Vice President of Finance
Location: East Tennessee
Salary: $200,000–$220,000 + annual bonus
Job Type: Full-Time, Executive Leadership
Relocation: Yes
The Opportunity
An iconic, independently owned luxury hospitality organization in East Tennessee is seeking a strategic and highly accomplished Vice President of Finance to lead its financial operations and serve as a trusted partner to ownership and executive leadership.
This is a CFO-level opportunity within a sophisticated, multi-faceted hospitality environment encompassing luxury accommodations, food and beverage, wellness, retail, events, recreation and residential operations.
The Vice President of Finance will provide enterprise-wide financial leadership while remaining closely connected to the day-to-day realities of hospitality operations. The ideal candidate will combine technical financial expertise with sound business judgment, executive presence and a genuine appreciation for exceptional hospitality.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership
- Oversee accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, tax compliance and internal controls
- Lead month-end and year-end close processes
- Manage external audits, tax relationships and regulatory reporting
- Oversee cash flow, banking relationships, liquidity planning and working capital
- Maintain accurate, timely and actionable financial reporting
Strategic Business Partnership
- Partner directly with ownership and executive leadership on business strategy
- Develop long-range financial and strategic plans
- Present financial results, risks and recommendations to executives, owners, lenders and other stakeholders
- Support acquisitions, expansions, new business initiatives and major capital investments
- Translate complex financial information into clear operational recommendations
Financial Planning and Analysis
- Lead annual operating and capital budgeting
- Develop multi-year forecasts and financial models
- Conduct scenario planning, variance analysis and business-performance reviews
- Establish meaningful KPIs and executive dashboards
- Provide actionable insight into business trends, risks and opportunities
Hospitality Operations
- Partner with operational leaders across Rooms, Food & Beverage, Spa, Wellness, Recreation, Retail, Events and Catering
- Evaluate departmental profitability and operating performance
- Support improvements in EBITDA, margins, labor productivity and flow-through
- Analyze ADR, occupancy, revenue per occupied room and other hospitality performance indicators
- Ensure financial strategies support an elevated guest experience
Capital Planning
- Oversee major capital expenditure programs
- Develop and manage annual and long-term capital budgets
- Evaluate ROI for renovations, technology investments and new business initiatives
- Support financial due diligence and post-investment performance analysis
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary finance organization, including accounting, payroll, accounts payable and FP&A
- Build a high-performing, accountable and service-oriented team
- Establish succession plans and professional-development opportunities
- Lead organizational change, process improvement and financial transformation initiatives
Systems and Technology
- Implement or optimize ERP, accounting and financial-reporting systems
- Partner with operational teams using PMS, POS and revenue-management platforms
- Advance the use of business intelligence, automation and financial dashboards
- Improve efficiency, accuracy and accessibility of financial information
Risk Management and Compliance
- Maintain strong internal controls and financial-governance practices
- Oversee audits, tax compliance, contracts and financial-risk assessment
- Support insurance strategy, including various business coverages and captive insurance programs
- Partner with technology and operational leaders on cybersecurity and enterprise risk
Qualifications
- 10–15+ years of progressive financial leadership experience
- At least five years in a senior finance leadership role such as Controller, Director of Finance, Vice President of Finance or CFO
- Experience within luxury hotels, resorts, clubs or complex hospitality organizations
- Demonstrated success partnering with a CEO, President, ownership group or board
- Strong command of accounting, FP&A, treasury, tax, audits, cash-flow management and internal controls
- Experience leading significant capital planning and investment analysis
- Proven ability to improve profitability, EBITDA and operating performance
- Experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary finance teams
- Advanced financial modeling, Excel and business-intelligence capabilities
- Experience implementing or optimizing financial systems and reporting processes
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or a related field
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA, MBA or other advanced financial credential
- Public accounting experience
- Experience within an independently owned or family-owned organization
- Multi-entity or diversified business experience
- Exposure to acquisitions, real estate, residential operations or expansion projects
- Experience with captive insurance programs
- Background within luxury, lifestyle or Relais & Châteaux-caliber hospitality
Please send resumes to: stacymp@geckohospitality.com