Richard Murray Hill
Kings Langley,Hertfordshire
Summary
A seasoned professional with extensive expertise in large hotel management and multi-revenue stream operations. Demonstrates proficiency in hotel operations, consolidated accounting knowledge, and cashflow management, ensuring seamless financial processes. Skilled in change management and IT literacy, including system implementation, enhancing operational efficiency. Adept at audit processes and working with third parties such as banks and HMRC, contributing to robust financial oversight. Career goals include leveraging skills in centralised and self-accounting to drive strategic growth within the hospitality industry.
Overview
8
8
years of post-secondary education
37
37
years of professional experience
Work history
Group Operations Financial Controller
Shiva Hotels Ltd
11.2019 - 12.2025
- Responsible for operational finance in three independent and five branded hotels operating in the London luxury market, The
- Led Finance Shared Service Centre operations
- Identified and implemented new processes to enhance operational efficiency
- Finance pre-opening for development sites
- Developed financial models for strategic planning
- Manage Budget Process
- Cashflow forecasting and management
- Onward balance sheet reporting
- Approve major operational hotel purchases
- Approve Credit facilities for customers
- Look for opportunities on profit/cashflow enhancement
- Prepared reports for lenders on financial performance
- Managed overall accounting for the companies operating the hotels and liaised with third-party accountants for the Propco’s.
- Managed relationships with suppliers and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and support hotel operations
- Manage finance relationship with Group Directors/Owners
- Manage relationship with relevant suppliers and regulatory bodies
- Manage Audit process with audit partners
- Conducted all financial modelling to assess hotel operations and staffing requirements during and after the pandemic lockdown.
- Applied for and secured all relevant grants during the Covid pandemic.
- Managed Finance Due Diligence process for sale of 4 hotels
Cluster Finance Manager
LGH Hotels Management
10.2017 - 11.2019
- Managed finance teams for eight Holiday Inn hotels across South East, newly created role following the acquisition of the portfolio and transition to self-accounting from an IHG managed service.
- Led finance teams across hotels, fostering collaboration and accountability.
- Educated individual Financial Controllers on their new responsibilities related to self-accounting, focusing on balance sheet management, bank account oversight, and compliance with regulatory submissions. These tasks were new for the hotel finance teams.
- Educated Financial Controllers on responsibilities related to self-accounting, emphasising balance sheet management, bank account oversight, and compliance with regulatory submissions.
- Ensure new processes are identified and implemented following the change in finance management from IHG
- Identified potential opportunities for profit enhancement across the organisation
- Approve major operational hotel purchases
- Evaluated and approved credit facilities for customer transactions
- Supporting the wider LGH finance team on identifying any cost or process issues
- Recruitment and development of Financial Controllers
- Redesigned finance teams across four hotels to improve efficiency
- Streamlined and standardised all group PAYE processes, including Pay As You Earn
- Created process on Travel Agent Commission to improve forecasting, accruing and general accounting of this major cost. Also provided better understanding of booking channels
- Enhanced financial awareness among non-finance employees by running half-day courses for wider LGH hotels.
Associate Director
Colliers International
09.2015 - 09.2017
- Managed asset management and financial administration for franchise and independent hotels on behalf of various owners, adapting to changes in finance structure under Colliers.
- Co-ordinated the sale of six branded hotels to six different owners. Ensuring all due diligence requests are followed up pre-exchange, and all actions both prior and post completion of the sale are done.
- Coordinated sale of six branded hotels to different owners, ensuring thorough follow-up on due diligence requests and completion of all pre- and post-sale actions.
- Performing periodic balance sheet reviews of hotels, advising owners on any risks.
- Approve Capex on behalf of the owners.
- Developed pro-forma and pre-opening budgets for new build hotel, facilitating financial planning and operational readiness.
- Very wide role including asset management of hotels, and finance and administrative support for franchise and independent hotels, acting on behalf of various owners. Role under Vision included a more broader finance role for the company, which diminished under Colliers as I was not under the existing Colliers finance structure.
- Working with suppliers, agreeing contracts
- Ad Hoc reporting for individual hotel owners
- Hospitality Asset Management (formerly Vision Hospitality Asset Management)
Group Financial Controller
Hand Picked Hotels
04.2013 - 08.2015
- Group role for 4 star luxury Country House hotel company. Directed finance teams for 20 hotels.
- Developed and implemented finance systems that enhanced operational efficiency across the group.
- Designed and implemented a new finance system to improve financial reporting.
- Executed month-end reporting procedures, ensuring accuracy of financial records and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Executed month-end reporting procedures to ensure accurate financial records.
- Consolidated group balance sheet reconciliations
- Oversaw management of group capital expenditure to ensure financial alignment.
- Transition of new hotels into group finance structure (2 in first 5 months of role)
- Supporting finance teams, in all aspects of operational finance
- Liaising with third parties, banks, auditors, HMRC
- Implemented Web Payments for Group, with a successful integration with Opera
- Managed relationship with third party Payroll providers
- Established auto enrolment pension scheme for group, coordinating with payroll and pension providers, and creating enduring reports for payroll operations.
Financial Controller – Doubletree by Hilton, Tower of London (formerly - Mint Hotel Tower of London Dec 2010-Dec 2011)
City Inn Ltd
London
11.2010 - 04.2013
- Doubletree by Hilton, Tower of London has 583 bedrooms and 13 meeting rooms, with four food and beverage outlets ranging from A la Carte to café style. Responsible for six team members covering Payroll, Purchasing, Revenue Control, Monitored food and beverage costs to maintain budget compliance and Stores.
- Developed and managed annual departmental budgets, aligning with operational goals
- Created hotel budget with limited information
- Compiled and analysed month-end financial reports for strategic decision-making
- Balance Sheet Reconciliations including movements monthly for fixed assets, depreciation etc.
- Monitored and managed operating expenses to ensure adherence to budget
- Managed payroll expenses to align with financial targets
- Implemented financial controls and procedures, creating processes in line with business needs
- Implemented financial controls and procedures, establishing processes that supported business objectives
- Food & Beverage Control
- Recruited and developed Finance team
- Oversaw financial integration of Hotel into Doubletree brand, including system and business process change in December 2011.
- Assisted in the successful launch of the hotel in December 2010
- Http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/united-kingdom/doubletree-by-hilton-hotel-london-tower-of-london-LONTLDI
Financial Controller - Beaumont Estate
PRINCIPAL HAYLEY
09.2009 - 11.2010
- Beaumont House is a Hotel & Conference venue with 414 bedrooms and 80 meeting rooms, five of which hold in excess of 100 delegates and the largest up to 450. Led team of seven in payroll, credit control, purchasing, revenue control, food & beverage control, and cashiering, ensuring streamlined operations.
- Created financial forecasts to support strategic planning and informed decision-making.
- Compiled month-end financial reports to provide clear insights into financial performance.
- Oversaw expense control measures to maintain financial discipline.
- Monitored payroll costs to align with budgetary constraints.
- Managed food and beverage inventories to control costs and waste.
- Achieved company cash collection targets every month except one in 2010
- Food costs reduced by 3 percentage points in first 9 months against prior 9 months of 2009 (saving £60k)
- Beverage costs reduced by 2 percentage points in first 9 months against prior 9 months of 2009 (saving £18k)
- WWW.Principal Hayley.com/Beaumont Estate
Head of Commercial Finance - Guoman Hotels
GUOMAN HOTELS
07.2007 - 04.2009
- Newly created role overseeing Finance Function for seven Guoman Hotels in London with a combined turnover of £160m, including The Cumberland, The Tower, Royal Horseguards, Charing Cross Hotel, Thistle Marble Arch, and The Grosvenor. Combined bed stock of 3,386 rooms; 90 meeting rooms c7,000 sq m. Reporting in to Chief Operating Officer for Guoman Hotels. Role similar to Area FC, plus.
- Led a team of 28.
- Oversaw capital expenditure for multiple hotel properties.
- Prepared strategic plans evaluating investment options for hotels, including major development and repositioning of Royal Horseguards to enhance market positioning.
- Created Finance Dashboard for company – measurement of finance control effectiveness by hotel by monitoring achievement of certain targets, setting thresholds over 28 matters including people, balance sheets, processes etc
- Oversaw reduction of Guoman 60+ debt from £254k to £57k, improving financial stability.
- Contributed to a project team that introduced a new company payroll system, changing payroll production from 4 weekly to calendar.
- Contributed to a project team that introduced a new Property Management System.
- Created Finance Dashboard to measure finance control effectiveness by hotel, monitoring achievement of targets and setting thresholds over 28 key areas including people, balance sheets, and processes.
- Www.Guoman.com
Area Financial Controller - Guoman Hotels
GUOMAN HOTELS
07.2006 - 07.2007
- Responsibilities included forecasting, budgeting, bank reconciliation, capital expenditure.
- Forecasted, budgeted, performed bank reconciliation, and managed capital expenditure.
- Responsible for a team of 20 within two finance departments for 3 hotels.
- Led a team of 20 within two finance departments for 3 hotels.
- Re-introduced finance teams to hotels following a change in decentralisation strategy.
- Major project was to re-introduce finance teams back into hotels after a u-turn on a de-centralisation project.
- Cleared over £1m of old debt, contributing over 90% back to P&L, enabling hotels to meet budget in 2007.
- Invited to join by previous Hilton General Manager to assume area responsibility for 3 hotels including The Cumberland, Thistle Marble Arch and The Selfridge, totalling 2005 bedrooms, reporting to Area General Manager.
- Www.Guoman.com
Director of Finance - Hilton London Heathrow Airport
HILTON HOTELS
01.2005 - 07.2006
- Promotion from Hilton Watford. Led a team of 10 members covering payroll, credit control, purchasing, revenue control, and cashiering.
- Created comprehensive budgets and forecasts to support financial decision-making.
- Balance Sheet Reconciliations including movements monthly for fixed assets, depreciation etc
- Prepared month-end financial reports detailing performance and variances.
- Monitored and managed expenses to align with budgetary constraints.
- Managed payroll costs to maintain budget compliance and control labour expenses.
- Conducted capital expenditure planning to align investments with strategic goals.
- Hotels finance compliance against company targets improved from 63% to 87%
- Improved hotels finance compliance against company targets from 63% to 87%
- Reduced overall food & beverage costs by 2 percentage points in 2005, achieving savings of over £100k
- Reduced payroll costs by 1 percentage point in 2005, resulting in savings of £280k
- Promotion from Hilton Watford. Responsible for 10 team members covering Payroll, Credit Control, Purchasing, Revenue Control, Cashiering.
- Www.hilton.co.uk/heathrow
- Business Traveller Magazine "Best Airport Hotel in the World" 2005
Acting Director of Finance - Hilton on Park Lane London
Hilton on Park Lane London
London
12.2005 - 04.2006
- Covered in absence of Director of Finance while retaining responsibility for Hilton Heathrow.
- Www.hilton.co.uk/londonparklane
- Instituted cost control measures, mitigated financial risk.
- Identified and capitalised on growth opportunities in the market.
- Conducted strategic planning sessions to drive corporate objectives.
Finance Manager - Hilton Watford, Elton Way, Watford, WD2 8HA
Hilton Watford
Watford
03.2002 - 01.2005
- Joined group at request of former GM to enhance controls and internal audit standards following departure of prior controller. Managed team of five.
- Improved Hilton Watford’s audit from seven major points to two.
- Major improvement in motivation, training and productivity in team e.g. retained the Assistant FC and became personally involved to help credit team achieve no 1 position in Hilton UK sales ledger league tables from 40th position, out of 70 hotels.
- Contributed to Hilton South Finance team for payroll productivity by designing a template and assisting in setting up the process.
- Part of Hilton South Finance team for Payroll Productivity – responsible for designing template and helping setting up process
- Assisted with project work to make fast and serious improvements to audit performance rating of three other hotels – Milton Keynes, Dartford and Maidstone
- Contributed to project work leading to significant improvements in audit performance ratings for Milton Keynes, Dartford, and Maidstone hotels.
Financial Controller
Le Meridien Shelbourne
Dublin
04.2001 - 03.2002
- Fully self accounting hotel with 11 staff in accounts, also responsible for IT, purchasing and stores. Responsible for all statutory reporting including VAT and Inland Revenue, also all aspects of contract negotiations from maintenance matters to credit card companies. Very independently managed property.
- Managed tight working capital position during business downturn without sourcing loan finance
- Oversaw transition from Irish £ to Euro, ensuring compliance and smooth financial operations
- Oversaw change from Irish £ to Euro
- Coordinated move from owned hotel to sale and leaseback, facilitating unique transition for non-UK Meridien
- Forte Hotel Group
- Www.marriott.com-the-shelbourne-dublin-a-renaissance-hotel
Hotel Controller
Posthouse Regents Park
London
04.1997 - 03.2001
- Promotion to Hotel Controller (June 99-March 01)
- Reduced hotel 60-day debt from £320k (July 1999) to £15k (March 2001), elevating Posthouse ledger league position from 63rd to 5th
- Led local implementation of SAP, providing real-time online accounting access for first time
- Improved staff turnover from 12 leavers in two years before becoming Controller to three during two years as Controller
- Asst Financial Controller (January 98-June 99)
- Accounts Assistant (April 97-January 98) working with every department and the financial controller to redesign all hotels' spreadsheets, whether for forecasting, market segmentation, bank reconciliations. Hotel formerly used Lotus, but Microsoft office was implemented with Excel as new reporting tool. Gained insight into all aspects of accounts.
- Hotel
- Www.chotelgroup.com/regents park
Admin Supervisor
Strand Palace Hotel, 372 The Strand, London
London
01.1996 - 04.1997
- Yield Manager (September 96-April 97)
- Admin Supervisor (January 96-September 96)
- Part of Forte Hotel Group
- Www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk
05.1994 - 12.1995
- Period spent both travelling throughout Europe and working as a temporary Receptionist for Posthouse Hotels on South Coast
General Assistant
Posthouse Hotel Cardiff
Cardiff
04.1989 - 04.1994
- Pentwyn Rd, Cardiff Part of Forte Hotel Group
- Worked in multiple departments with main focus on front desk and events
- Aided in office administration duties, improving overall operational efficiency.
- Assisted with inventory management for efficient stock control.
Education
English, Maths, Economics, History, Woodwork
Graig Comprehensive School
Pwll, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire 01.1978 - 01.1986
Skills
- Financial modelling
- Cashflow Management
- Consolidated accounting
- Audit Process
- IT systems implementation
- Change management
- Large hotel management
- Hotel operations proficiency
- Multi-revenue management
- Centralised and Self-Accounting
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- Third-party collaboration
Personal Information
Nationality: British
Other
St.Albans branch of Cats Protection, Volunteer Treasurer and committee member, September 2022- Current
Timeline
Group Operations Financial Controller
Shiva Hotels Ltd
11.2019 - 12.2025
Cluster Finance Manager
LGH Hotels Management
10.2017 - 11.2019
Associate Director
Colliers International
09.2015 - 09.2017
Group Financial Controller
Hand Picked Hotels
04.2013 - 08.2015
Financial Controller – Doubletree by Hilton, Tower of London (formerly - Mint Hotel Tower of London Dec 2010-Dec 2011)
City Inn Ltd
11.2010 - 04.2013
Financial Controller - Beaumont Estate
PRINCIPAL HAYLEY
09.2009 - 11.2010
Head of Commercial Finance - Guoman Hotels
GUOMAN HOTELS
07.2007 - 04.2009
Area Financial Controller - Guoman Hotels
GUOMAN HOTELS
07.2006 - 07.2007
Acting Director of Finance - Hilton on Park Lane London
Hilton on Park Lane London
12.2005 - 04.2006
Director of Finance - Hilton London Heathrow Airport
HILTON HOTELS
01.2005 - 07.2006
Finance Manager - Hilton Watford, Elton Way, Watford, WD2 8HA
Hilton Watford
03.2002 - 01.2005
Financial Controller
Le Meridien Shelbourne
04.2001 - 03.2002
Hotel Controller
Posthouse Regents Park
04.1997 - 03.2001
Admin Supervisor
Strand Palace Hotel, 372 The Strand, London
01.1996 - 04.1997
05.1994 - 12.1995
General Assistant
Posthouse Hotel Cardiff
04.1989 - 04.1994
English, Maths, Economics, History, Woodwork
Graig Comprehensive School
01.1978 - 01.1986