What Does a Night Auditor at a Hotel Do?

A night auditor is a common position at many hotels, motels and other facilities providing overnight accommodations, the following is a job description of the duties of a night auditor at most hotels. The specific duties of a night auditor will vary depending on the size of the hotel, motel or other facility and the accommodations and other amenities offered by the facility.

Auditing Duties

A night auditor works to check and correct the hotel's guest ledger. Night auditors maintain the hotel's inventory of available rooms and the financial records of the day's business. However, as most hotels and motels use automated systems to check in guests and provide billing, a night auditor generally completes these tasks by performing only basic data entry tasks and checking the system for errors. A night auditor will likely also perform cash accounting duties, such as counting register cash and preparing cash for bank deposits.

Desk Clerk

In addition to auditing duties, the night auditor may also work as a desk clerk during the night hours. At most larger facilities, night auditors will work with at least one other staff member at the desk and will only assist the other staff as needed. Duties at the desk might include checking in late arriving guests, making reservations for guests calling into the office, assisting guests with various needs (recommending restaurants, giving directions, etc.) and responding to guest complaints. Night auditors may work into the morning hours and assist other desk clerks with resolving guest problems, checking out guests and coordinating cleaning and other service personnel.

Qualifications and Career Potential

As most hotels and motels use automated systems to complete more complex accounting duties traditionally performed by a night auditor, most night auditor job openings only require applicants to have a high school diploma or graduate equivalent diploma (GED). However, many employers prefer to hire applicants with experience working in a hotel environment or in an accounting related position. Applicants must also possess at least a basic familiarity with computers in order to complete the job functions of a night auditor. Night auditors may advance into managerial positions over time as the night auditor generally works to complete a wide range of hotel tasks which helps them become familiar with the skills needed to operate a hotel.