SUMMARY

I am an experienced accounting and finance executive with solid regional CFO role of more than 8 years handling a commercial unit for a top brand FMCG for a role of Finance and Administration Manager and prior thereto, in a hotel and restaurant industry for a role of Financial Controller. I have recently added Logistics on my Resume as the current Plant Logistics Manager for Universal Robina Corporation’s (URC) sugar division biggest mill and only power cogeneration plant, Southern Negros Development Corporation (Sonedco) based in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. URC is the “first Philippine multinational” and largest listed food company and its Sugar and Renewable Energy Division is the largest producing sugar business covering mill and refinery operations, distillery, CO2 & power cogeneration plants.

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for than more 33 years, I have a total of 23 years as finance manager in a manufacturing industry specializing in Supply Chain Finance covering a sugar mill (URC Sugar and Renewable Division and Victorias Milling Company), beverage industry (Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils, Inc.) and food and beverage/hospitality industry (Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel), with at least 16 years of which under SAP environment.

I have various exposures for such positions as administrative officer, ramie export & sugar mill consultancy, accounting instructor, external auditor, accounting department supervisor/head/manager, plant logistics manager and special assignments with familiarity on various Accounting softwares covering SAP, CokeOne and BASIS (Standard information system for Coca-Cola sales and marketing data).

Highly analytical, commercially minded and outcome focused on top of excellent interpersonal communication skills and proficiency with PowerPoint, MS Excel and Word and as well as familiarity with SOX. Lead CCBPI Visayas Region in passing the SOX audit in 2010, after failing from audit the year before I took over the role.

EXPERIENCES

Universal Robina Corporation

Plant Logistics Manager (PLM), Sugar and Renewable Energy Division (Sonedco)

October, 2017 to Present

Started on dual role as Commercial Finance Manager for Sugar and Renewable Division and at the same time the Plant Logistics Manager for Southern Negros Development Corporation (Sonedco) until appointment of incoming CFM by the end of 1st Quarter of 2018.

The role for Logistics is the second non-Finance related function, the first was in 1987 being an OIC for Negros Fiber Cooperative Inc. With assumptions for the role for Logistics, I maintained my status being part of Executive Payroll with no denomination of rank and benefits with proximity at my based residence in Bacolod City (100 kms. away).

Commercial Finance Manager (CFM), Sugar and Renewable Energy Division

June, 2016 to September, 2017

The role covers category financial analysis, competitive intelligence, capital investment, product cost analysis, strategic finance and corporate forecasting for URC’s sugar and renewables business covering 6 mills, 3 refineries, a distillery, a CO2 and a power cogeneration plants. The CFM reports directly at first to the CFO and later to the newly created Deputy CFO for Agro-Industrial & Commodity Goods Group and administratively reporting to AVP/Business Unit General Manager. This is Manila based role with travels to 6 mills locations spread over Negros Occidental and Oriental, Iloilo, Batangas and Cagayan Valley.

In less than 2 years as CFM, took the lead in the preparation of presentation materials for the approval of Annual Opex and Capex Budget of the division for Calendar Year 2017 and 2018. Acts as Project Controller of P1.7B capacity expansion of Sonedco.

Victorias Milling Company, Inc.

Consultant, Special Project Group

February, 2016 to May 2016

As a Special Project Consultant effective February 1, 2016, will render advice, guidance and information on financial matters concerning VMC and its subsidiaries, as well as any VMC projects or endeavors and reports directly to the Vice Chairman & Managing Director. The Company is coming off from a 15-year Rehabilitation Plan with ancillary operations to ethanol production and expanding to power generation. The 4-month engagement covered establishment of a subsidiary process flow and strengthening of internal control, cost validation of tree planting project, establishment of blue print for transloading station proposals, profitability of distillery business, competitive benchmarking and assist on resolution of various tax issues.

Accounting Manager

August 2015 to January 2016

In over 6 months with VMC, the Accounting Manager role exposed me with year-end closing of a sugar mill company, as well as preparations of reportorial requirements with BIR and SEC/PSE. The Department is with a head count of 11, including me with 3 sections namely, General Accounting (Record to Report), Cash Accounting (Procure to Pay) and Cost Accounting (Order to Cash) with the role reporting directly to the CFO.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc.

Finance & Administration Manager (FAM), Visayas Commercial Unit

April, 2013 to June, 2014

For 2013, with a new role of FAM under Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Visayas was the Commercial Unit Awardee of the Year.

The position of FAM Visayas Commercial Unit was made redundant by June 16, 2014 brought by Management recent consolidation and reorganization initiatives (Consolidation of Visayas and Mindanao as 1 commercial unit).

Region Finance Manager, Visayas Region

August, 2009 to March, 2013

In 2012, as part of Visayas Regional Leadership Team representing Finance, Visayas was the Region of the Year.

Part of reorganization initiatives sometime in 2011, the check in-check out functions was transferred from Logistics to Finance, as a result, 60 of 132 manning for Finance represents checkers of inventory (receipts and issuances)

Member of Sugar Farming Project which was inactive since the 2012 FEMSA take-over of Coca-Cola Philippines. My membership to the team is to share one’s knowledge as ‘sugar expert’ and recommends financial policies and procedures to strengthen internal control being a previous audit staff of CJVC.

Executed the sale of Bacolod property (the 1948 bottling plant along Lacson Street) last December, 2011. What was thought to be impossible due to time constraints and documentation issues was done in half the time as committed and with no facilitating payment issue. Words of commendation were received from CFO and CEO, as the activity was far beyond the role of the RFM and yet accomplished earlier than expected.

By 2011, Region Finance has become a ready pool of talents for Head Office and International assignments. Two (2) of my direct reports were sent to China and Malaysia on special assignment roles which was a rarity as these roles were normally taken by Head Office associates.

In 2010, Visayas Region passed the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) audit after failing in 2009, the audit year prior to my takeover of the role. Also in 2010, Visayas Region.started to go live with CokeOne as what management referred to as the “smoothest transition” by a region. Also, confirmed to the position of RFM for Visayas in 2010. The RFM of GMA (Greater Manila Area) is then Gareth McGeown. He is now the President and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines.

Upon assumption of the role in 2009, re-launched the OI craze. Since then, Visayas was the most profitable region every year and leads the OI race every year thereafter vs. 4 other regions comprising Philippines profit center.

Testimonial from Mr. Mark Harden, then Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, CFO and Transformation Officer and now the Senior Global Director for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, USA:

"Generoso was an excellent Regional CFO and steward of our business. He not only Partners well to deliver the results (meet budgets), he is solid in the control and compliance area (passing audits), he is a change agent and change champion (the holistic SAP implementation in his Region was the smoothest and they were most prepared), and he is commercially oriented (strong revenue growth analytics and recommendations)."

Testimonial from Ms. Ludivinia Avendano, then the Business Process Management Program Director for Coca-Cola Bottlers Business Services, Inc. and currently the Quality and Process Manager for Zuellig Pharma Asia Pacific Limited:

“Toto as we fondly call Generoso Secreto was one of the first few from the Business that supported the CCBP BPM ( Business Process Management ) team in the deployment of CokeOne - the ERP project that integrated the E2E Bottling Business Processes as enabled by SAP last 2010. Toto ably supported the deployment via his role as a Cut-Over Lead for Visayas. As the Cut-Over Lead, he had the responsibility of ensuring that the whole organization had complied with the defined step of the Cut-Over so as to transition the organization from the old system to the new one. It takes good understanding of the business processes and the respect of his peers to pull off effectively this given role. And as such, my team had lesser birth pains to handle. He continued to support the program even after its deployment thru actively working with the rest of the organization in implementing and optimizing the deployed system / applications. We were lucky to have the support of the business thru Toto who was tasked by the Region Director to work with BPM.”

Plant Finance Manager, Bacolod Plant

October, 2007 to July, 2009

Started the “OI” craze” and Bacolod Plant was not only recognized as the most profitable plant of Visayas Region, but of national level as well. It was recalled that in 1997 (basically 12 years before), the Plant location is of in a competitive market, with the lowest market share nationally and was even budgeted to loss.

Area Finance Manager, West Visayas Area

February, 2006 to September, 2007

The Area Finance Manager (AFM) was the first among the succeeding regional CFO roles I have with Coca-Cola. The area coverage of West Visayas Area is the 2 CCBPI bottling plants of Panay (Iloilo Plant) and Negros (Bacolod Plant) provinces with manning complement of 60+.

Territory Finance Head (on Special Assignment), Head Office

June, 2005 to October, 2005

The Special Assignment coverage at Head Office is the finance organization should Cosmos Bottling Company (CBC) and Philippine Beverage, Inc. (PhilBev) Finance teams are integrated to CCBPI Finance (dubbed as “Project Solo”). Full integration of one finance team to cover CCBPI, CBC and PhilBev business was realized in 2007. Also covered by the said Special Assignment was to design the concept of a National Dealer (dubbed as “Project CSI”) and help in the reconciliation of consolidated Financial Statements for final filing of 2004 taxable year.

Territory Finance Head, Iloilo and Bacolod Territories

March, 2003 to May, 2005/November, 2005 to February 2006

Completed the loop of total finance operations by taking Commercial Finance positions through the TFH role and likewise resulted in the familiarity of Beverage Advanced Standard Information System (BASIS).

Plant Finance Head, Bacolod Plant

December, 2002 to February, 2003

The Plant Finance Head (PFH) is the same as that of Plant Accountant with major changes of the role reclassification from a supervisor to a section head role. As a result of the promotion, I gave up the President position of supervisors’ union.

Plant Accountant, Bacolod Plant

January, 1997 to November, 2002

In 1999, operating system shifted from CAGL to SAP, with the undersigned taking the SAP’s Plant Accountant role, which is a Finance Super User.

By 2000, Bacolod Plant ranked consistently within the Top 5 Plants nationwide in periodic KPI ranking and a far cry from the notorious ranking of Below 5 Plants ranking (19th of 21) when I joined the Company in 1997.

Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel

Financial Controller

March, 1995 to December, 1996

First CFO role at 31. With worsening business condition of the hotel industry in Bacolod during this time, the undersigned was exposed to treasury role where cash requirements were addressed by efficient collections system and time to time short term banking loans. Manning complement is 30+

On the last Quarter of 1996, acted as Corporate Secretary of Luxur Realty Corporation, owner and operator of Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel when regular occupant was on health leave.

Chief Accountant

November, 1991 to February, 1995

By 1993, normalized food and beverage cost by introduction of internal control measures, with the likes of cost manual documentations and introductions of food checkers role reporting directly to Chief Accountant.

Carlos J. Valdes & Co., CPAs-Bacolod Branch

Junior Audit Staff

March, 1988 to October, 1991

Audit exposures to various industries with the likes of sugar centrals (audit-in-charge of Sonedco engagement for 2 CYs from 1988-89 and 1989-90) and agricultural businesses, prawn farming, private educational institutions, water districts, cooperatives, planters’ association, non-profit organizations and trading & manufacturing companies.

With Export Consultancy Contract with previous employer, Negros Fiber Cooperative, Inc for 3 months from May, 1988 to July, 1988 to ensure continuity of export business.

Negros Fiber Cooperative, Inc .

Officer-in-Charge (OIC)

February, 1987 to February, 1988

As administrative officer reporting directly to the President, started the Cooperative’s trading business through export of ramie fiber to Japan as early as 1987, the very first for Negros ramie industry. Manning complement is minimal at 4 and seasonal requirements addressed by deployment of non-organic personnel ranging from 10 to 20.

Passed the CPA board examinations while employed by the Cooperative, thus accepted an Accounting Instructor part time job at Visayan Data Computer College for the First (1st) Semester of School Year 1987-88.

FIELD OF EXPERTISE

Lead the live date with CokeOne last October, 2010 for Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., Visayas Region/Commercial Units as Region Finance Manager/Finance & Administration Manager.

System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP) literate as Finance Super-user (Plant Accountant role) for Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc., Bacolod Plant from November, 2000 to February, 2003. Reintroduction with SAP as Accounting Manager of Victorias Milling Company, Inc. last August, 2015 and again as Commercial Finance Manager and later as Plant Logistics Manager of Universal Robina Corporation since June, 2016

Beverage Advanced Standard Information System (BASIS) literate as Territory Finance Head (BASIS Head) for Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. from February, 2003 to February, 2006.

Familiarity with Hotel and Restaurant accounting system as Chief Accountant and later as Financial Controller for Bacolod Convention Plaza Hotel from November, 1991 to December, 1996.

Attended various audit training programs by Carlos J. Valdes & Co., CPAs (affiliates of Coopers & Lybrand, International) as Junior Audit Staff from March, 1988 to October, 1991.

GOVERNMENT LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS & DATE PASSED

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Licensure Examination, 1986, PRC License No. 73801

Career Service Professional, 1985

Career Service Sub-Professional, 1983.

EDUCATION & EXTRA CURRICULARS

Class of 1985 University of St. La Salle Bacolod, Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Accounting.

Handumanan Science Foundation Academic Scholar, 1981-1985, with a GPA of 1.9 (91%)

FAMILY MEMBERS, DATE OF BIRTH & DETAILS

Wife, Margie L. Secreto, CPA (55 yo), 27 March 1965, housewife and early retiree from McDonald’s Bacolod as Finance Manager. Other companies worked with finance role are IK Inabata Marine Products Phils. (Finance Manager), First Farmers Aqua Ventures Inc (Accounting Staff) and Negros Navigations Company, Inc (Internal Audit Staff).

Son, Generoso L. Secreto, III (27 yo), 25 December 1992, Purchasing Officer for Visayas Area at Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Phils, a Thai conglomerate operatiing in the Philippines

Son, Gianpaolo L. Secreto (22 yo), 10 March 1998, 2019, Human Resource Associate at BluCruPH, an Outsourced staffing solution company for Australia and New Zealand market.

Daugther, Maia Gwyneth L. Secreto (14 yo), 16 July 2006, an imcoming Grade 8 Student at St. Scholastica Academy - Bacolod

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH

December 26, 1963, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

Contact this candidate