Conference Paper

Which comes first for hotel financial controllers: Hospitality or accounting?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify the key competencies required of hotel financial controllers (HFCs), both managerial and technical, and the importance of hospitality education and experience to their roles. Data from a longitudinal study of this type of manager has been analysed, gathered via a content analysis of job advertisements and a survey of UK HFCs. The findings show that although there are many similarities with the generic accounting profession, the hotel finance role is unique, combining technical skills with hospitality management competencies to support operational managers. Their understanding of the complexity of the operation, in a dynamic and perishable environment, enables HFCs to act as business advisors to other managers, thereby enhancing profitability on behalf of stakeholders. Implications for both industry and education include the need for further promotion of hospitality finance as a valid career, with the opportunity to gain further professional qualifications whilst working.

Attached files

Authors

Burgess, C

Oxford Brookes departments

Faculty of Business\Oxford School of Hospitality and Management

Dates

Year of publication: 2016
Date of RADAR deposit: 2016-08-17

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License