Controller – Vacation Rental Industry (US Experience)

About the role

Howard Financial is seeking a Controller to oversee the financial integrity of its portfolio of Vacation Rental clients in the United States. You will act as the bridge between day‑to‑day bookkeeping and executive‑level financial strategy, ensuring accurate reporting and compliance for short‑term rental businesses.

Key responsibilities

• Manage full month‑end close for multiple STR clients, delivering accurate P&L statements and balance sheets.
• Oversee trust accounting, reconciling guest payments, security deposits, and cleaning fees, and ensure timely owner statements and distributions.
• Track and report industry‑specific KPIs such as RevPAR, ADR, and occupancy rates.
• Review work of staff accountants and bookkeepers for US GAAP compliance and adherence to client SOPs.
• Integrate data between Property Management Systems (e.g., Guesty, Hostaway, Streamline) and accounting platforms (QuickBooks Online, NetSuite).
• Serve as primary contact for client financial inquiries, explaining variances and performance insights.

Required profile

• Minimum 4 years of accounting experience within the US Vacation Rental / Short‑Term Rental industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP and industry‑specific accounting practices.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication (C1/C2 level).
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, growth‑focused environment.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in QuickBooks Online.
• Experience with at least one PMS (Guesty, Hostaway, Streamline, or Track).
• Expert‑level Excel skills (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, data cleaning).
• Familiarity with NetSuite.
• Knowledge of US GAAP.