The Night Auditor – the common name for an employee who works the front desk during the overnight shift – plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of a hotel. It’s not an easy job, as this person must have a plethora of different skills – from customer service to accounting to technical aptitude.
In today’s digital-friendly environment, the Night Auditor role is evolving. No longer are night auditors spending their entire shift reconciling payments, balancing the day’s financials, and scanning and sharing reports. Instead, technology has automated the majority of those tasks, freeing up the night auditor to perform more valuable functions.
Take, for one small example, the process of delivering folios. Until recently, the night auditor would be responsible for slipping the final bill under the door of each guest that was checking out the next day. Security compliance has rendered that function obsolete, and now folios should be emailed to guests.
It’s important to remember that there’s a lot required of the Night Auditor. This person is critical to the seamless operation of your hotel. They need to have a wide range of skills – from basic accounting, technical, customer service, communication, and more. It’s a lot to ask of someone, and it takes a special type of person to take on the many tasks required.
So, when you’re searching for your next night auditor, take care to remember just how much will be on this team member’s plate. Recognizing that is step No. 1 in finding the best Night Auditor for your hotel, as you’ll go into the process with top respect for the role.
Once you have your Night Auditor job description down, take stock of all you’re asking this person to do. What’s a fair rate? Start with what you pay the daytime front-desk agent, and then consider adding at least $2 to $3 more per hour to make the night shift position more attractive.
Also, consider whether you want this person to work full time or part time. Full time might actually be the easier hire because it’s not as difficult to get accustomed to a regular third shift. However, it’s harder to get used to the shift if you only do it two or three times per week.
Once you’ve written a job description, it’s time to advertise. Some key places to advertise for your open Night Auditor position include:
Job posting websites: Websites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster are popular job posting websites that attract a large number of job seekers. These websites offer a variety of job posting packages, so you can choose one that fits your budget.
Google Jobs: Google brings together job postings from across the web, whether they’re on websites run by small businesses or job sites with thousands of listings. As Google is often the first place many people search, this platform should definitely not be discounted. You can make your job posting appear on Google two different ways. Learn more here.
Hotel industry job boards: Industry-specific job boards, such as Hospitality Online and Hcareers are also great places to advertise for your open Night Auditor position.
Social media: Don’t disregard social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. For example, you can post job opportunities on your Facebook business page for free. You can post about the position on your hotel’s social media accounts and ask your followers to share the post with their networks.
Staffing agencies: You can also work with a staffing agency to find candidates. These agencies can help find people with the right skills and experience, saving you time and effort in the hiring process.
The Night Auditor role is not for the faint of heart, but it can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling role for the right person. So, take the time to find the perfect candidate and show them the respect and appreciation they deserve. Happy hiring!