Resume

Weston A. Ross

westonross@outlook.com | (702) 401-8002 | linkedin.com/in/westonross

 

Professional Summary

A resourceful Senior Financial Analyst with a decade of experience architecting reporting solutions that solve complex business problems in the data-rich hospitality industry. A natural data storyteller who translates multifaceted operational data—from hotel labor to F&B performance—into clear, actionable insights. A proven technology evangelist who successfully champions the adoption of modern BI platforms and knows how to leverage AI as a productivity force-multiplier. A self-directed leader who thrives on transforming raw data into strategic assets and building for the future.

 

Technical Skills

Expert-Level Strengths

• Microsoft Power BI: Advanced DAX, Power Query (M), Data Modeling, End-to-End Report & Dashboard Development, App Workspaces, Automated Subscriptions with Power Automate
• Microsoft Excel: Advanced Formulas & Functions, Power Pivot, Data Connections, VBA & Macros
• SQL: Proficient in querying complex datasets across multiple platforms (SSMS, Snowflake, Teradata)

Enterprise System Exposure

• Experienced extracting and analyzing data from a wide range of corporate financial and BI platforms, including: SAP, Oracle, TM1, Longview, IBM Cognos, and SAP BusinessObjects.

AI-Driven Productivity & Problem Solving

• AI Evangelist & Early Adopter: Selected as a pilot user for Microsoft CoPilot, providing strategic feedback on new features and championing responsible AI adoption within the finance organization.
• AI-Assisted Development: Leverage AI tools to accelerate development, optimize code, and solve novel problems across a wide range of platforms and languages, including:
• Power Automate, Power Query (M), DAX, Excel, VBA, SQL, Python, HTML, C#, and PowerShell.

 

Professional Experience

The Walt Disney Company | Orlando, FL

Senior Financial Analyst – Reporting Optimization Center | October 2022 – Present

·         A highly autonomous role developing and optimizing financial reporting solutions for executives and operators across Walt Disney World's diverse business lines, including theme parks, resorts, and F&B.

Financial Reporting & BI Development:

• Developed and launched over a dozen high-impact Power BI dashboards, converting legacy reports into automated, interactive tools that provide a consistent and intuitive user experience.
• Architected the flagship EPCOT Festivals dashboard, delivering four major iterative versions and automated daily email recaps that provided critical, time-sensitive reporting to festival operators.
• Spearheaded the conversion of Disney Springs' primary finance reporting to Power BI, building a new OP Gross Revenue dashboard with a custom input form for enhanced usability.
• Built and deployed enhanced F&B Allocated Statement dashboards, introducing new Rate/Volume variance calculation views and a companion Excel report for deeper ad hoc analysis.
• Designed and implemented a daily F&B Item Movement dashboard with email subscriptions, providing granular, outlet-level insights into product performance to inform operational strategy.

Technology & Process Evangelism:

• Selected as a key pilot user for Microsoft AI CoPilot, providing strategic feedback and assessing capabilities to drive future productivity gains and automation opportunities across the finance organization.
• Acted as a primary internal consultant for partners across the business, providing expert guidance on Power BI development, Excel modeling, and SAP data pivots to elevate their analytical capabilities.
• Championed the adoption of the Power BI service for report publishing and automation, driving the team towards more modern, cloud-based BI solutions in alignment with the Finance Transformation initiative.
• Functioned as a key business data knowledge expert for the Finance Transformation team, documenting KPIs, data sources, system requirements, and standard operating procedures.

 

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership:

• Presented new tools and dashboards at high-profile showcases, including the FT BI Tools Showcase for EPCOT Festivals and a presentation to the Directors Forum.
• Initiated and developed a comprehensive team "playbook" in OneNote, documenting essential programs, resources, and data management processes to improve team onboarding and knowledge retention.
• Mentored and trained team members and partners of all levels on best practices for Power BI, SQL, and advanced Excel.
• Increased team productivity and workload management to the extent that a junior analyst position was not backfilled, absorbing responsibilities through enhanced automation and efficiency.

 

MGM Resorts International | Las Vegas, NV

Senior Financial Analyst – Mandalay Bay & Luxor FP&A | July 2021 – October 2022

• Acted as an early advocate for migrating the team's reporting from Excel to Power BI, demonstrating the value of interactive dashboards for analyzing complex resort operations.
• Managed relationships with operators to communicate operational data stories to senior leadership, understand customer service aspects of key metrics, and gather planning inputs.
• Developed, identified, and analyzed key metrics across diverse segments (casino, hotel, F&B, retail, entertainment) to explain trends, variances, and anomalies.
• Generated recurring reports and ad hoc analyses for P&L commentary, variance analysis, and weekly forecasting.

Financial Analyst & Business Analyst Roles | February 2017 – July 2021

• Focused on recurring performance reports and dashboards by manipulating large financial and operational datasets from sources including Cognos, Oracle, and SQL databases.
• Compared properties and periods at the division and outlet levels, highlighting operational insights and trends.
• Utilized Power BI and Excel to build automated, interactive, and dynamic reports for data storytelling.

 

Order Inn, Inc. | Las Vegas, NV

Operations and Analytics | May 2013 – February 2017

• Built and managed a comprehensive project management tool in Excel that tracked over 100 stages of sales market development.
• Identified and prioritized target markets for the sales team using lead ranking and map cluster analysis.
• Drafted weekly performance-optimized call center schedules for 50 agents utilizing Excel Solver.

 

Education

·         Master of Business Administration (MBA) – 2019 Western Governors University

o   Completed accelerated, self-paced program in 6 months via employer tuition reimbursement.

·         Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Minor in Entrepreneurship – 2012 University of Nevada, Las Vegas

o   Honors: College of Business Senator (CSUN Student Government), UNLV Economics Society,
Brother of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, multiple scholarships.

 

Additional Information

• Interests: Single-digit handicap golfer, skiing, hiking, V3-V4 at the bouldering gym, traveling
• Personal Development: Voracious reader of business, history, and sci-fi books. Regular listener of podcasts such as Acquired and All-In to stay current on technology and business strategy.