1. Profit Maximization and Revenue Generation
In my capacity as the hotel Director of Finance, I am tasked to lead and work with the hotel procurement
team and Senior Management to look at various opportunities to improve incremental profit generation. I
actively participate in all tender reviews to ensure year on year savings on all contracts. This includes
leveraging with all Hilton hotels in Malaysia to ensure we secure optimal pricing through economies of
scale. During the period 2009 to 2010, I have successfully brought down the credit card commission
rate from 1.7% to 1.34% which translates to circa RM1.0 million in savings to the hotel. I have also
successfully managed to place idle cash from operations in interest yielding deposits and this have
generated an average of RM240K interest income annually and I have also generated an additional
RM1.0 million interest income for FF&E reserves via interest negotiation and monitoring.
People Development
I have trained and developed 2 Assistant Financial Controllers while they were under my charge, and
they have since progressed and moved on in their careers as Directors of Finance in Guangdong, China
and Perth, Australia. With the current team of 26 headcount, I have put in place development plans and 5
have since been promoted to Section Heads. I have also seconded 2 Section Heads to assist the
Malaysia Hilton hotels in AR/Credit and Income Audit sections.
Forecasting
In my current capacity, I am training my assistant in forecasting as part of his development and I take on
a reviewer role. I ensure that the hotel forecast is within the target profit level and thereafter
communicate this to HODs to ensure focused team target. In 2010 the hotel won Hilton Asia Pacific’s
forecasting accuracy award during the Annual Finance Conference in Beijing.
Budgeting
I am responsible for the annual Operating Revenue/Expense plan and Capital plan which take place
every July/August of the year. I work closely with the HODs on setting targets for the following year’s
operations budget and also review the operating capital requirement based on the age of the assets and
needs. The operating plan is based on the target profit conversion, which is determined from the current
year forecast and the Capital plan is based on the Management Agreement terms. I am also involved in
the presentation to Hilton’s Asia Pacific Regional team in Singapore.
Internal Control/Sarbane-Oxley Compliance
During my tenure with Hilton Kuala Lumpur, the hotel achieved 100% compliance of SOX audit and a
score which exceeded 90% based on Hilton’s internal control program. The hotel is recognized as a
center of excellence for internal control compliance. Likewise in 2010 the hotel achieved 98% in Balance
Sheet accounts compliance. I have implemented a trimester internal control self-audit and formed a local
audit team to review compliance with Hilton’s Standard Practice Instruction and Internal Audit program.
Contract Review
I am involved in all contract drafting, negotiation and review, relating to procurement supplies,
maintenance, finance/banking arrangements and professional services. Working closely with Hilton’s
Legal Counsel or with external law firms in ensuring all contracts entered by the hotel are in line with
Hilton’s legal requirement and local jurisdictions. Negotiation process is focused on reducing rate and/or
value added to ensure contractual terms are favorable to the Hotel.
Insurance
I am responsible for reviewing all insurance policies and ensuring adequate insurance coverage in order
to minimize risk exposure of the hotel operations. This includes property and content, public liability,
crime, employee practice and marine. I also work with the Director of Human Resources in the annual
tendering of Employee Benefits program for our 766 employees. I am act as the liaison person between
the hotel, insurance company and adjuster in the event of claims.
Legal
In the past 3 years with Hilton Kuala Lumpur, I actively participated in various legal issues faced by the
hotel. The issues ranged from infringement of patent/trademark to guest related cases.