Vice President, Finance, Ports & Infrastructure

Position: Vice President, Finance, Ports & Destinations Infrastructure
Where passion meets opportunity

The best of your adventures is the one you have yet to sail!

Your Purpose

The VP - Finance will provide executive-level financial oversight and operational coordination for a dynamic portfolio of entities (SPVs) active in the development and operation of cruise ports, cruise terminals, marinas, and other destination related infrastructure across the US, Bahamas, and the broader Caribbean region. Reporting directly to the Regional Infrastructure CEO and functionally to the Infrastructure Division Head of Finance, this role serves as a key regional representative, acting as an extension of the Group Headquarters in Geneva.

The position is responsible for overseeing daily financial operations, managing cross-border compliance, and liaising with local management and authorities. This executive will facilitate the regional strategy execution and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.

Your Impact

1. Financial Management & Operations:

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and cash management across regional SPVs.
• Implement and monitor financial KPIs tied to occupancy rates, cruise call volumes, passenger spending, and concessionaire revenues.
• Ensure financial operations across jurisdictions maintain transparency, efficiency, and compliance.

2. Operational Oversight:

• Supervise day-to-day financial operations of the SPVs.
• Liaise with contractors and local authorities on financial matters, resolving operational financial issues exceeding local teams' capabilities.
• Ensure alignment with Group policies and procedures, escalating strategic issues to Geneva Headquarters.

3. Stakeholder Relations:

• Act as the primary regional financial representative in discussions with cruise lines, port authorities, ministries of tourism, and sovereign wealth funds.
• Provide regional financial analysis, reporting, and insights to internal and external stakeholders as guided by the Group CFO organization.

4. Project Modeling & Financing Support:

• Support the Headquarters finance team in Geneva in financial modeling related to:
  • PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships)
  • Concession models and revenue-sharing agreements
  • Sovereign guarantees and multilateral development bank financing (e.g., IDB, CDB, IFC)
  • Structured financing scenarios
  • Risk and return assessments

5. Governance, Compliance & Risk:

• Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks, including:
• US GAAP/IFRS
  • Maritime and tourism-related tax laws
  • Governmental MOUs, leases, and concession terms
• Manage regional financial risks related to currency fluctuations, tourism seasonality, and sovereign negotiations.

6. Leadership & Team Building:

• Provide mentorship and leadership to regional finance teams across the US, Bahamas, and Caribbean.
• Collaborate closely with local operational teams, development, operations, and legal departments to manage projects from feasibility through operational execution.

Your Journey so far

Education:

• Master's degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or Infrastructure Investment.
• CPA, CFA, or infrastructure finance certification preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years of progressive financial leadership experience, including:
• At least 5 years in port development, tourism infrastructure, or transportation terminals.
• Proven familiarity with PPP structures, concessions, and international joint ventures.
• Deep understanding of sovereign and regulatory frameworks within the Caribbean region.

Technical & Leadership Skills:

• Solid understanding of port economics, cruise operations, and tourism-based revenue models.
• Familiarity with international capital structuring, debt/equity markets, and project finance.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and diplomatic skills, particularly in multi-stakeholder environments.

Location & Travel:

• Primary base:
  Miami, Nassau, or a key Caribbean port city (e.g., San Juan, Bridgetown, or St. George's).
• Travel Requirements:
  Approximately 40-60%, involving regular visits to regional port sites and government offices.

Reporting Line:

• Reports directly to Regional Infrastructure CEO.
• Reports functionally to the Group CFO
• Direct Reports:
  Regional Finance Directors, Regional Controllers.

Your Essentials

MSC Cruises USA is an equal opportunity employer that complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations. It is our policy to employ and promote qualified candidates without discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Our hiring decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications and business needs.

Our commitment

We are committed to building a future that values diverse perspectives, embraces the world beyond borders, and fosters an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, respected and empowered to be their authentic selves.

Our commitment extends to taking meaningful, measurable actions that have a long-term positive impact on our guests, our employees and our planet.

Ready to turn your passion into…