"I have to make sure all transactions have been correctly posted to the relevant department"

Accounts Assistant My name is Rachel Firth and I am accounts assistant at a 5* hotel in Leeds. Since doing a HNC at Manchester University I have been at the hotel for 4½ years - I started out in Reception but moved to accounts for 18 mths ago. On a day to day basis my job is to look after anything that is monetary that comes into the hotel - I count all the cash, account for it and then bank it. Two days are never the same in this department one day everything can balance fine and the next day you need to dig really deep to find out what has gone wrong. When I was on Reception I was sent on a supervisory course for about 3 days. This was very beneficial as I am now able to supervise a group of people up to about 15 people. This will help me in my next step, to progress to become financial controller. The type of person you need to be to work in an office like this is easy going, work under pressure and be able to think logically.

A Day in the Life

First thing I get a copy of the night audit report. I pick figures from this report and issue them to each department. I then count all the previous day’s banking and bank the monies as taken – cash, amex, visa, switch etc.

I have to make sure all transactions have been correctly posted to the relevant department. I am also responsible for all main accounts. Again after checking everything has been posted that should have been I send out the invoices to the clients

Career Progression

The next step for me is to become an assistant financial controller or a financial controller of a hotel.

Background and Training

I worked at Marks and Spencer in Wakefield over the summer holidays while I was at school. I worked in all the departments, but I particularly enjoyed the food section. I then left school and went to Wakefield College to study hotel and catering management (BTEC national diploma) which I thoroughly enjoyed. The course dealt with all the departments within the hotel environment, kitchen, reception, restaurant, bars etc. Whilst at Wakefield College we had to do a number of placements, including an exchange to France, working at a hotel in Scarborough, also I did a month’s placement helping teach cooking to people with special needs.

From college I went to Manchester University to study hotel management with tourism. Again we touched on all the departments of a hotel. For my HND I had to do a placement for a year. I was based at a hotel in Leeds and I worked in the restaurant, kitchen, bars, personnel and reception.

After graduating I enjoyed the summer and I was lucky enough to get a job here at Oulton Hall where I started off in reception as a junior receptionist. I was quickly promoted to a receptionist then onto reception supervisor. I really enjoyed working on reception, as you are the nerve centre of the hotel.(well that’s how I felt).

It was through working on reception that I became aware of a job vacancy in the accounts office. I had always been interested in that side of things so I approached the financial controller and it went from there. I got the job and I have enjoyed every minute of it so far.

Qualifications Needed

Usual entry level is with 4 GCSEs A-C including maths and English.

College courses offer NVQ in accounting or business administration. Opportunities exist for a modern apprenticeship in accounting to train you as you work.

Qualities Needed

Well organised practical person good with figures who can communicate well with others.