Deborah Cooley Email & Phone Number

Rolling Meadows, Il, Us

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Irving, Texas, Us

Founded 35 years ago and rebranded Spire Hospitality, the company provides hotel management services encompassing all aspects from sales/marketing, operations, food & beverage, personnel, accounting and owner relations. Portfolio includes Marriott, Hilton, IHG and non-branded properties. Responsible for accounting services in compliance with accounting standards, owner expectations and lender reporting. Created Internal Audit function to strengthen compliance and improve the overall control environment. Led the implementation of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (11th edition). Reviewed Company’s policies and procedures and implemented additional procedures to strengthen controls. Developed the Treasury function to manage cash and banking activities. Built quarterly income tax projections for external tax group. Oversaw quarterly compliance testing for REIT entities. Coordinated annual external audits for hotel properties. Responsible for loan compliance reporting, including debt covenants. Restructured the accounting function to streamline workflow to produce greater efficiencies. Prepare and administer performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, and performance development plans. Collaborate with Human Resources to create specific staffing levels and performance expectations and objectives. Lead hiring decisions in the accounting function. Provide training on relevant accounting topics, company policies and procedures, internal/external audit objectives and other topics. Successfully completed accounting system migration project eliminating the need to utilize separate systems. Introduced several technology tools that generated efficiencies in capturing and reporting financial data. Key role in the implementation of Profit Sword to provide enhanced operational reporting. Actively perform accounting due diligence on hotel acquisitions and dispositions. Integrate acquired hotels to new management company format.

Wyndham Worldwide acquired Shell Vacations LLC in 2012 and continues to operate the Shell Vacation Club within Wyndham Vacation Ownership. As last senior executive retained, aggressively led a 7 month transition of ownership from the privately held company to Wyndham's public reporting environment. Within the first 3 months of the change in ownership, redesigned the financial statement close process to reduce the closing period by 11-14 days to comply with the new 4 business day close requirement.Participated in purchase accounting discussions and development of adjustments for fair value reporting. Intimately involved in transition of accounting function, working closely with Wyndham management to identify and resolve issues and ensure the smooth transfer of all books and records and ultimately the closure of the Northbrook, IL office. Served as a resource to Wyndham on accounting questions and matters subsequent to the office closure.

Northbrook, Il, Us

Founded in 1963, Shell Vacations was one of the pioneers in the vacation ownership industry and recognized as one of the most respected independent developers of vacation ownership resorts in the United States. Shell was also one of the largest independent vacation ownership companies in the United States with over 100,000 owners and members, 1,500+ employees and 22 properties.Orchestrated the accounting and audit function for this multi-dimensional Hospitality/Real Estate organization with revenues in excess of $300M. Actively involved in all accounting and audit activities including GAAP accounting, internal control process, revenue recognition, monthly close process, financial statement distribution, cash management, banking, sales reporting, inventory control, tax compliance and audit and tax reporting coordination. Significant experience in managing large staff levels with outstanding results in staff retention and development programs. Directly involved in offshore outsourcing partnership and proven leadership in project management, such as payroll conversions and general ledger system upgrades. Engaged in due diligence work on prospective acquisitions, impacting the monetary valuation of the assets and liabilities ranging from $2m to $17m. Handled acquisition accounting and post implementation of new properties into the corporate structure. Analyzed cash flow through economic crisis ensuring Company's obligations and payroll were satisfied. Developed custom cash management reporting tool to aid the business in projecting cash flow sources and uses to determine potential excess cash over required cash outflows. Restructured the accounting department to maintain its quality output while absorbing a 30% personnel reduction. Negotiated credit card facility for vendor payment programs with estimated $30m annual spend. Primary contact for all banking matters. Managed Treasury function involving 8 banking institutions and over 300 accounts.

Northbrook, Il, Us

Initially oversaw the accounting function for the hospitality division of the Company and then eventually expanded oversight to the timeshare division in 2006. Interpreted and reported financial data of various business aspects (entity, business line, company) for management, investors, and lenders enabling knowledgeable and timely decision making.Built a superior accounting department of 50+ employees, establishing technical and educational accounting qualifications. Significantly improved quality of employee output and employee retention. Assumed control for hiring field office accounting personnel and created direct reporting relationships to corporate office. Created professional development program and incorporated training requirements into annual performance assessments. Training program empowered staff to incorporate processing improvements into their work. Introduced incentive program to recognize staff for significant contributions and effort. This program improved employee morale and contributed to staff retention. Collaborated with Human Resource function to create department specific staffing levels, performance expectations and objectives. Developed stronger objective based performance standards.Orchestrated an outsourcing partnership for certain accounting functions resulting in approximately $500k cost savings over a 5 year period. Analyzed cash flow through economic crisis ensuring Company's obligations and payroll were satisfied. Developed custom cash management reporting tool to aid the business in projecting cash flow sources and uses to determine potential excess cash over required cash outflows. Oversaw 3 payroll conversions and provided key role in design and implementation of new general ledger system across 4 business units impacting 75+ legal entities.

Northbrook, Il, Us

Provided financial analysis on vacation ownership division to sales management and CFO. Participated in significant debt refinancing in 2003 including application stages and implementation and disclosures. Actively involved in lender compliance areas. Engaged in tax compliance and reporting for various taxing authorities.

Worldwide, Oo

Effectively managed numerous teams in the completion and delivery of risk-based audit services, financial and accounting projects, including the performance of due diligence work, acquisition target investigation, identifying and resolving purchase accounting issues, and completing stub period audits. Performed research on accounting issues, interpretation and implementation of new accounting pronouncements, and financial statement disclosures and regulatory filings. Monitored engagement profitability including managing key elements such as budgets, expenses, cost overruns, cost recoveries and achieving target measurements for profit margins and rates per hour.Developed key communication skills though participation in formal presentations, oral and written communications and client discussions.Deployed the Firm’s formal career mentoring program and informal mentoring process. Consistently received high rankings in the Firm’s annual upward evaluation process for seniors and staff. Conducted numerous local, regional and national training courses in the field of accounting and auditing. Received National certification by the Firm to instruct national based training courses.

Worldwide, Oo

Acquired strong skills in auditing and internal controls in manufacturing and non-profit industries. Client base included both private and public businesses. Continued career growth from audit staff to supervising senior from 1992-1996. Promoted to Manager prior to transferring to the Chicago office in 1997.

New York, Ny, Us

Handled the entire reconciliation process for 100+ cash accounts for residential and commercial field offices in the Western region. Produced and distributed monthly cash operating statements to 300 offices nationwide. Successfully developed and implemented corporate cash reconciliation procedures to provide timely response to accounting issues, questions raised by the field offices, resolution of reconciling items and journal entry processing. Contributed to the annual 1099 reporting process and in the preparation of Franchise Tax Returns for partnerships and joint ventures.

Worked as Bookkeeper while attending college full-time. Engaged in general accounting and bookkeeping for 6-8 small businesses. Duties included accounts receivable/payable, bank reconciliations, payroll and monthly closing entries. Completed customized reports for sales tax, payroll and state/local taxing agencies. Generated monthly financial statements and assisted in the preparation of cash flow statements and cash flow projections.