Management Sales

QUALIFICATIONS

Fifteen years’ experience as Controller/CFO in USA and LATAM in the retail and wholesale business, demonstrating consistent record of increasing profit throughout tenure ($40M to 180M). Instrumental in reducing overhead, successfully lead government audits, and contributing to operational goals and personnel relations. Strengths include general ledger, financial statements, financial analysis, HR management, currency conversions, budgeting, cash management, marketing management, inventory management, accounting/internal control policies, new system implementation, and internal and external reporting. Fluent in English and Spanish.

EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

M.S., Accounting (with Honors) Long Island University, NY

M.S., Finance Fundación Universidad Central, Bogota

B.S., Accounting Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogota

B.S., Economics Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota

CPA Certified, Colombia.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Corporate Controller 2001-Present

Interamericana Transport Industries, Inc., Miami, FL

German distributor for Volkswagen and Audi passenger and commercial vehicles for Colombia, Ecuador, Central America and the Caribbean.

• Manage financial and accounting functions for the USA and LATAM companies, generating annual sales in excess of $180 million. Accountability extends to financial statements, budgets, profit flow/cash flow analysis, and management of lines of credit with banks and factories in Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. Hire, train, and supervise local Controllers and accounting staff. Implement internal control and procedures. As member of the Board and Directors and the Executive Committee, reporting directly to the President, participate in strategic planning, business plans, sales price build ups, after sales compliance and controls, expense forecasting, tax planning, and cash management/investment strategies.

• Corporate liaison with legal advisors, lenders and auditors in USA and LATAM (international accounting firms, IRS, local tax authorities, Property Tax Assessors). Report directly to President.

• Selected Contributions:

Lead the finance area in connection with switch of distribution rights from Corporate in USA to local companies in LATAM, including internal restructuring requirements, line of credit negotiations, and information reporting structures.

Established controls to ensure the integrity of the vehicle and parts inventories, reducing levels of obsolescence in approximately 60%. Maintain a proper merchandise assortment while keeping ordering, shipping, handling, and related costs in check.

Established overhead budgeting system and reporting to improve expense tracking. Organized the Accounting procedures, G/L reconciliations and reporting system, reducing information delays (from 6 months to 10 days), and significantly improving the accuracy of the financial data.

Responsible for the currency conversions, consolidation and reporting of the USA and foreign subsidiaries financial statements using US dollars as the transactional currency.

Implement procedures to reduce accounts receivable write-offs to zero by implementing commercial letters of credit, stand-by letters of credit, and bank guarantees.

Reduced external audit cost in 50% by improving the coordination of tasks and the quality of information provided in the audit package.

Lead the implementation of the new accounting system (ASW) in all companies in USA and LATAM.

Lead two IRS audits with zero adjustments. Collaborate with Controllers and attorneys in LATAM tax audits with savings in excess of $ 3 million.

Significantly reduced exchange rate losses through implementation of forward purchasing and price build ups controls.

Lead Accounting teams in the absence of local Controllers.

Lead companies’ start ups, close downs and units sales.

Improved relations with and reduced turnover among mid-management and support staff.

Business, Procedures, and Financial Reporting Manager 2000-2001

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, Miami, FL

Hellmann Worldwide is a logistics services company with its head office in Germany. Services offered include air freight contract logistics, customs brokerage, e Commerce, road, sea and air freight.

Review, design and implement accounting and internal control policies and procedures nationwide (18 branches $300MM annual revenues). Responsible for the preparation of, analysis and presentation of the US consolidated financial statements to the headquarters in Germany. Responsible for the company’s fixed assets. Coordinate and support external auditing process. Prepared financial reports, developed budgets, and performed variance analysis in accordance with business plan. Compiled periodic financial reporting packages for US senior management. Carried out internal audits to ensure regulatory compliance and operational efficiency/accuracy.

Regional Controller-LATAM 1998-2000

DHL-Danzas Management Latin America, Miami, FL

Danzas Management (today DHL) is a Subsidiary of Deutsche Post World Net (Germany) that controls and supports the units in Latin America. DHL provides business and consumer logistics, international import and export transportation, electronic data interchange, domestic haulage, customs clearing and air and sea freight.

Responsible for all local accounting and administrative aspects of the Miami Holding Unit. Responsible for all statutory and tax matters of the US office. Coordinate and support external auditing process. Coordinated the individual financial reporting of the eight Latin American Units and reports to regional management. Coordinated group budgeting and forecasting and reported to head office in Switzerland. Worked closely with all units to guarantee the compliance of the company’s Finance and Controlling Guidelines. Analyzed and processed Latin American units’ financing requirements through head office Treasury. Traveled to Latin American countries to audit/support on-site units with problems or newly acquired companies. Worked in collaboration with local controllers to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial information in support of overall business objectives. Member of the Danzas Worldwide Talent Pool.

Controller 1996-1998

Ocasa Inc. New York, NY – Miami, FL

Ocasa, Inc. is a subsidiary of Ocasa Argentina that offers logistics solutions including postal, courier, warehousing and storage services in USA, LATAM, and Europe.

Lead all phases of accounting and the preparation, analysis, and presentation of the US consolidated financial statements, budgets and forecasts to the head office in Argentina. Responsible for all statutory of tax matters of the US office. Coordinate and support external auditing process. In charge of payroll and personnel management.

SYSTEMS

ASW, ADP, SBT, HORACE, AS400, GFAS, FDC Commander, MERCUR, ACCPAC, MAS90, DATATRAC, MS OFFICE APPLICATIONS.

REFERENCES

Upon request

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