Click on a job-type below for a general job description
Accounting
Within the accounting office of any business, there are many job opportunities.
The accounting office is the core of the business operation. How money
comes in--how money goes out-is the difference between profit and loss.
Ultimately, the success of the business is dependent on the skills of the
accounting team. The
Controller is
responsible for the entire accounting office. He or she must monitor the
daily activities of each accounting employee, as well as establishing and
maintaining a uniform system of controls. Completion of the company's
Financial Statements (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, General Ledger, etc.) must
be presented to ownership and/or upper management. Budgeting, Forecasting
and Cash Flow Analysis are among the other responsibilities of the Controller.
The Accounts Payable
Clerk is
responsible for maintaining precise records on the bills incurred by the
business, whether or not they have been approved by department heads and/or the
controller, when they are due for payment and keeping a ledger of how long
unpaid bills are kept in the system (aging of accounts). The
Accounts Receivable Clerk
is responsible for maintaining precise records on all debts owed to the
company by its customers. Much like the duties of the accounts payable
clerk, the accounts receivable clerk must maintain a ledger of how long unpaid
customer accounts are being kept in the system and must make recommendations as
to how to collect past due balances from customers. In the case of
accounts past due for more than ninety days, many companies require more
aggressive collection practices, such as contracting with outside collection
firms, reporting unpaid customer balances to the credit bureau, etc. The
Payroll clerk is
responsible for maintaining records on all employees (those currently employed,
as well as former employees). Payroll files must include important
government documents (I-9, W-4, L-4, etc.), copies of valid state identification
and social security card, date of hire, rate of pay, department and job
description, among many other possible company requirements. With the
information maintained in payroll files, the payroll clerk produces paychecks
for all company employees, based on the established policies.
Payroll records are confidential, therefore, employees in this department
must not share any information regarding company employees--past or
present--with anyone. The
Night Auditor,
who actually works at the front desk of a hotel, is primarily responsible to the
Accounting Office. As part of the night audit routine, the night auditor
has the task of balancing all the accounting paperwork which occurs in each
revenue center (the hotel's front desk, the restaurant(s), lounge(s), gift shop,
etc.), by reviewing all the cash register and bank deposit reports submitted by
each department. If you are good with general accounting functions such as
balancing your checkbook, and you enjoy this type of work, the position of night
auditor may be a great point of entry for you.
Maintenance
The maintenance department is responsible for maintaining the entire physical
plant of the business, ensuring that the property is safe, secure, and in good
working order, and that costs for chemicals, supplies and energy are kept
within the department's operating budget. The
Chief Engineer
or
Maintenance Supervisor
is the department head responsible for a large team of professionals who
help--in the background--to keep a business running smoothly. Within the
Maintenance Department, you will find a variety of jobs, including:
Plumbers
who keep the pipes, sewers and water outlets operating properly;
Electricians
who not only install and repair electrical outlets, lines, etc., but they also
work hard to guarantee that the property is safe from fires which could result
from electrical problems;
HVAC (Heating, 
Ventilation
and Air Conditioning)
Specialists who
provide the climate control for all guests and employees;
Groundskeepers
who maintain the exterior appearance of the business, including lawn care,
flowers, shrubs, pest control, etc.
Sales and Marketing The Sales and Marketing Department is usually divided into two areas: Marketing, where creative ideas and information are developed to attract people to the business, and Sales, where trained professionals ultimately convince the potential guest or customer that the company's product is the best in the market. Sales Representatives are trained to pursue specific market segments and have lots of information about, not only the product and services available but also the specific needs of each potential customer. These individuals must be able to speak and write well, to point out the features and benefits of the products/service, to be able to overcome objections and, finally, to capture the sale. Telephone Sales professionals make their living providing products and services to customers over the telephone, rather than in person as a typical sales representative would do. If you like sales but are not as comfortable in face-to-face situations, you may consider telephone sales. In either case, a good sales person with excellent telephone and service skills, can easily make an above-average income. Marketing Professionals, on the other hand, are responsible for creating catchy ads for television, radio and print, for the development of brochures, flyers, and other promotional materials, and for managing the public relations efforts of the business. In this department, there is also a great need for well-trained, efficient Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, each of whom keep the office running smoothly while the sales and marketing teams do their jobs. These two staff members must be able to type quickly and accurately, have a good command of the English language and excellent Signature Service skills. Graphic Artists are in great need in the business setting, especially those businesses within the hospitality and tourism industries. Graphic Artists take all the ideas presented by the marketing team and others, and convert those ideas into colorful, creative promotional materials such as radio, television and print advertising, Internet websites, brochures, flyers, sales kits and much more. If you've been a "doodler" all your life and you like to turn scribbles into designs, this may be the perfect job for you! Convention Planners and Meeting Planners are in high demand in hospitality, tourism and in the corporate world. To excel in either of these positions, you must be very organized and be able to think and plan ahead. You must also be knowledgeable in the specific needs of your client and have access to all the internal and external resources necessary to meet those needs. Convention and Meeting planners organize meetings, banquets and special events for groups ranging from 10 persons to over 100,000, with the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.
Communications and Guest Relations
Representing the largest income center of the hotel [rooms division], the Rooms Division Manager is usually directly responsible for the largest number of employees in the operation. The Rooms Division Manager oversees the activities of a number of sub-departments: Front Desk, Bellmen, Valet Drivers, PBX, Reservations, Concierge and Housekeeping (back-of-the-house department). This department maintains oversight regarding departmental expenses, quality assurance, risk management, human resources and guest relations issues, and is a key player in maintaining good interdepartmental communication.
Still to come >>>>>receptionist, concierge, secretary, pbx operator, reservationist, valet driver
The Food and Beverage Director holds, in many organizational charts, the second-highest position in the hotel. In other cases, this department head, much like the comptroller, is directly linked to the management company or owner because of the size of the food and beverage department. In all cases, however, the general manager is still the highest authority within the hotel operation. This position is very complex and usually oversees a number of sub-departments, including, the Kitchen(s), Restaurant(s), Lounge(s), Storeroom/purchasing and, in many cases, Banquets. This individual is responsible for departmental budget preparation, departmental purchases and costs, inventory control, quality assurance, pricing structure, training, and a number of other business management functions.
Catering
Director - In larger hotels that host meetings and conventions on a
daily basis, the Catering Department is independent of the Food and
Beverage Department, though they remain very closely connected. In some cases,
catering sales staff will be classified under this department; in other cases,
they will report to the Sales & Marketing Department. The catering director is
most often responsible for overseeing the activities of the Banquets Manager and
Banquets Captain, and their staff. These support offices manage the day-to-day
set-up and servicing of all meetings and banquets. It is critical that the
Catering Director maintain good communication with the Sales & Marketing and
Food & Beverage departments in order to provide quality service and product to
meetings and conventions. This position requires excellent time management and
organizational skills.
Still to come: >>>>>>>Caterer, Bartender, Cook/Chef, Maitre 'd
The Resident Manager/Assistant General Manager customarily holds the number-two position in the upper-management level of the hotel or any similar tourism operation. This person works diligently to enforce policies and directives issued by the general manager's office. While this position does not have any employees to manage, he or she has full authority as a representative of the general manager and usually serves as a liaison between department heads and the administration. The Resident manager often focuses more energies toward front-of-the-house operations, dealing more frequently with guest relations and human resources issues.
Still to come: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>business manager, human resources and others!
Watch for job descriptions on flight attendants, docents, travel agents, tour guides, cruise ship crews and others!
Housekeeping, Janitorial, Custodial
Be on the look-out for job descriptions for Executive Housekeeper, Inspector/Inspectress, Room Attendant, Houseperson and more!
