1. MARION STOUTE
mhstoute@gmail.com www.linkedin/in/marionstoute 904-318-8837
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Experienced finance and operations Director for a Division of over 100 retaildepartment stores in a three
state territory. Skilled at leadership, team building and mentoring to achieve collaboration and partnership
to complete projects or exceed goals. Proven problem solver, skilled at mobilizing cross-functional response
for a rangeof problems including people, systems, and physical property (including natural disasters). Core
strength in:
 Accounting Process Optimization  Leading Project Teams
 Executing Capital Investment Projects  Cross-function Communications
 Budgeting & Expense Analysis  Troubleshooting & Problem Solving
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BELK, INC. (Southern Division), Buford, GA / Jacksonville, FL 1999 – 2016
Retail department store chain doing business in 15 states that employs nearly 10,000 employees.
Director of Operations and Expense (2009 – 2016)
Provided Operational and Expense direction and guidance for over 100 department stores with sales volume
over $1B. Interceded when stores experienced problems with getting capital projects or repairs completed
appropriately. Budgeted operational expense, monitoring for variances, researching to determine root cause
and solutions. Audited stores for compliance to Safety Training, company policies and cash office procedures.
 Achieved savings of over $500k per year in utilities expense by implementing new policies and
procedures developed by my Six Sigma committee.
 Improved Internal Audit grade for Cash Office from a C averageto and A average by creating new
process improvements and training, conducting training webinars twice yearly.
 Achieved reduction of stores’ petty cash spending by 50% compared to other Divisions, by creating
and implementing new training and accountability.
 Managed Division transition to use of a Property Management firm, JLL (Jones, Lang LaSalle).
 Led Division to company-best results by reducing delinquencies in individual and store use of
corporate credit cards by developing training and monitoring for compliance following participation
in the development team to customize and implement company-wide use of Concur to replace use
of manual expense reports.
Manager of Operations and Expense (2005 – 2009)
Provided Operational and Expense direction and guidance for @75 department stores with sales volume over
$750M. In addition to duties previously described, supervised and approved all repairs and maintenance,
approving quotes and invoices. With corporate partner advice, interviewed and contracted for HVAC and
Housekeeping services.
 Implemented Division Chairman’s emergency response to Hurricane Katrina, as all Gulf Coast stores
were in our Division. The most devastated store, located only feet from the Gulf in Biloxi, reopened
in two months, long before other retailers reopened, a community service.
 Awarded Division Outstanding Leadership and Commitment following our 2005 Hurricane Katrina
response.
 Developed and presented training for two new retail chains purchased and integrated into Belk
stores Divisions, Profitts and McRaes.
 Facilitated the relocation of the Division office from Jacksonville, FL to Buford, GA, setting up the new
office, packing and moving the old office, assisting to move 15 families.

2. Marion Stoute Page 2
904-318-8837 mhstoute@gmail.com
Financial Manager (1999 – 2005)
Provided Operational and Financial direction and guidance for @50 department stores with sales volume of
nearly $500M.
 Won the Alligator Award during the annual recognition at Belk Pinnacle Awards.
 Supervised the process to relocate more than 50 families during a major restructure.
 Assumed partial responsibility for the HR functions during a major restructure and with no HR
Manager in place.
 Launched introduction and use of the new Belk proprietary Inventory process. Prepared and
presented training materials, traveling to supervise many Inventories. Later transitioned
responsibility for Inventory to the Loss Prevention Manager.
 Trained stores to properly process invoices.
 Prepared budgets and financial analysis.
BELK, INC. 1989 – 1999
Controller, Gastonia, NC (1998 – 1999)
Provided financial direction and supervision for 15 stores with sales volume of $125M. Prepared budgets and
financial analysis, in addition to supervising Inventory.
 Completed preparedness for Y2K transition.
 Created merchandise processing solution for new store behind on construction.
Assistant Controller, Charleston, SC (1995 – 1998)
Supervised accounting department for 25 stores with sales volume of $200M.
 Hired and trained new staff following relocation and consolidation.
 Developed new functional alignment of staff and created new accounting processes.
 Improved ranking of the accounting department from worst of 12 Divisions to top 3. Developed
documentation of entire process to present to corporate Controllers as they prepared to take over
most accounting functions.
Controller, Spartanburg, SC (1993 – 1995)
Provided all accounting and budgeting for 5 stores with sales volume of $35M.
Sr. Accountant, Greenville, SC (1989 – 1993)
Provided accounting and reconciliations for 6 stores with sales volume of $150M.
EDUCATION
BS, Accounting, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
BA, English, Minor in German, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
PROFICIENCIES
Lawson, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Hyperion, Concur