Matthew Zappone

Deliver insightful, actionable and timely analyses to drive financial results for Marriott’s North American lodging business.Proactively identify and assess opportunities for increased profitability through return on investment and benchmarking analyses.Determine profitability and potential financial risk associated with new brand concepts.Manage periodic operating margin review process for all key lodging brands.Assist in the development of yearly operating margin targets.Supervise and foster development for one associate.

Key Accomplishments:

• Primary Finance department lead on the reorganization of the Sales & Marketing department for 85 hotels and regional offices in the Southern CA, Phoenix, and Las Vegas markets.  Worked closely with multiple stakeholders in S&M, HR and Regional teams over 4 months to identify cost savings needed to $8M gap in business case.

• Lead in-depth analysis of controllable spending in Rooms, Food & Beverage, G&A, Repair & Maintenance, and Sales & Marketing departments designed to identify opportunities for margin improvement in comparable full service hotels. Analysis yielded potential, sustainable savings of nearly $45M through development of targeted metrics.

• Developed comprehensive, automated operating profit forecasting model in Excel which improved accuracy and decreased time required for the long range planning process. 

• Performed detailed review of Ritz Carlton operations to determine actionable and sustainable recommendations to improve operating margin.Analysis identified $20M in potential savings.

• Assisted in the development of the business cases for multiple brand projects including the new JW lounge concept and the SpringHill Suites LEED prototype.
• Mentored 2 associates over the past year

Oversaw the proper recognition of profit contribution and fee deferral related to 1,700 domestic franchised properties. Certified revenues were recorded in compliance with owner agreements and US GAAP. Assisted in fee planning activities to ensure forecasts and budgets reflect contractually compliant estimates.Assured quarterly compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act through comprehensive general ledger reconciliations.Supervised and mentored two staff accountants.

Key Accomplishments:

• Developed and streamlined revenue recognition process for 460 domestic managed limited service hotels.  Process enhancements significantly reduced the month end close process by 5 days and simultaneously provided greater assurance on existing receivable balances and fee income recognized.
• Created comprehensive yet user-friendly fee models to assist with long range planning process, yearly budeting process and security analyst conference.

Ensured compliance with all reporting requirements per management agreements for twelve separate owner groups.Managed balance sheet and distribution letter preparation process.Assured quarterly compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act through comprehensive general ledger reconciliations.Coordinated interim and yearly audits and prepare PBCs.Supervised two financial analysts.

Key Accomplishments:

• Created and automated performance benchmarking reports for an owner portfolio consisting of 120 properties and a separate entire brand consisting of 110 properties
• Developed analysis which uncovered $2.0 million in uncollected land rent revenue
• Conceptualized property scorecard reporting template and assisted in implementation to all Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn and Towne Place Suite hotels
• Performed situational analysis and analyzed potential guarantee funding

Managed transactional analyses, owner distribution preparation and P&L variance analyses for five separate owner portfolios while overseeing one staff accountant.Monitored and reported on receivables, related reserves and reimbursements to Marriott from owners for operating expenses, capital expenditures and other contractual obligations.Analyzed compliance with purchase price adjustments related to asset sale transactions.

Key Accomplishments:

• Directed all cross-portfolio projects for managed communities including long-range plans and operating budgets.
• Developed working capital analysis for over 100 communities to assist CFO in sale of divisionfor which special recognition was received.

Generated yearly budgets for Local market Customer Service and Telemarketing departments.Provided budget sensitivity analysis, expense forecasts, and accounting support for five operations support departments.Published weekly and monthly operational results to senior management.

Created and maintained the division operating budget and product specific proforma models for seven different bank products.Generated monthly performance reports for both Senior VP and CFO.Managed dealer reserve accounts for 750 automobile dealers.