Raghunath Debur Venkatanarayana

Experience: 47 years of experience in Finance at reputed companies. 27 years of experience in the hospitality in the areas of Finance, Audits, Fraud investigation & Risk matrix at a Senior Management level. 20 years rendered service In several industries like Flexi Spacing, consumables, Manufacturing, retail etc., from the lower level to the Middle Management level. The latest assignment, was at CLAYWORKS, from 2022 October to 2023 November 2023, a Flexi spacing start up industry as an Asst. Vice President- Finance. year. During this tenure, a business magazine TRADE FOLKS selected me as one of THE TEN BEST FINANCE LEADERS IN INDIA FOR THE YEAR 2023 and published an article in their magazine. Finance professional with proven ability to drive financial strategy and manage complex financial operations. Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis coupled with strong leadership skills. Known for fostering team collaboration and achieving results while adapting to changing business needs. Adept at implementing financial controls and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Experienced with financial management, strategic planning, and risk assessment. Utilizes deep insights into financial markets to drive company profitability and sustainability. Strong understanding of compliance regulations and financial reporting standards.

• Selected as one of THE TEN BEST FINANCE LEADERS IN INDIA FOR THE YEAR 2023 by TRADE FOLKS.
• Successfully implemented Cost Centre Concept at Mahindra Holidays.
• Introduced innovative handling of night audits at Mahindra Holidays.
• Controlled three properties during due diligence for ACCOR group.

• Pan Number: AAN PR00974P
• Passport Number: R 4677866
• Passport Expiry Date: 09/21/27
• Date of Birth: 04/27/56

EXCERPTS OF THE INTERVIEW WITH TRADE FLOC AFTER NOMINATING AS BEST FINANCE LEADER 

For someone who believes that age is just a  number, Raghunath Debur is the living  embodiment of a relentless commitment  to his craft. With an illustrious career  spanning 45 years in the realms of finance and  auditing, his journey reads like a testament to  unwavering dedication and unyielding passion.  In his 45-year career, Raghunath dedicated 25 years  to hospitality, three to the service industry, and 17 to  diverse sectors, including retail and non-retail industries. His career has been punctuated by pivotal roles in  internal audits, where he has donned titles such as  VP-audits, associate director-audits, and director-audits.  Notably, he has also operated his own consultancy with a  significant focus on the hospitality industry for a decade.  Raghunath’s journey had its humble beginnings in the  era of manual accounting, where typewriters and ledger  books were the tools of the trade. In 1976, he embarked on his career as an account assistant  at a Mumbai-based manufacturing company's Bangalore  branch. Here, he immersed himself in branch accounting,  store management, billing, collections, and expense control.  In an era of manual general ledgers, financial intricacies  demanded relentless attention, with errors translating to  sleepless nights to reconcile the trial balance. This immersive experience extended through roles at  renowned companies like Usha, ECE, and Prakash Tubes  Ltd., laying the foundation for his first 12 years in finance.  However, a pivotal shift occurred when he joined the  UB Group, delving into finance and accounting  roles encompassing receivables, expense control  accounts, and sales-related activities. His  Raghunath  Debur Assistant Vice President Finance,  ClayWorks The Chronicle of an Extraordinary  Finance Maestro 10 Best Leaders from Finance in India 2023 28 outstanding contributions led to global recognition,  with invitations to present papers on receivable  controls, breweries, and branch cost controls  during the 75th Platinum Jubilee celebrations  in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and London. His career transformation blossomed in the  hospitality industry, where he rapidly ascended  from middle management to senior levels,  navigating the transition to computerization  seamlessly. Tenures with renowned hospitality  brands like Mahindra & Mahindra, Taj,  Leisure Lodges, and IHG Group, coupled with  collaborations with esteemed auditors like PKF  and Shankar & Sanketh, firmly established his  reputation as a finance maverick. Raghunath's journey epitomises enduring  curiosity, adaptability, and unwavering  commitment as he now leads ClayWorks Spaces  Technologies as its assistant vice president of  finance. With each chapter, he not only embraced  change but thrived within it, crafting a remarkable  saga of financial prowess and leadership. How do you balance long-term  strategy with short-term business  demands as a financial leader? Balancing short-term and long-term financial  priorities is essential for success. I achieve this by  setting clear goals, assessing their urgency, and  devising a holistic strategy. This approach involves  continuous monitoring, adapting as needed, and  consistently working towards milestones. Regarding capital investments in workplace  and real estate solutions, my experience in  internal audits has highlighted the importance  of risk assessment and process classification.  In the co-spacing industry, where ClayWorks  operates, I emphasise diligent analysis of  funds and cash flows. This data-driven  approach enables informed decision-making  and ensures that potential risks are carefully  weighed against potential rewards in a  dynamic, expansion-focused environment. In a co-working space with fluctuating  occupancy, how do you ensure cash  flow and financial stability? Co-working is a dynamic market. Effectively  managing cash flow and ensuring financial  stability amid revenue fluctuations hinges on  three primary income streams. Contractual  rentals provide a stable foundation, with longterm commitments maintaining consistent  occupancy. Meeting room revenue operates  similarly to hotel room sales, requiring  proactive sales and marketing efforts to  sustain bookings from repeat clients and  online channels. Dedicated desks and day passes, akin to  walk-in customers, contribute minimally but  often rely on leads from existing contractual  and meeting room clients. To ensure stability  and precise revenue projections, historical  data from the corresponding month in  the previous year is instrumental, while  incentivizing the sales team remains crucial  for driving new business opportunities. In your extensive finance career,  what stands out as your most  significant achievement, and why? My most significant financial achievement  occurred during the COVID pandemic, while  I served as a finance controller for a Nairobi  hotel. Occupancy dropped drastically from  60–90% to 5–10%, raising viability concerns.  Collaborating with HR, I reduced the  workforce from 300 to 144 and implemented  cost controls. This reduced the breakeven  point from 44 million to 28 million. My  extensive internal audit experience and  exposure to global audits played a pivotal role  in effectively contributing to the organisation  during this challenging period. Throughout your career journey, has  there been a consistent financial  philosophy or principle that has  guided your decision-making? Throughout my career, my guiding financial  philosophy has been rooted in integrity, ethics,  and a strong code of conduct. I lead by example,  readily getting involved to support my team when  needed, and I place a high value on building and  nurturing effective teams while involving the core  team in decision-making processes. Looking ahead, I firmly believe that age is  merely a number, and I remain committed to  continuous learning and contributing to my  company's success. My primary goal is to be  a dedicated team member and play my part  in ClayWorks' growth within the real estate  industry. My individual goal is to contribute my  knowledge and commitment to the Hospitality  Industry and Real Estate or any other service  industry where I have specialised. I also look  forward to consulting assignments in risk matrix,  assurance process and its mitigation.