Finance

Lateral Moves:

  • General Accountant
  • Financial Analyst (Hospitality)
  • Credit Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform a comprehensive daily audit of all revenue transactions from hotel systems, including the Property Management System (PMS), Point of Sale (POS) systems, and spa/golf management software.
  • Prepare, balance, and distribute the Daily Revenue Report (DRR), providing a clear and accurate summary of all revenue, statistics, and cash/credit card settlements for executive management.
  • Verify and reconcile all revenue streams, including Rooms, Food & Beverage, Banquets, Spa, and other ancillary outlets, ensuring all sales are properly posted and accounted for.
  • Audit and reconcile the guest ledger, city ledger, and deposit ledger daily, ensuring all balances are accurate and taking corrective action on any discrepancies.
  • Ensure all charges, adjustments, corrections, and miscellaneous postings are properly documented, approved, and processed in accordance with hotel policy.
  • Reconcile daily cash, credit card, and other payment settlements from all outlets, investigating and resolving any variances between system reports and bank deposits.
  • Review and verify the accuracy of the night audit reports and system rollover, ensuring all statistical and financial data is correct.
  • Monitor and audit the hotel's complimentary, house-use, and discounted room policies, ensuring proper authorization and reporting.
  • Prepare and post journal entries related to daily revenue, settlements, and adjustments to the general ledger.
  • Conduct audits of banquet event orders (BEOs) against actual charges, ensuring all services and items are billed correctly to the client.
  • Monitor paid-outs, rebates, and other allowances, ensuring they are properly supported and authorized.
  • Track and reconcile advanced deposits for group bookings and individual reservations, ensuring they are applied correctly upon guest arrival.
  • Perform surprise cash counts for front desk and outlet cashiers, ensuring compliance with cash handling procedures.
  • Maintain a sequential log and ensure the completeness of all dockets, checks, and revenue-related forms.
  • Ensure all tax calculations (e.g., occupancy tax, sales tax) are correct on guest folios and outlet checks, and reconcile tax liability accounts.
  • Review and balance the accounts receivable transfers from the guest ledger to the city ledger, ensuring accuracy of billing information.
  • Assist in the preparation of monthly financial statements by ensuring all revenue-related accounts are reconciled and accurate before month-end close.
  • Identify weaknesses in internal controls related to revenue processes and recommend improvements to management.
  • Ensure the timely and accurate reporting of all statistical information, including occupancy, average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR).
  • Liaise with department heads to investigate and resolve revenue posting discrepancies and provide guidance on correct procedures.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist the Financial Controller with month-end closing activities, including the preparation of accruals and balance sheet reconciliations.
  • Provide crucial support during internal and external financial audits by preparing schedules and providing necessary documentation.
  • Train front office, F&B, and other operational staff on proper cash handling, billing, and revenue posting procedures to minimize errors.
  • Participate in the development and implementation of new financial policies and procedures to enhance operational efficiency and control.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • PMS Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of hotel Property Management Systems (PMS) such as Opera, Fidelio, OnQ, or Lightspeed.
  • POS Expertise: Experience with hospitality Point of Sale (POS) systems like Micros Simphony, Agilysys, or Toast.
  • Advanced Excel Skills: Mastery of Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, SUMIFs, and complex formulas for data analysis and reporting.
  • Accounting Principles: Solid understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI).
  • Financial Reconciliation: Proven ability to perform complex reconciliations of ledgers, cash, and credit card accounts with exceptional accuracy.
  • General Ledger Knowledge: Familiarity with general ledger accounting and the month-end closing process.
  • Data Analysis: Ability to analyze large sets of transactional data to identify trends, errors, and potential fraud.
  • Reporting Skills: Competency in preparing clear, concise, and accurate financial reports for management.

Soft Skills

  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and detail-oriented approach to ensure the absolute accuracy of financial data.
  • Analytical & Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to effectively investigate, diagnose, and resolve financial discrepancies.
  • Time Management & Organization: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet strict daily deadlines.
  • Integrity & Discretion: High level of personal integrity and the ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
  • Communication Skills: Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills to collaborate with diverse teams and department heads.
  • Independence: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining high performance standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate's Degree or equivalent professional certification in Accounting or a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field of study.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Hospitality Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of progressive experience in an accounting or finance role.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience as an Income Auditor, Night Auditor, or Accountant within a hotel or resort environment is highly preferred. Experience in a multi-outlet, full-service property is a significant advantage.
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