Courses Offered and Course Description

HFT 3403
Introductory Management Accounting for the Hospitality Industry
Introduction and practice in accounting processes and the principles of hospitality management accounting. Prepares the student for work in advanced accounting and financial management.

HFT 4464
Interpretation and Analysis of Financial Statements
In-depth study of financial statements based on consideration of the significant relationships between the various accounts found on financial reports. The statement of changes in financial position is studied as a means of understanding management behavior and intentions. Trend analysis, ratio analysis and comparative analysis are studied as indicators of management quality in the areas of working capital management, financial management, operating management and investment management. An in-depth company study is required to complete this course.

HFT 4474
Profit Planning and Decision Making in the Hospitality Industry
Instructs students in the use of the various tools and techniques that are available for optimizing performance in working capital management, financial management, operating management and investment management. Students learn to use these tools through practice exercises. Budgeting, variance analysis, standard price/cost analysis, the impact of direct vs. indirect costs on decision making, cost-volume-profit analysis and rate of return calculations are covered in this course.

HFT 4474 WebCT
Profit Planning and Decision Making in the Hospitality Industry
Enables students to take this course entirely over the Internet. Method of presentation is changed completely to take advantage of the multimedia capabilities of a computer. But the content of the course is essentially the same as that of the regular HFT 4474 course described above.

Biography

Nestor Portocarrero is Professor of Accounting and Finance in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management of FIU, and has been a member of the faculty since 1981. He is a Certified Public Accountant, and has been involved in the audit of many enterprises. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a Certified Hospitality Educator. He was a member of the Profit Planning Department of the American Can Company, where he helped develop a formal budgeting process for the company. He has worked with Panama Airlines in their Miami Office and was the founder of the largest CPA firm in Nicaragua in 1972. He was also involved in the creation of several other business enterprises in Nicaragua.

Professor Portocarrero has co-authored three books and several articles in the hospitality industry. He has received two awards for excellence in teaching, two TIP awards (Teaching Incentive Program) and was voted by the Alumni at the 1995 homecoming to receive a plaque recognizing him as the professor who contributed the most to the academic growth of students at the Florida International University School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Professor Portocarrero obtained the James Bruce Wallace/Ruby Tuesday Scholarship fund for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and has raised substantial funds to finance the FIU Hospitality Review. He has been involved in various Search and Screen Committees, was a member of the FIU Faculty Senate, and has been a member of the FIU Undergraduate Council for more than six years. He is a past Chairman of the FIU Honorary Degrees and Awards Committee, as well as a member for several years.

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