Ship Chief Purser, Fixed Term

The Chief Purser is responsible for the financial accounting and cash management processes on board the ship, as well as ensuring the smooth embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.

The role involves managing and accounting for all transactions as well as dealing with a number of different stakeholders from third party suppliers to provide financial reports to head office efficiently and effectively. The Chief Purser will be charged with safeguarding the assets onboard the ship, continually seek to drive process improvement forward in order to tighten controls and reduce the financial & non-financial risks to Marella Cruise. The role holder will be expected to display high levels of customer service alongside the Hotel Manager.

What you will be doing

Key Financial Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• To assist head office in any way required to ensure the smooth running of the cruise business.
• To prepare the ‘End of Cruise Report’ detailing the cash movements as well as the income & expenses for each sailing.
• To supervise shore excursion sales, reconcile concession sales reports and oversee all bar accounting functions.
• The Chief Purser is solely responsible for the processing of credit cards payments and refunds.
• To maintain funds on behalf of Thomson and CSS, keeping them secured and properly accounted for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• To ensure the risk of ‘bad debts’ is reduced by overseeing the blocking of customer accounts in accordance with the ‘Onboard Finance Procedures’.
• To maintain and operate the ship’s FX bureau for the currency exchange needs of all passengers.
• To maintain cash levels in the main cashbook and the FX bureau within acceptable levels, as well as organize cash on loads and offloads as required.
• To prepare cash offloads for pick up by courier and complete the necessary paperwork.
• To perform monthly cash counts with the Thomson Manager in order to give assurances over the cash balances held on board, which can reach £200k.
• To ensure that the cash floats kept by staff members does not exceed the limits set in the ‘Onboard Finance Procedures’.
• To ensure the ‘Onboard Finance Procedures’ are followed by all onboard, and to drive process improvement forward in order to reduce risk further.
• To own the quarterly ‘self-audit’ to ensure the controls onboard the ship are in operation.
• Properly co-ordinate and account for salary advances and salary payments to Crew on board and ensure there is enough cash on board for payments.

Key Non-Financial Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• To oversee every aspect of the Purser’s Department, ensuring that company service, administration and guest services in relation to port clearance, embarkation and disembarkation standards are met.
• To assist with the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers (as appropriate).
• To ensure that all crew passports, visas, qualification certificates and other required joining documents are correct and valid.
• To take care of all administrative duties involved in the sign on / sign off of crew members.
• To prepare customs and immigration documentation, ship manifests for clearance inwards and outwards in all ports. Liaise with port officials, port agents etc.
• To ensure compliance with port papers and documents as required by all ports visited. To review and sign all above documents.
• To maintain an environment that promotes, encourages and supports office accord that facilitates developing the full potential of the Purser’s team.
• To supervise training among the purser’s department personnel and to hold regular assessment and evaluation of purser staff.
• To disseminate safety information to passengers (as appropriate).
• To monitor and control the “Visa Card Collection” procedure.

What we are looking for

• Accounting knowledge & experience
• 2 or more years Chief Purser Experience
• Ability to build effective relationships with non-finance teams
• Ability to get into the detail, understand what drives profit onboard the ship and implement changes to continuously improve.
• Pro-active in recommending and implementing changes to make processes more efficient and accounts more transparent & continually improve controls to minimize risk
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Good communication skills

Working within TUI group

TUI UK and Ireland is the UK’s largest tour operator with key brands including TUI, First Choice, Marella Cruises and Crystal Ski Holidays. Sub brands include Sensatori, Sensimar, and Family Life, as well as First Choice Holiday Villages and SplashWorld Resorts. Our airline is the UK’s third largest with 62 aircraft operating to over 88 destinations in 30 countries. We have a team of more than 10,000 employees serving over 5.5 million customers each year.

It’s our people that make us number one

TUI Group is the leading tourism business with over 67,000 employees across the world.  The Group includes our unique hotel portfolio, our cruise ships, our own aircraft, tour operators, travel agencies, and much more.  At TUI, we have embarked on a journey of development towards a more digital, connected and integrated future.  But we haven’t arrived there yet. Join us now and shape the future of travel.

How to apply

Apply online, we just need a few details from you and your CV.

*Please note should you be successful for this role your employment company will be Crew People International Ltd (CPIL), this role is working on board Marella Cruises.