The night audit describes itself by its term. Night audit is a financial operation that is executed at night in a hotel where operational activity runs for 24 X 7 following three consecutive work schedules by front office personnel. Due to nature of the work a night audit is stared at the night (the last shift) and finished in the next early morning. Night audit is a significant part of the accounting section of a hotel. The night audit is the control process where all financial activity (both cash and credit) of guest’s accounts is recorded and balanced. A night auditor is a special desk clerk who is responsible for performing the process of night audit.
The position of night auditor is under department of the front office. Night audit is the team which may consist of individual or group. For example:
- The night audit manager.
- Two to five auditors (depending on the size of the hotel and the number of ancillary operations).
- One or two food/beverage auditors (depending on the number of outlets).
The team of night audit falls under the accounting department of the hotel. The front desk manager and hotel’s controller get work report from night auditor. Sometimes the night audit team has a dual reporting structure to both accounting and the front office.
- Finish the posting that are due and settle the discrepancies of both front desk and other department.
- Post room rate with tax after validation.
- Make cash receipts for deposit purpose.
- Clear all and backup system.
- Organize and distribute the night audit reports.
- Close the shift by clearing out all other tasks.
Complete the outstanding posting means providing an assurance regarding monetary transactions that all non accounts and guest accounts of hotel have posted without any discrepancy. The due posting are considered as finished when a particular day’s transactions are reviewed for accuracy. The transactions that held in the front desk are included in the front desk accounts. Sometimes a night auditor is also assigned in operating transactions from other revenue generate outlets of the property. He/she generally balance the amount of front office accounts in opposition to the other departments. If any discrepancies are discovered then the night auditor corrects it and performs the next task. Most hotels make their profits through room selling so fair guestroom rates are very necessary. That’s why to validate the room rates of the guest room is the most important feature of the night audit. After verifying the rates he/she posts each guestroom with tax. Sometimes the night auditor is also in charge for arranging cash deposits and reports where the total revenue is checked against the deposited money. Then the night auditor clears all backup system and clearing out the day’s activities at the end of the working day. Finally the night auditor prepares the night audit reports which are considered as a snapshot of the operational activities of the preceding day, as these reports provide a review of the particular day’s activities with a close view of the hotel’s operation. The process of night audit is an essential for performing the financial activities of a hotel operation. Whether the night audit process is performed manually or computerized or through PMS hotel managers relay upon the accurateness of the documentation prepared by the night auditor.