Author: Katherine Wyles

Financial Controller, London – Position Filled

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

This position has now been filled. Please check our latest job opportunities here

We are working with a London based Restaurant and Property Development group who are looking to in-source their accounting function due to significant planned growth in the London market.

The ideal candidate will have multi-site owner/operator experience and experience bringing in house an accounting function or setting up an accounting function in a start-up environment.

Offering a competitive salary, some of the key responsibilities will include:

  • Produce monthly management accounts
  • Proven IT skills including advanced Excel
  • Proven experience of implementing SOPs
  • Experience in the restaurant industry
  • Liaising with external accountants
  • Reporting to the owner and her advisors
  • Overseeing daily reconciliations
  • Inhouse payroll
  • Overseeing Purchase ledger and supplier payments

If this position is of interest, please get in touch with Andrea at fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk or call on +44 7714 236469.

Management Accountant, London – Position Filled

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

This position has now been filled. Please check our latest job opportunities here

We are seeking an experienced multi-site, high volume Management Accountant/Finance Manager with at least 1 – 2 years management accounting experience in restaurants or multi-site hospitality.  Excellent career progression in place.

Detailed Duties: Preparing monthly consolidated and individual management accountants for various group companies Preparation of monthly management accounts includes – Reconciliation and checking of underlying data – Ensuring regular month end procedures are executed – Reconciliation of monthly management accounts to weekly sales and cost reports – Reviewing P&L against expectations – Balance sheet reconciliations including detailed accruals and prepayments and the review of such reconciliations by other finance team members – Providing commentary on variance from expectations and other key matters – Generating monthly management account packs and issuing to the Board, senior management and individual restaurant locations. – Assisting the Board, senior management and restaurant managers with management account queries. Preparation of Key Performance Indicators packs across the group along with quarterly/half yearly bonus calculations. Year end closure and preparation of information for auditors and dealing with their queries.

If this is of interest, please get in touch with Andrea at fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk or call on +44 7714 236469, at your earliest convenience to discuss.

Hospitality Payroll Manager, Hertfordshire – Position Filled

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

This position has now been filled. Please check our latest job opportunities here

Due to a rapidly expanding client base, our client is looking for a trained and experienced Payroll Manager – Hospitality Specialist to contribute to their team’s continuing success.

The role

The successful candidate will be responsible for organising and processing the periodic payrolls for a range of owner managed hospitality businesses. You will liaise with clients at senior and owner level, providing a fully outsourced payroll service for restaurant clients – from set up through to HMRC registration and year end submissions.

This role would suit a payroll specialist who enjoys working with their own client accounts and building client relationships.

This is a new role within the payroll department, so part of the role will evolve with time – out client needs a technically strong individual to take responsibility for scoping some of the role, with the assistance of the Head of Payroll.

Due the success of their  Troncmaster Services department, the company will provide payroll services to various hospitality clients. This is a fast-paced environment whereby deadlines are tight, and we provide additional support to these clients.

Training will be given initially regarding the existing client base and the complexities with the payroll clients. The company are payroll advisors, not just processors, they review client information before entering it into the payroll software to ensure treatment of pay elements is correct and that national minimum wage legislation is met.

Data is received in various formats from rota management systems the clients may have in place. Therefore, we are looking at ways to automate the manipulation of data received to ensure efficiencies within processing time and accuracy of data. You will be involved in implementing the automation processes and working with various team members and their allocated clients.

The company also deals with pension administration for clients whereby relevant personal and contribution data is uploaded to the designated provider. As the client base has grown this has provided some challenges with more complex pension information being required. You will be responsible for streamlining and managing the pension upload process to ensure the contributions are paid over in a timely manner.

For more information or to apply, please contact Andrea at fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk or call on +44 7714 236469

 

Will flexible working become the norm?

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

What is flexible working?

 

By definition, flexible working offers employees increased freedom –working from where they choose, flexible work schedules and fitting work around other responsibilities. Whilst flexible working has been increasingly adopted by companies over the years, it’s been accelerated since the start of the pandemic.

 

Research on the UK Government website shows that 9 out of 10 job seekers want increased flexibility, be it remote working (60%), flexitime (54%) or reduced hours (26%).

 

In March 2021, the Minister for Women and Equalities, called for flexible working to be “normalised” as part of the UK economy’s Covid-19 recovery, to capitalise on the shift in mindset triggered by the pandemic. Ministers are now preparing to make flexible working a permanent feature of British life post-pandemic, with plans to strengthen employees’ rights to work from home or ask for different hours.

 

Benefits of Flexible Working

 

Increase in Job Applications – UK Government-backed Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) and jobs website Indeed, shows offering flexible working explicitly in job adverts increases applications by up to 30%. The research, which analysed nearly 20 million applications and is the largest of its kind ever conducted in the UK, shows greater transparency in job adverts would create at least 174,000 flexible jobs to the UK economy per year.

 

Best of Both Worlds – Flexible working offers the freedom of working from home but access to the community of the office to drive increased collaboration. According to a recent survey of 2000 UK workers by Currys PC World and Canon, 37% identified a better work-life balance as one of the main benefits of remote working, with 54% citing not having to commute as their favourite part.

 

Increased Opportunities for Equality – According to the minister for women and equalities, “flexible working could help boost job opportunities for women (who are more likely to have to disrupt their careers as a result of caregiving duties) and reduce geographical inequality.”

 

Spreading the commuter coin – Whilst city-based businesses are reliant on the influx of commuters to city centres across the world, there has been a re-balancing of revenues, with more local businesses benefiting from the shift of working patterns. Over time, with a return to a combination of part office, part home working, it’s encouraging to see this wealth being spread across businesses both in city locations and in local communities.

 

Is flexible working here to stay?

 

It depends on many factors – there are many predictions that flexible working is here to stay but on the flip-side, the Centre for Cities think tank predicts the five-day office week will become the norm again within two years as featured in a BBC News article in June 2021.

 

Ultimately, it will be driven by individual businesses and employee’s wishes, and won’t be a one size fits all approach.

  

Sector Specific – A flexible working environment naturally suits some sectors more than others. For hospitality, the pandemic was a catalyst to introducing more flexible working practices which improved work-life balance. As the business of hospitality re-opens, naturally many roles are guest-facing so require employees to be present in their place of work

 

Hospitality, like many sectors, are aware of the importance of their employees’ wellbeing and its impact on performance and productivity, so have been adjusting their return to work policies to introduce a variety of measures to create a better work-life balance for their teams. Hybrid working for those working in non-customer facing roles and a four day week have been some of those policies being trialled currently.

 

Re-imagining of the Office – With changing working patterns evolving and a move to increased hybrid working, the office space will need to be used differently. More collaborative space, places where people can come together and create and innovate and a revised layout of desks are all some of the practical changes that businesses are adopting as they look to navigate the road back to the office.

  

At FM Recruitment, we work with clients across all areas of hospitality and associated industries to navigate flexible working. We work alongside our clients to showcase their company’s approach to work-life balance and its employee wellbeing focus to find the best candidate for the role.

We are specialists in financial recruitment at all levels in the UK and internationally. We belong to the Hospitality People Group who offer a wide variety of roles from c-suite level and everything in between.  For support with your next career move or to improve your recruitment strategy, please contact FM Recruitment now using any of the below details:

Office +44 20 8600 1160 I Email fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk   

Chris Denison Smith +44 7775 711923 I Email chrisdenisonsmith@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Andrea Shaw +44 7714 236469 I Email andreashaw@fmrecruitment.co.uk 

Group Management Accountant, London – Position Filled

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

This position has now been filled. Please check our latest job opportunities here

We are recruiting for a high-profile international owner/operator who is actively expanding throughout the globe.

The position of Group Management Accountant will report to the Group Financial Planning and Analysis Manager.  Due to the nature of the role it will involve an element of travelling from time to time. The role will predominantly involve Management and Financial Accounting, with a strong emphasis on accurate and timely reporting to key stakeholders. The position will require close collaboration with the Corporate Finance Team as well as the Hotel Financial Controllers.

The role will include the following tasks and responsibilities:

  • Preparation, Review and Analysis of weekly and monthly management information
  • Assist in interpreting results and drafting monthly financial commentary for the Executive Committee, Financing Banks and other Stakeholders
  • Assist in challenging financial reports, forecasts and budgets submitted by the hotels; direct and proactive liaison with the hotels
  • Assist in forecasts, budgets and KPI analysis for the Management Board and the Group’s Financing Banks
  • Co-ordination and consolidation of three / five-year plan for Group
  • Co-ordinate budget process
  • Assist the in suggesting and delivering improvements to the format and content of management reports, covering financial information and key performance indicators
  • Prepare financial information for Operational Performance reviews of the Hotels and Corporate Office
  • Assist with the preparations of business plans and feasibility studies for potential new properties to the portfolio
  • Assist with the integration of new properties into the required reporting format
  • Assist with the monitoring and controlling of central revenues and costs

The ideal candidate:

  • Exceptionally strong attention to detail and accuracy
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Commitment to meeting tight reporting deadlines
  • Ability to work under pressure and to organise one’s own work to ensure priorities are delivered on time and expectations of stakeholders are appropriately managed
  • Ability to plan ahead and make sufficient time to quality control one’s own work
  • Superior communications skills to establish credibility with the hotels
  • Enthusiastic, self-motivated and results-driven with good inter-personal skills

For a full job description, please send your CV to Andrea at andrea@fmrecruitment.co.uk and let us know your availability for an initial conversation.

Success Stories – In Conversation with Michel Checoury

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

Michel Checoury is an industry veteran, with over 30 years international experience in financial leadership in luxury hospitality. Now Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for Kerzner International, Michel is responsible for the strategic financial planning and fiscal procedures across all aspects of the brand, supporting the company’s growth, profitability and performance.

A strong and innovative leader, Michel joined Kerzner International from Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, where he held the role of Chief Financial Officer overseeing 85 properties in 27 countries.

FM Recruitment continues to have a long-standing relationship with Michel. Jillian Malone, our former Managing Director, placed Michel in his role with Mandarin Oriental in 2008 as Regional Director of Finance for EMEA and as a Regional Director of Finance with InterContinental Hotels Group in 2003.

Throughout his career, Michel has held many other notable financial leadership roles overseas and in his native country, France. These include Regional Director of Finance for Aman, overseeing Finance and Strategic Planning, IT and Retail across 31-properties as well as working with Jumeriah Group and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

In conversation with Michel Checoury

  1. How did you get into Hospitality Finance?
    It was actually by accident! I began my early career as a Senior Auditor with Deloitte but at  the time had ambitions to work in the US. I saw an advert for an Internal Audit role with  Disneyland Paris, ahead of its opening in the 1990’s and I thought this would be a great  opportunity to work for an American company. Shortly after, I was approached by senior  management to take on a Financial Controller role at a hotel. At first, I was a little unsure  whether this would be the right step to take but I quickly fell in love with the job and the industry. Hospitality finance is so varied- there are many areas to consider from  accommodation to food & beverage, spa to maintenance, and all are operating in a  24/7/365 environment.
  2. What are the most important aspects of financial roles in hospitality and how has the role evolved over the years?  
    I believe that investing the time to understand all of the hotel operations; the challenges,  how it works and what support it needs, is integral to effectively manage the financials.  Whilst you don’t need to be an expert in all areas of the operations, you need to appreciate  how any decisions you take will affect the employees and the brand. Decisions, particularly  the most challenging ones you need to take, should be clearly communicated with empathy  to all stakeholders.
  3. What do you consider your biggest achievement so far and why?
    All of my successes have been attributed to a team success. Whether it’s getting out of a  crisis, managing to turn around a situation or a success to celebrate, it’s always been  because of a team rather than an individual effort.
  4. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in the industry? 
    I can speak from personal experience with this as my son recently decided to pursue a  career in hospitality. I recommend taking the time, early in your career, to really get to know  the business of hospitality. That means working in the kitchen, housekeeping, front office,  night audit etc to really understand each area of the business and how they’re inter-linked.  My son undertook a number of internships with global hospitality brands as well as  specialising his education at some of the best international hotel schools. This foundation of  internships and studies will effectively prepare individuals for their career in hospitality,  whilst building credibility as their career matures.
  5.   What are the biggest opportunities in the hospitality industry as it recovers from the pandemic?
    I think the leisure segment will be the first to recover, accelerated by the ultra-luxury sector, who can charter a plane, rent a private island and aren’t deterred by the expense and logistics of PCR testing. They will be looking for exceptional experiences, exemplary service and exclusivity, in which top luxury hotels will reap the benefits. The corporate market will be the slowest to return in my view – we’ve all become accustomed to conducting business over video calls and working with our fellow colleagues through digital platforms so the justification for corporate travel, as it was pre-pandemic, will take some time to evolve.  I also think there will be substantial acquisition opportunities within the top niche of the hotel market, with some significant asset buy-outs and mergers on the horizon.
  6. What would have been your Plan B?
    I come from a family of accountants therefore I feel my path was quite set from an early  age! I’ve always loved my job and haven’t ever considered a Plan B.

For support with your next career move or to improve your recruitment strategy, please contact FM Recruitment now using any of the below details:

Office +44 20 8600 1160 I Email fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Chris Denison Smith +44 7775 711923 I Email chrisdenisonsmith@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Andrea Shaw +44 7714 236469 I Email andreashaw@fmrecruitment.co.uk

 

 

 

Is Relocation a thing of the Past?

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

The hospitality industry has long advocated the excitement and career benefits of international relocation. Many hospitality employees point to these experiences as being huge stepping stones in their development, but has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way the industry will be able to offer these opportunities?

Re-location, Re-location, Re-location

In April 2021, international research conducted by Wakefield Research, revealed that candidates were now more willing than ever to consider relocation. “Eighty-four percent of workers say they would relocate for work when COVID-19 is no longer prevalent throughout the world, and nearly half (46 percent) would be willing to do so internationally.”

The pandemic has been the catalyst to a giant reset. Candidates are open to and taking opportunities that they may never have considered before. For so many, the last year has encouraged people to focus on their well-being and work-life balance. With the rise in hybrid working, there is a freedom to take risks and explore the options that may have been seen as a fantasy in the past.

In Microsoft’s 2021 Work Trend Index, 41% of those surveyed suggested that they would consider leaving their job in the next year. While this figure may be alarming in terms of retention, it is clear that there will be an international scramble to lure the very best talent. In a hybrid world, this talent is everywhere.

Re-location Roadblocks

However, whilst relocation and international opportunities are likely to be popular amongst candidates as the pandemic eases, there are likely to be some new challenges for employers looking to recruit candidates who need to relocate.

  • Employee wellbeing – There has always been a responsibility on the employer to ensure the well-being of candidates who are relocating, but there are likely to be additional considerations in the post-pandemic world.
  • Brexit – For relocation between the UK and the EU, there is now the points-based immigration system to now consider following Brexit, meaning that it’s harder for EU citizens to relocate to the UK.  This is having a huge impact for the hospitality industry, as applicants coming to the UK to work must be paid at least £25,600 a year. For entry-level roles across the hospitality sector, this is precluding many talented candidates the opportunity to relocate.

Even with these additional roadblocks, we are confident that relocation remains a popular and important factor in international recruitment – there are just new variables to navigate.

The team at FM Recruitment are specialists in international financial recruitment at all levels and we have strong relationships with international relocation partners, who can advise and support businesses.

For support with your next career move or to improve your recruitment strategy, please contact FM Recruitment now using any of the below details:

Office +44 20 8600 1160 I Email fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Chris Denison Smith +44 7775 711923 I Email chrisdenisonsmith@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Andrea Shaw +44 7714 236469 I Email andreashaw@fmrecruitment.co.uk

 

Director of Development Finance, London – Position Filled

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

Fantastic opportunity to join a growing property group, specialising in development, management and investment within the broader hospitality sector.

This privately owned group is now seeking a Director of Development Finance to assist the Group Finance Director and Development Director to ensure the delivery of new projects on time and within budget, including tracking of debt positions and monitoring of interest payments and deadlines.

The role will also be responsible for ensuring schemes are completed to required standards, in line with brand or true standards.

The group currently has a number of properties under construction with further plans in place for additional projects.

Candidates will have a background in real estate / property finance, ideally within hotels or student accommodation development.

Although the company head office is in London, it is possible for this role to be home based, with occasional visits to the head office.

For more information or to apply, please contact Chris at fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk or call on +44 20 8600 1160

Are businesses taking too long to appoint their ideal candidates?

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

With a backdrop of remote hiring, which has been a mainstay of the past year, plus added complexities and sometimes bureaucracies of the recruitment cycle, many companies are taking longer to confirm candidate appointments. Meanwhile, the ongoing fallout surrounding the pandemic and Brexit continues to impact the intricacies of the recruitment process, with fewer available candidates in the market.

What is the optimum time between meeting a candidate and hiring?

With the average time-to-appoint across most industries around four weeks and a growing number of job seekers expecting an offer within the first week of the first interview, most companies are falling short when it comes to meeting candidate expectations. (Yello)

In larger organisations, the recruitment cycle is further extended. Layers of candidate assessment, screening, reviews, scheduling of various interviews all too often add unnecessary time to the process and risk the best candidates withdrawing in favour of a company that got there quicker.

Shifting expectations and demographics of the candidate market 

With the changing landscape of recruitment, accelerated by the pandemic and restrictions in the movement of talent, another variable for companies to navigate is the changing demographics of the candidate market.

At one end of the spectrum, we will start to see more of Generation Z entering into the marketplace. Their high-tech upbringings shape the way they approach employment, with many not even considering an application if recruitment methods are long and outdated.

At the other end, the fastest-growing segment of the labour force in the coming decade isn’t millennials or the newest band of Gen Z workers. According to Glassdoor’s UK Job & Hiring Trends for 2020, it’s aging Baby Boomers.

This demographic of age 65+ workers are healthier, engaged and more in need of retirement income than previous generations. In the UK, the 65+ population is expected to grow by nearly 60 percent over the next 25 years, faster than any other demographic group. The dynamics of the changing talent pool can leave companies with added layers to navigate, all adding additional time to the recruitment process.

What is the impact of a prolonged recruitment process?

When it comes to acquiring top talent, companies need to have the resources in place to act quickly, hire fast and provide a positive candidate experience. For recruiters, a prolonged recruitment process takes time away from nurturing relationships with candidates on behalf of their client’s company.

Contacting every stakeholder involved in interviews and juggling schedules should be streamlined.  On average, ⅔ of the overall hiring process time is spent confirming the interview schedule. The back and forth to finding a time that works for everyone slows down the overall process and risks signifying to the candidate that a company simply isn’t organised and risks losing quality candidates before they’re even able to confirm an interview.

All of these challenges ultimately have a knock-on effect in the market and impact all stakeholders. A poor candidate experience for job seekers affects their confidence in the company’s brand and affects recruiters’ ability to fill future roles quickly and efficiently.

What can be done to optimise the recruitment process?

Review the multiple layers of candidate screening and benchmarking exercises that companies feel are required to identify the right talent and safeguard companies from the expense of hiring the wrong candidate.  Interview schedules should be agreed upon with your recruitment partner at the commencement of the process meaning key stakeholders then have the interview dates in their diaries for the recruiter to fill with appropriate candidates. This is where the benefit of having a dedicated recruitment specialist helps take charge of much of this activity and streamline the whole recruitment process.

FM Recruitment is perfectly positioned to support businesses to enhance their recruitment process, helping to reduce the time to appoint the right candidate. We have been established for over 35 years and have an exceptional network with proven experience to attract talent from tech-savvy Gen Z and millennial workers to experienced seniors.

At FM Recruitment, we are here to support both businesses and candidates to navigate the world of hospitality recruitment. We are specialists in financial recruitment at all levels in the UK and internationally.

For support with your next career move or to improve your recruitment strategy, please contact FM Recruitment now using any of the below details:

Office +44 20 8600 1160 I Email fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Chris Denison Smith +44 7775 711923 I Email chrisdenisonsmith@fmrecruitment.co.uk
Andrea Shaw +44 7714 236469 I Email andreashaw@fmrecruitment.co.uk

Success Stories – In Conversation with Howard Field

Posted on by Katherine Wyles

Howard Field, hospitality icon and industry stalwart, speaks to FM Recruitment to share the story of his life-long career in hospitality, what inspires him most about the industry and what advice he’d offer someone just beginning their professional journey.

With a career in the hospitality industry spanning over 55 years, Howard’s first major appointment was as Finance Controller for the Royal Garden Hotel, London. He progressed to top financial roles with multiple hospitality companies – including the Carlton Tower, Commonwealth Holiday Inns of Canada’s European division, and The Savoy Group (now the Maybourne Hotel Group), and as an industry consultant.  In these roles, he experienced first -hand, the challenge of sourcing and hiring good finance professionals which led him to found London-based FM Recruitment, specialists in financial recruitment for the international hospitality industry, in 1985.

In addition to his consultancy and advisory activities, he currently serves as Chair of the Savoy Educational Trust, and is a Visiting Fellow of Oxford Brookes University. He has been for many years been a mentor for undergraduates and masters students.

Howard is the author of guides to a number of finance-focused reference books for the industry. His best-known work is A Practical Guide to the Uniform System of Accounts for the Hospitality Industry.

Howard was a founding member and a HOSPA Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and also the recipient of top US 2012 Paragon Award for significant and lasting contribution to US-based HFTP and the Hospitality Industry worldwide.

 In conversation with Howard Field

  1. How did you get into Hospitality Finance? Originally by chance, having completed my chartered accountancy professional exams, and being assigned to assist at what was the newly opened Royal Garden Hotel while awaiting the results. I was offered a position there.   Having almost accepted an offer for my next position with a manufacturing company, I saw an advert for a position at the Carlton Tower – and from then my whole career has been within the hospitality industry.
  1. What are the most important aspects of financial roles in hospitality and how has the role evolved over the years? Perhaps the key consideration is that it is a fast moving, people-centred industry, where the finance function has to balance control with supporting operations to provide consistent standards, as well as profitably.  Hotels are capital intensive businesses to own, and need to operate at high levels of occupancy and efficiency to meet their commercial goals.  From the control aspects, hotels are 24/7 operations, and systems and information flows require financial managers to understand the business dynamics and be capable of contributing at senior management level. The greatest change that has occurred over the years is the separation of property ownership, brands and management, and the need for financial managers to understand and deal with the resulting complexities.
  1. What do you consider your biggest achievement so far and why? Establishing the first professional recruitment service focused on financial and related management functions within the hotel industry – that is still flourishing 36 years later is certainly the highlight. You say ‘so far’; I feel privileged having the opportunity to continue contributing to the industry in other ways after so many years.
  1. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their career in the industry? Seek advice from experienced professionals at all stages, including from recruiters, to be aware of how the industry and career opportunities are constantly changing; network; and if possible, connect with one or two mentors on the various programmes available to support career development.
  1. What are the biggest opportunities in the hospitality industry as it recovers from the pandemic? Perhaps ‘challenges’ would be more appropriate than ‘opportunities’.  Many historic standards and performance measures will no longer be appropriate as the industry re-awakens and markets re-open.  More than ever, working smarter, recognising and minimising risks and exploiting opportunities will mean being having to be constantly creative.
  1. What would have been your Plan B? I have thoroughly enjoyed (and still do) my career in the hospitality industry that has encompassed many aspects, made me many friends, and spanned a period during which there have been so many fundament changes.  It evolved without a clear plan, and I am not sure that I would want to have changed anything.

For support with your next career move or to enhance your recruitment strategy, please call FM Recruitment on +44 20 8600 1160 or contact Chris Denison Smith or Andrea Shaw on fm@fmrecruitment.co.uk now.

 

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