Gabriel Romay González Cobian
Corporate Finance
Estado De Mexico
Summary
Passionate financial professional focused on helping companies accomplish objectives and drive growth. Expansion-minded professional versed with financial decision making and company-wide policy development. Talent for overcoming operational issues and driving proactive improvements. Offering 21 years' experience in financial leadership.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
7
7
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Clip
Mexico City
07.2021 - Current
- Evolved the Financial Planning function as a key partner to business by delivering timely and accurate reporting & analytics supporting decision making process, and provide clarity on profitability levels at the product/channel level.
- Built a best in class FP&A team to support day to day deliverables and key initiatives, hiring 6 new team members and restructuring functions to provide support at the business unit level and created a HQ Finance group responsible for financial reporting and coordinating planning calendars/deliverables.
- Created mappings and documentation of processes across month end reporting, accruals accounting process, payroll and HC controlling, and budgeting activities.
- Led the first Long Range Plan for the company from strategy and key priorities definition to the financial build up of organic performance and incremental business contribution and investment requirements.
- Continuous cash management and runway monitoring.
- Managed the expense efficiency ongoing project on zero based budget eliminating bad budgeting practices, contributing to a ~15% expense reduction.
Strategic Planning Director
American Express
Mexico City
02.2018 - 07.2021
- Reporting directly to the Country Manager with two main responsibilities:
- 1) Strategic Planning for the Consumer Card Team developing annual strategic plans, results tracking, budget planning & control - Guided 8 business cases for key projects earning USD $20M of incremental investments from HQ - Coordinated repricing actions that delivered USD $40M incremental pre tax income in one year - Built a salaries and benefits model at the headcount level (~800) to improve accuracy of budget planning and provide transparency on monthly results analysis.
- 2) Chief of Staff for the Country Executive Team ensuring strategic alignment, executing key priorities and agreements, and preparing presentations to share market performance. Supported the Country Manager transitioning into his role, working as a thought partner developing the new identity of his office, market vision and new operating principles.
Director of Pricing for LAC
Global Merchant Services
Mexico City
12.2015 - 01.2018
- Responsible for setting and managing pricing principles and strategies for USD +$23Bn of purchasing volume on the Amex network, as well as a range of value-added products, including interest free installment plans for card members and express pay for merchants - Developed analytical framework and custom pricing solutions to defend Amex premium pricing across LAC proprietary markets - Lead Caribbean coverage strategy requested by the global CEO to improve card acceptance and perception of coverage on key T&E industries, simplifying over 50 pricing plans, generated $20M in incremental transactions and improved customer satisfaction - Directed pricing strategy to sign CFE (Mexico electricity provider) after 18 months of negotiation, ensuring USD $200M deal in payment volume was profitable for Amex.
Lead Financial Officer
Global Merchant Services, LAC
Mexico City
12.2013 - 12.2015
- Responsible for financial reporting, planning and results analysis for Merchant Services across LAC, focusing on driving profitability growth for shareholders through strategic decision support, investment optimization, and expense management - Evolved LFO role into a critical business partner position by influencing decision making through financial analysis and by sustaining high impact relationships through aligning financial objectives with business goals/targets - Lead financial valuation and due diligence of merchant acquiring business in Panama Deal size of USD $15M - Contributed to grow sales by 26% and pre tax income by 39% from $144M to $200M in two years.
Finance Director
International Card Services
08.2011 - 12.2013
- Responsible for planning, business decision support and investment optimization - Lead expense control initiative to reduce Opex by 10% in 2013 - Developed cost/benefit analysis of business transformation initiatives delivering more than $70M in pre tax income between 2012 and 2013 - Supported launch of Payback loyalty program bringing together controllership, taxes, treasury, tech and risk to define key requirements for a new legal entity, set accounting controls, budgeting plans and resources allocation to begin operations in Mexico.
Finance Manager
International Consumer and Small Business Services
New York City
08.2010 - 08.2011
- Financial analysis and modeling for international credit card portfolio across 8 priority markets, projecting receivables growth and related interest income and credit losses. Transformed AR forecast model to better reflect new trends in consumer deleveraging and change in Amex strategy focusing on premium lending - Generated fundamental analysis to inform forecasting process and helped business partners understand how to influence AR growth through acquisition, risk management or product offerings.
Corporate Planning- Finance Manager
American Express
New York City
08.2009 - 08.2010
- Collaborated in developing Amex stress test model for The Federal Reserve by creating balance sheets and P&Ls at business unit level to determine if capital requirements were met - Benchmarked internal three year plan to wall street analysts' models on normalized earnings - Lead study to explain excess volatility of Amex purchasing volume over GDP consumer components (PCE) during economic cycles by comparing population percentiles of net worth and income levels
Global Prepaid - Finance Manager
American Express
New York City
08.2008 - 08.2009
- Developed Travelers Cheque investment valuation model and rolled it out across 14 markets. Built long range plan and supported exit strategy of Travelers Cheques across 10 countries.
Financial Researcher
Banco de México
Mexico City
05.2004 - 08.2006
- Analysis of Financial System, Mexico City - Managed oversight of 9 foreign bank branches and 21 mortgage credit institutions (SOFOLES) to ensure institutional solvency and systemic stability was met in line with regulatory guidance
Financial Analyst
Banco de México
Mexico City
10.2001 - 05.2004
- Analysis of Financial System, Mexico City - Prepared study on banking fees and commissions for Central Bank Governor's address to Congress, leading to inclusion of this topic in the Transparency Law, impacting the financial system by enhancing competition among banks
Education
MBA - Finance
The University of Texas, McCombs School of Business
Austin, TX 07.2006 - 05.2008
Diploma - Financial Derivatives
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo De México
Mexico City 10.2003 - 03.2004
Bachelor of Science - Economics
Universidad De Las Américas - Puebla
Puebla, Mexico 08.1996 - 05.2001
Skills
Strategic Planning
Timeline
Head of Financial Planning & Analysis
Clip
07.2021 - Current
Strategic Planning Director
American Express
02.2018 - 07.2021
Director of Pricing for LAC
Global Merchant Services
12.2015 - 01.2018
Lead Financial Officer
Global Merchant Services, LAC
12.2013 - 12.2015
Finance Director
International Card Services
08.2011 - 12.2013
Finance Manager
International Consumer and Small Business Services
08.2010 - 08.2011
Corporate Planning- Finance Manager
American Express
08.2009 - 08.2010
Global Prepaid - Finance Manager
American Express
08.2008 - 08.2009
MBA - Finance
The University of Texas, McCombs School of Business
07.2006 - 05.2008
Financial Researcher
Banco de México
05.2004 - 08.2006
Diploma - Financial Derivatives
Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo De México
10.2003 - 03.2004
Financial Analyst
Banco de México
10.2001 - 05.2004
Bachelor of Science - Economics
Universidad De Las Américas - Puebla
08.1996 - 05.2001
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