Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Night Auditor Coordinator
💰 $45,000 - $65,000
🎯 Role Definition
The Night Auditor Coordinator is a crucial leadership role at the heart of a hotel's overnight operations. This individual acts as the Manager on Duty during the night shift, taking full responsibility for the safety of guests, the security of the property, and the financial integrity of the business. More than just a numbers person, the Coordinator leads the night team, ensures a seamless guest experience for late arrivals and early departures, and meticulously balances the day's revenue. This position is the critical link between one business day and the next, guaranteeing that the morning management team inherits a clean, balanced, and well-documented operation. Success in this role requires a unique blend of accounting precision, supervisory skills, and exceptional problem-solving abilities.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Night Auditor
- Front Desk Supervisor
- Guest Services Agent (with accounting experience)
Advancement To:
- Front Office Manager
- Assistant General Manager
- Hotel Accountant / Assistant Controller
Lateral Moves:
- Duty Manager
- Reservations Supervisor
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Coordinate and lead the entire night audit process, ensuring all financial transactions from the day are balanced, posted, and reconciled according to hotel accounting standards.
- Supervise and support front desk and night audit staff, providing guidance, resolving escalated issues, and ensuring a productive and positive work environment during the overnight shift.
- Conduct comprehensive audits of all hotel revenue streams, including room charges, food and beverage sales, and miscellaneous income, to guarantee accuracy and completeness.
- Prepare and meticulously compile daily management reports, including occupancy statistics, revenue summaries, and market segment analysis, for distribution to the executive team.
- Act as the Manager on Duty during the overnight hours, making informed decisions and responding effectively to any guest-related issues, emergencies, or operational challenges.
- Train new night auditors and front desk agents on hotel procedures, property management systems (PMS), and emergency protocols to maintain a high standard of service and safety.
- Perform all end-of-day functions within the PMS, including running system back-ups, processing credit card settlements, and rolling the business date forward.
- Handle guest check-ins and check-outs during the night shift, providing exceptional service and resolving any billing inquiries or disputes with professionalism and courtesy.
- Monitor hotel security and safety overnight, conducting property walks, addressing any suspicious activity, and serving as the primary point of contact for emergency services.
- Ensure the accuracy of the guest ledger and city ledger accounts, posting charges and credits as necessary and investigating any variances.
- Manage room inventory and availability for the following day, processing no-shows, and preparing for early morning arrivals to ensure a smooth transition to the day shift.
- Maintain and update the night audit checklist and procedural documentation to ensure consistency and compliance across the team.
- Communicate all pertinent information, unresolved issues, and special requests from the overnight shift to the incoming morning management team via detailed pass-on logs or direct handover.
- Process and verify advance deposits and reservations, ensuring all future bookings are accurate and properly guaranteed.
- Respond promptly to guest requests, complaints, and inquiries, empowering the team to resolve issues at the first point of contact whenever possible.
- Uphold all hotel policies and procedures, particularly those related to cash handling, credit, and financial controls, to protect company assets.
- Reconcile and drop cash and credit card payments from all shifts, preparing a detailed cash deposit report for the accounting department.
- Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies by liaising with other departments and reviewing transaction histories to ensure guest satisfaction and financial accuracy.
Secondary Functions
- Generate and analyze specific financial or operational reports upon request from the Front Office Manager or Director of Finance.
- Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement within the night audit and front office operations to enhance efficiency and guest service.
- Assist in the scheduling of night audit staff and managing shift coverage to ensure the front desk is always adequately staffed.
- Serve as the central communication hub for the hotel overnight, handling incoming calls, and directing information to the appropriate departments or personnel.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- Property Management System (PMS) Proficiency: Expertise in hotel PMS software such as Opera, FOSSE, OnQ, or similar systems is essential for daily operations.
- Night Audit & Accounting Procedures: Deep understanding of end-of-day financial processes, general ledger posting, and revenue reconciliation.
- Financial Reporting: Ability to prepare, analyze, and interpret daily operational and financial reports with a high degree of accuracy.
- Microsoft Excel: Advanced proficiency for creating reports, tracking data, and performing analysis.
- Cash Handling & Credit Protocols: Strict adherence to cash management procedures and PCI compliance for credit card processing.
- Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems: Familiarity with POS systems used in hotel outlets (restaurants, bars, gift shops) to audit and reconcile sales.
Soft Skills
- Leadership & Supervision: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and mentor a small team in an unsupervised, overnight environment.
- Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution: Exceptional skill in identifying issues, analyzing situations, and making sound decisions to resolve guest and operational challenges calmly and effectively.
- Meticulous Attention to Detail: An exacting eye for detail to ensure every financial transaction is accurate and all reports are flawless.
- Autonomy & Self-Motivation: The ability to work independently with minimal supervision, manage time effectively, and stay productive throughout the night shift.
- Communication Skills: Clear, professional, and concise communication, both written (for reports and logs) and verbal (with guests and staff).
- Poise Under Pressure: A calm and composed demeanor when handling emergencies, difficult guests, or unexpected operational failures.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
Preferred Education:
Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Hospitality Management
- Accounting or Finance
- Business Administration
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
2-4 years of progressive experience in hotel front office or accounting roles.
Preferred:
A minimum of 1-2 years of experience in a Night Auditor role, with at least one year in a supervisory or lead capacity. Direct experience acting as a Manager on Duty is highly desirable.