F&B Cost Specialist

Job description

At Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, our team members get to make a difference and have fun every day. Our world-class team brings to life the incredible, award-winning hotels located at Universal Orlando Resort. Named one of Central Florida’s Top Workplaces and one of America’s Best-in-State Employers by Forbes, we are committed to our “power of we” culture. Are you looking for a place where you can bring your authentic self to work every day and be able to connect, engage and delight? We offer excellent benefits and perks including one free meal per shift and free theme park access. We have a dynamic culture that makes every day interesting, challenging, fulfilling and fun. We embrace diversity at our core and offer the opportunity for all team members to reach their potential. We invest in training and development opportunities for all team members. We promote social responsibility by being a good neighbor in the community. We care for you, just as we care for others. Who We Are : Founded in 1960, Loews Hotels & Co operates iconic hotels and resorts across the U.S. Together, our diverse and welcoming teams craft exceptional experiences in iconic destinations. Growth and belonging start here ; you’ll be valued for who you are and the goals you have. Whether your next career chapter involves making memories for guests or supporting our properties in our Corporate Office, every role—from Guest Services to Finance, Culinary to IT—offers opportunities to grow and make a meaningful impact. Creating a Team Member experience where you belong no matter what race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status that makes you, you is a daily focus for us. About Lakewood Regional Support Our regional support center provides resources to our hotels for multiple areas including Human Resources, Engineering, Purchasing, Accounting, Security, Group Reservations, Guest Contact Center, Information Technology, Laundry and Communications. What We’re Looking For: A detail-oriented and analytical professional to support Food & Beverage and Finance operations through accurate cost reporting, inventory management, and financial analysis. This role is responsible for monitoring food and beverage costs, reviewing purchasing activity, maintaining inventory accuracy, and producing key operational and financial reports that support profitability and compliance. The F&B Cost Specialist will partner closely with Culinary, Operations, Finance, Purchasing, and Storeroom teams to identify cost-saving opportunities, ensure adherence to purchasing standards, and maintain the integrity of food and beverage cost controls across the campus. Who you Are: An analytical and detail-oriented professional with a strong understanding of food and beverage cost controls, inventory management, and financial reporting. A collaborative team player who effectively partners with Culinary, Operations, Purchasing, Finance, and Storeroom teams to support business objectives. A proactive problem-solver who identifies variances, investigates discrepancies, and recommends solutions that improve profitability and operational efficiency. A highly organized communicator with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accuracy, and clearly present findings and recommendations. A self-motivated professional who values compliance, continuous improvement, and maintaining the integrity of operational and financial data in a fast-paced hospitality environment. What You’ll Do: Prepare and distribute daily, weekly, and monthly Food & Beverage cost reports, including cost percentage analyses, menu mix reporting, and operational cost flashes. Review purchasing activity for pricing trends, specification compliance, and adherence to corporate purchasing programs, reporting findings to management. Monitor actual food and beverage costs against theoretical and budgeted targets, analyze variances, and provide explanations and recommendations. Track and report key metrics, including food cost per cover, inventory turnover, and other operational performance indicators. Maintain pricing standards and ensure accuracy of cost-related data within POS and inventory management systems. Monitor and maintain inventory records, including product pricing, pack sizes, and perpetual inventory balances. Conduct inventory audits and spot checks to ensure inventory accuracy, compliance, and proper control procedures. Train and support operational teams on purchasing processes, inventory management tools, count procedures, and system utilization. Monitor dead stock and excess inventory, partnering with operations to reduce waste and maximize product utilization. Perform cost control audits, including invoice reviews, pricing verification, beverage controls, and inventory compliance checks. Review recipes, portioning standards, and menu costing to ensure consistency, accuracy, and profitability. Collaborate with Finance, Accounts Payable, and Operational teams to resolve billing issues, address cost concerns, and support overall cost-control initiatives. Your Experience Includes: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related discipline preferred. Experience in Food & Beverage cost control, purchasing, inventory management, accounting, finance, or a related field; hospitality industry experience preferred. Knowledge of food and beverage products, receiving procedures, storage practices, inventory controls, and production processes. Experience analyzing financial and operational data, identifying trends, and preparing management reports. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, with the ability to organize and analyze data efficiently. Experience with hospitality systems such as ADACO, Doc-Link, POS platforms, Oracle, or similar inventory and financial management systems is preferred.