Director of Finance
Resume:
DOUGLAS R. WARYAS
Austin, TX
**********@*******.***
www.linkedin.com/in/dougwaryas
Finance Professional
Dedicated, team-focused leader with significant experience in all phases of decentralized accounting. Keen ability to lead all levels of professionals through complicated business situations while focusing on both internal and external customer expectations. Highly motivated, self-starter with high attention to detail and a desire to elevate expectations.
Budgeting/Forecasting
Audit Experience
Staff Development/Training
Guest Service Focused
Considerable Hotel Opening Experience
ERP Design and Implementation
Due Diligence
Financial Report Interpretation
Professional Experience
MIRAVAL AUSTIN RESORT AND SPA, Austin, TX Jan 2017-July 2020
Director of Finance
Led all on-property financial and transactional activities associated with the closure of Travaasa Austin, and the re-branding and re-opening of Miraval Austin under the ownership of Hyatt Corporation.
Highly involved with all financial reporting related to operations pre and post-closure related to cash flow forecasting, actively managing pre-opening expenses, and preparing first year business plans in line with proforma expectations.
Actively involved with all hotel departments during re-opening related to SOP roll-outs, systems training, and overall financial expectations.
Worked directly with the Finance and IT team to deliver above-standard levels of service to other departments, hotel ownership and guests. All Accounting and IT staff were recognized as leaders/associates of the quarter during the first year of operations.
Successfully led Hyatt’s internal audit process, the first internal audit at the hotel in over a decade.
HOTEL GRANDUCA AUSTIN, Austin, TX Feb 2015-Sep 2016
Director of Finance
Responsible for all pre-opening finance activities as well as continuing day-to-day accounting responsibilities for a new-build luxury hotel including development, management, and delivery of a complete pre-opening budget.
Produced SOPs to define processes and procedures for how the Accounting and IT departments functioned.
Interfaced with off-site IT support team to schedule, configure, install, and train specific associates on all hotel systems.
Developed team of highly qualified associates to handle the daily accounting responsibilities including many non-interfaced systems. The majority of templates and checklists currently used were developed independently from the ground up on new systems. Reconfigured Chart of Accounts to fit property operations; redefined Food and Beverage financial reporting.
Worked collectively with the Executive Leadership Team to identify vendors, contracts, service standards, hire hourly and managerial staff, and provide general leadership and direction on a multitude of fronts.
Developed rolling forecasts, stub-year and first year operating budgets; redefined monthly financial critiques.
LIVE OAK LODGING, Marble Falls, TX Feb 2012-Feb 2015
Corporate Controller
Led financial management, reporting, and cash management for eight entities (owned and managed) as well as a hotel management company.
Streamlined cash projections to manage liabilities across all entities simultaneously.
Worked with ownership to facilitate the due diligence process required to finance new properties currently under development.
DOUGLAS R. WARYAS PAGE TWO
Implemented balance sheet reconciliations and streamlined all manual reports to reduce monthly closing cycle by days.
Developed ad hoc reports to aid ownership including Forecasting Reports, Capital Planning, and Cash Flow Projections.
Implemented standards within payroll and general ledger systems in order to avoid tax compliance issues.
THE DRISKILL HOTEL, Austin, TX Jun 2007-Sep 2011
Controller
Responsible for all finance and accounting staff which helped to streamline overall operations and helped to grow revenues and occupancy each year.
Created and implemented standards to provide stability and consistency in daily hotel and Accounting operations.
Successfully funded $4M renovation in 2008 through existing hotel cash flow.
Responsible for yearly zero-based budgeting for both operations and capital, as well as monthly re-forecasting of same, working to involve all areas of the hotel in profit strategies and assisting in defining common financial goals.
Participated in hotel refinancing in 2010 with a new preferred equity partner, providing all necessary backup, due diligence, and adjusting entries.
Successfully worked with all departments to reduce costs through strict labor and controllable cost management to improve margins in nearly all areas and boosting bottom line profit.
Worked extensively with internal and external auditors on items relating to both operations and recapitalization. Successfully completed state audits for sales, occupancy, and beverage with no necessary adjusting entries.
Prior Professional Experience
W NEW ORLEANS HOTEL, New Orleans, LA Oct 2002-Jun 2007
Director of Finance
COSTA DO SAUIPE MARRIOTT/RENAISSANCE COSTA DO SAUIPE RESORT, Bahia, Brazil Sep 2000-Sep 2002
Director of Finance
RENAISSANCE JAMAICA GRANDE, Ocho Rios, Jamaica Sep 1998-Sep 2000
Financial Controller
MARRIOTT CASTLE HARBOUR RESORT, Bermuda May 1998-Sep 1998
Task Force-Assistant Controller
RENAISSANCE GRAND BEACH RESORT, St. Thomas, USVI Apr 1996-May1998
Assistant Controller/Director of MIS
RENAISSANCE AUSTIN HOTEL, Austin, TX Dec 1990-Apr 1996
Various Roles
Education
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Major, Hospitality Services Administration
Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, 1990
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