A hotel auditor, also often referred to as a hotel night auditor because his job is traditionally performed at night, reviews the daily accounting and bookkeeping activities of hotels and motels. He may work at a small to large location. Large hotels typically employ a hotel auditor full-time and smaller ones generally require him to work on a part-time basis. In some cases, he may also serve as the front desk clerk for the night shift.
A person in this position normally examines the day’s transactions and balances the related books and records. He may perform these tasks manually or use a computer to do his job. A significant number of hotel auditors use a computerized property management system for daily assessments. This system reportedly calculates the daily transactions of hotels up to four times more quickly than manual methods.
The hotel auditor position generally requires excellent organizational skills. A good eye for detail is considered a helpful attribute in calculating numbers for a variety of internal accounts at a hotel. If an auditor is required to handle the front desk while auditing, multitasking skills are frequently required.
The main task of a hotel auditor customarily focuses on processing payments from the guests. He typically reviews each transaction to ensure the funds have been transferred to the hotel coffers from credit card and debit card transactions. If discrepancies or problems are discovered, the auditor is normally expected to resolve them with expediency.
In addition to payment verification, a hotel auditor is traditionally expected to post the daily room and tax rate on each guest’s tab. He is also normally required to review each invoice for the accuracy of auxiliary charges. These extra costs generally include payment for movie rentals, long distance phone service, wireless Internet connections, mini-bar purchases and room service.
If the hotel is large enough to have a gift shop, bar or restaurant, the hotel auditor’s job duties typically include balancing the daily transactions for each of these businesses as well. This frequently requires him to interact with the manager or associates at these locations. He may require their assistance to address any accounting irregularities he discovers in reviewing their records.
Qualifications for this job typically include a high school diploma or equivalent. A bachelor's degree in a finance-related field may be required. Most employers also require professional experience in auditing, bookkeeping or accounting, as well as familiarity with computerized property management systems. Work background in the hospitality industry is often considered a plus for hotel auditor job seekers.