Director of Finance - Virginia Guest House (Charlottesville, VA)
Pre-Opening University of Virginia
About the Property
Opening in January 2026, Virginia Guest House is a newly constructed, 214-room hotel and conference center located on the historic grounds of the University of Virginia. Featuring 25,000 square feet of meeting space, a full-service restaurant, Grab & Go Café, and a rooftop bar, this high-profile property is poised to become a hub for academic conferences, alumni gatherings, and university events. This is a unique opportunity to join Pyramid Global Hospitality's growing portfolio and play a critical role on the Executive Leadership Team, supporting both the successful launch and long-term financial performance of a destination that will serve the university, community, and visitors alike.
The Opportunity
As Director of Finance, you will oversee all aspects of financial planning, analysis, reporting, and controls for this complex, full-service hotel. Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with Pyramid's Regional Director of Finance and Senior VP of Hotel Accounting, you'll play a hands-on role in establishing financial procedures from the ground up during the pre-opening phase, then lead the ongoing financial strategy once operational.
Key Responsibilities
Lead all finance and accounting functions including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, cash flow, payroll, and audits.
Support the pre-opening process by building internal financial SOPs, setting up systems, and partnering on vendor selection and contract reviews.
Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial reports: monthly P&L, balance sheet reconciliations, forecasts, and ownership reports.
Develop and manage internal controls for all areas of hotel operation: F&B, payroll, purchasing, credit, inventory, and cash handling.
Partner with the hotel's Executive Team to monitor key performance indicators and help departments align financial goals with operational strategy.
Maintain compliance with GAAP, FLSA, and Pyramid SOPs, as well as federal, state, and local financial regulations.
Collaborate with corporate and ownership stakeholders to provide transparency into the hotel's financial performance and future projections.
Recruit, train, and manage the hotel's finance team (A/P, A/R, and payroll), with a focus on mentorship and career development.
Contribute to the Executive Committee, providing strategic insights and financial stewardship to guide business decisions.
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Hospitality Management required; CPA preferred.
Minimum 3 years of hotel accounting leadership experience, including at least 1 year as Director of Finance/Controller in a full-service hotel or conference center.
Pre-opening experience strongly preferred; must be comfortable building systems and structure from scratch.
Experience managing financial operations across multi-outlet departments (e.g., rooms, banquets, catering, restaurant, bar, retail).
Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with hotel systems (PMS, POS, and back-office platforms).
Strong communication and organizational skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced, university-driven environment with diverse stakeholders.
A collaborative, hands-on leader who values team development, process improvement, and operational excellence.
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