Chief Financial Officer - Latin America - Miami, FL (USA)‏

We have an opportunity for a Chief Financial Officer - Latin America

We are looking for someone with strong technical accounting skills and knowledge of Latin American statutory financial and tax requirements, and U.S. GAAP and U.S. SOX compliance standards. English, Spanish, and Portuguese preferred.

Client: Our client is the premier post-secondary education provider having an international scale, with a presence in 19 countries and serving 35 universities with more than 400,000 students worldwide. Revenues expected to reach $2 billion in 2008 with a CAGR of 34% the past 6 years. We have built on a successful foundation in Latin America and the Mediterranean regions, and is now expanding aggressively in Asia and China. The Latin America region represents approximately 70% of our revenue. The region is expected to continue its fast growth. By 2011 it is projected to reach a total enrollment of 550,000 students, $2bn in revenues and generate US$600m in EBITDA.

Location: Miami, FL

The CFO will bring regional experience, and a deep understanding of both the finance function defined as financial planning, analysis and management, IT, but also M&A deal identification, due diligence, negotiation and integration. The CFO will draw on the support of country or university Financial Controllers within the LATAM network.

The CFO position is responsible for formulating, implementing and directing the finance, administration functions, policies and activities for the Latin America Region. This role will report to the President Latin America Region and on a dotted line basis to the Corporate CFO. This role is responsible for all financial affairs of the Latin America Group of colleges and universities, including supervision of accounting at the group and subsidiary level, statutory and management reporting, budgeting and business plan processes, treasury, tax, and implementation and configuration of financial systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Develop and cultivate strong relationships with the LATAM campus leadership. The position will develop and lead the functional areas of Finance, Real Estate, and Construction for the LATAM region. This includes the development of policies, practices, platforms and procedures for these functions.

2. Lead the Company's overall finance function, including accounting, treasury, tax, financial reporting, and budgeting and planning.

3. Support the President of LATAM in the setting of measurable objectives and goals for the region. Maintain metrics and establish reporting protocols that are simple, elegant and effective.

4. Manage all statutory general accounting and management reporting, in US GAAP, providing consolidated country financial statement reporting and analysis.

5. Establish and enforce financial policies, procedures, and control. Provide guidance and direction on LATAM internal and external financial reporting matters, ensuring compliance with Corporate policies as well as local legal requirements.

6. Oversee the design and execution of back office operations (finance, accounting, purchasing, and facilities) that will ensure efficiency of the university operation is the region. Seek out synergies and systems solutions that optimize operations and help promote student satisfaction.

7. Organize the LATAM region annual budget process and report results versus budget.

8. Direct the preparation of and provide for the continual monitoring of the accounting budget to ensure cost-effective management of the accounting function in LATAM.

9. Monitor activities for tax compliance and implications and recommend appropriate actions to the LATAM Regional Senior Management Team.

10. Oversee and manage year-end audits.

11. Oversee Company's insurance coverage.

12. Upgrade financial staff through hiring, training, and coaching. Develop succession planning for management positions.

13. Working with the CIO, oversee an integrated implementation of financial systems.

MANAGEMENT/SUPERVIS ORY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Responsible for training and development of subordinate staff
2. Provides leadership, coaching and mentoring of subordinate staff
3. Responsible for the review and evaluation of personnel performance for subordinate staff
4. Responsible for interpreting and ensuring consistent application of personnel performance
5. Responsible for designing, interpreting and implementing organizational policies and procedures for the organization with regard to performance management and pay for performance.

TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, and PEOPLE SKILLS REQUIRED
To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Incumbents will be evaluated, in part, based on performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

1. Strong technical accounting skills and knowledge of Latin American statutory financial and tax requirements, and U.S. GAAP and U.S. SOX compliance standards.
2. Experience in complex M&A transactions, financial analysis/analytical , lease management, accounting and budget/forecasting skills essential.
3. Superb attention to detail and extremely well organized.
4. Ability to work effectively in a matrix structure,
5. Ability to work and communicate effectively with all levels of management and the Finance organization. Excellent communication and public speaking skills required.
6. Ability to handle simultaneous projects, prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
7. Strong technical skills, especially Finance.
8. Prior experience with financial systems.
9. Strategic mindedness and vision.
10. High energy level, enthusiasm, and a strong work ethic.

EDUCATION, LICENSURES, and/or EXPERIENCE
1. Bachelors degree required, MBA preferred.
2. 15+ years operational finance/accounting and real estate experience.
3. CPA preferred
4. English, Spanish, and Portuguese preferred

BUSINESS COMPETENCIES
1. Able to develop, implement and execute strategy to define the future direction of the organization with regard to Finance & Accounting.
2. Must have advanced interpersonal and communication skills.
3. Must have strong qualitative and analytical skills and have the ability to perform statistical calculations and evaluate results.
4. Able to design and manage projects, resources, stakeholders, participants and deadlines.
5. Able to provide leadership, coaching and mentoring of subordinate group.
6. Able to manage a budget, control costs, plan and schedule around cost concerns for subsidiaries or business unit.
7. Able to manage multiple segments and functional areas of a subsidiary or business unit.
8. Able to direct long-range planning and the development of programs to maximize organizational resources.
9. Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Send CV to the following e-mail: alfredo_matos2002 at yahoo.com

Regards,

A. Matos