Controller & CFO Financial Compliance Leader

JOEL VILLANUEVA GUTIERREZ

Controller/Chief Financial Officer

Phone. 786-***-****

E-mail: **********@*******.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Finance executive with 25+ years of experience driving financial growth, cost optimization, and compliance in multinational and higher education organizations. Proven record improving EBITDA by double digits, implementing ERP systems, and leading Title IV compliance and audits. Strategic leader skilled in FP&A, risk management, and operational excellence.

LABOR HISTORY

Atlantis University-Miami, FL

Controller, directed financial operations, ensuring liquidity and profitability while managing a team of accountants and external service providers, overseed the month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring all financial transactions were recorded accurately and timely, managed and overseed all aspects of the General Ledger, including account reconciliations and journal entries. Developed and implemented multi-year financial forecasting models improving budget accuracy by 25%. Created and monitored annual budgets exceeding $80M, ensuring compliance with internal controls, delivered strategic financial presentations to senior management supporting key growth decisions, strengthened cash flow management systems, reducing operational costs by 15%. Directed the External Audits and compliance of the Department of Education, Title IV regulations. (Oct. 2023- Oct 2025) MMCI-Institute, Miami FL

Director Accounting, Presentation of financial statements to ensure compliance with management and regulations, ensuring accuracy and transparency, ensured all payroll was processed accurately and in compliance with that company policies and regulations, overseed AR and AP processes to ensure timely and accurate billing and payments, directed and revised reconciliations for bank accounts, credit cards, inventory, payroll, sales tax, intercompany accounts, and POS-related entries. Led the implementation of a new accounting system that improved reporting efficiency by 30%, reducing processing time and improving accuracy, Cost Reduction: Developed and implemented financial planning strategies that reduced operating costs by 27% (Sept 2021 -Sept 2023) Alza Group-Miami, FL-LATAM

Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Designed and executed financial strategies for a multi-entity group, leading accounting, tax, and financial operations, overseed monthly and annual financial closing processes and reporting cycles, prepared monthly financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow), Directed and revised reconciliations for bank accounts, credit cards, inventory, payroll, sales tax, intercompany accounts, and POS-related entries.

Implemented sales forecasting, improving profit margin by 8%, Led interdepartmental budgeting and cost reduction strategies that increased EBITDA margin by 12%, Designed guidelines and metrics that improved ROI by 45%. Provided financial reporting and analysis at the Board level to support expansion initiatives. (2017

- 2020)

Manufacturing Elcatex, Texas-LATAM.

Corporate Controller, supervised financial reporting, tax planning, and internal controls for manufacturing group, prepared and reviewed monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting standards. Monthly budgeting versus actual variance analysis. Implemented internal audit systems that reduced financial, risk exposure by 60%. Led financial planning initiatives and developed multi-year, forecasts aligned with corporate objectives. Implementation of the ERP system (SAP) for all group companies, administrated of the corporate budget presented to the Board of Directors $125M. (2012-2017)

Monge Group, Central America

Risk Manager, Responsible for maintaining and continuously improving the quality of financial procedures through the design and implementation of effective controls and policies, Delivered monthly performance and risk reports to the Corporate Vice President of Risk. Implemented a credit approval system based on credit scoring models, improving risk assessment accuracy and reducing delinquency by 32%, Optimized the credit approval process, reducing response time by 45% and supporting business growth without compromising portfolio quality. Contributed to the development of credit policies that increased operational efficiency and overall profitability. (2005-2012) PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Advisory

Internal Auditor, Analyzed and interpretation of financial statements, preparation of audited financial statements and notes in accordance with International Auditing Standards and International Accounting Standards. (2002-2006)

SKILLS

• Accounting & Compliance (10+ years)

• Internal Controls & Audit Management External Audit (10+ years)

• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Budgeting & Forecasting (10+ years)

• QuickBooks Online Certified SAP Microsoft Excel (Advanced) (10+ years)

• GAAP / IFRS (10+ years)

EDUCATION

Finance (Master's degree) (2010)

Bachelor in Accounting (2002)

LICENSES & CERTIFICATES

Program: Management Development Corporate Finance, Taught by (ADEN) Executive Business School assessing the value of accounting information, such as addressing the economic analysis tools and financial objectives, whether as the potential of generating income in May 2009 Program: Business strategy based on the 3Rs Strategic Planning Taught by (ADEN) Executive Business School IDIOMAS LANGUAGES

ENGLISH (Intermediate Domain in writing, reading and speaking) SPANISH (Fluent)

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