Publication
Working Capital Optimization: Practical Tips From a Pro
https://www.toptal.com/management-consultants/interim-cfos/working-capital-optimization
Emilio is currently unavailable
Emilio Labrador
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Management Consulting Expert
Paris, France
Toptal member since January 4, 2018
Bio
Emilio has 25 years of CFO experience in Europe and Latin America. An expert in cross-border M&A, he has executed two $300+ million acquisitions and one $400+ million disposal. Emilio has worked on strategic reorganization projects and started subsidiaries in the oil and gas, automotive and industrial sectors. He enjoys freelancing to use his experience and international exposure to maximize value for his clients.
Career Highlights
CFO
Perenco Peru
CFO
Valeo
Education Highlights
Certified MBA (CMBA)
ESCP-EAP European School of Management
Bachelor's Degree
Autonomous University of Madrid
Case Studies
Completion Price Adjustment Statement
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)ValuationM&A (Buy-side)
Valuation of Oil Fields
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)ValuationCapital RaisingM&A (Buy-side)
Industry Expertise
- Business Services
- Accounting Services
- Custom Software & IT Services
- Automotive Service & Collision Repair
- Energy, Utilities & Waste
- Electricity, Oil & Gas
- Oil & Gas Exploration & Services
- Venture Capital & Private Equity
Other Expertise
- Financial Modeling
- Financial Reporting
- Latin America (LATAM)
- Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
- Southern Europe
Work Experience
CFO
2018 - 2023
ALiS
- Managed the company's corporate debt with €900 million outstanding bonds quoted in Euronext and negotiated new covenants of the existing debt to improve cash distribution to shareholders. Managed €100 million fundraising process.
- Managed the cash of the group of companies and banking relationships and sought refinancing options to leverage the company and increase dividends distribution.
- Managed the transfer pricing matters of the group of companies (intercompany loans and intercompany invoicing) and the pricing strategy with final individual clients of the group of companies.
- Updated the long-term financial modeling of the company and reported to bondholders on a 6-month basis with regular meetings with bondholders.
- Restructured the initial company leading to a group of companies and managed the corporate and legal matters of the group during the restructuring process. Managed the HR matters of the restructuring process.
Focus areas: Budgeting, Capital Raising, Capital Structuring, Cost Control, M&A Modeling, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Sage ERP, Transfer Pricing, Tax Credits, Sales Tax, Legal, Payroll & Benefits, Treasury Management, Corporate Law, Corporate Legal, Corporate Treasury, Corporate Transactions, Financial Consolidation, IFRS Consolidation, Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Pitch Preparation, Funding Process, Pitch Decks, Fundraising, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Financial Asset Impairment Models, Transportation & Shipping, Automotive, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Treasury, Tax Planning, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Consultant, Excel Modeling, Project Finance, Investment Analysis, Industrials, Renewable Energy, Controller, Accounting, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Pricing Models, Forecasting, Pricing, Subscription Pricing
Regional CFO, Latin America and UK
2011 - 2017
Perenco
- Structured a financing facility for $200 million to develop an oil field with a Latin American subsidiary.
- Led the finance and tax sections of a Latin American subsidiary's $400 million sale.
- Led the commercial, finance, and tax sections of acquisitions of oil and gas fields in the UK from a major oil company in two separate transactions of $250+ million each.
- Optimized cross-border taxes in the Latin American and UK subsidiaries with combined savings of $58+ million.
- Led negotiations with the government to settle a $1.3 billion expropriation claim related to a Latin American subsidiary.
Focus areas: Capital Structuring, Corporate Finance, Tax Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Pitch Decks, Fundraising, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Budgeting, Capital Raising, Investment Capital Raising, Revenue Recognition, Revenue Analysis, Property Insurance, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Virtual CFO, Transfer Pricing, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Oil & Gas, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, United Kingdom, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Disposal, Treasury, Bloomberg, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Consultant, Excel Modeling, Project Finance, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Investment Analysis, Industrials, Controller, Accounting, US GAAP, M&A (Buy-side), Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Pricing Models, Forecasting, Pricing, M&A (Sell-side), Cross-border M&A, M&A Strategy
CFO
2008 - 2011
Perenco Peru
- Structured an oil trading contract to secure a three-year oil contract and diluent supply. Negotiated agreements for the sourcing of diluent and the export of oil.
- Controlled capital expenditures for the Block 67 oil license development, a $1.5 billion, five-year investment project. Funds were used to develop oil and gas infrastructure in the Block 67 oilfield.
- Set up the tax optimization for contractors, totaling savings of $40+ million.
- Led negotiations with local banks to sell $300+ million in bonds in the Lima stock market to minimize country risk and maximize tax savings.
- Negotiated changes to an oil license contract with the Peruvian government to increase the contract's profitability. Profit increases of $30+ million were achieved during the 20-year oil contract.
Focus areas: Logistics, Trading, Cost Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, Fundraising, Pitch Decks, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Revenue Modeling, Revenue Analysis, Revenue Management, Revenue Recognition, Revenue Assurance, Reverse Mergers, Revenue Projections, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Oil & Gas, Transportation & Shipping, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Treasury, Tax Planning, Financial Reporting, Excel Modeling, Project Finance, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Investment Analysis, Industrials, Controller, Accounting, US GAAP, M&A (Buy-side), Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Pricing Models, Forecasting, Pricing, M&A (Sell-side)
CFO
2005 - 2008
Perenco Venezuela
- Led the transition of Perenco-operated oil fields from private companies to joint ventures with the state-owned oil company PDVSA.
- Negotiated the terms of the oil and gas license contract in the new joint venture. Agreed on clauses to the new contract, which had a favorable impact of $25+ million.
- Led the settlement of tax claims in corporate income taxes, reducing tax liability from $45 million to $5 million.
- Restructured the finance, purchasing, and human resources teams to optimize processes. Set up new processes to decrease working capital; accounts receivable decreased by $12.5 million, and inventories by $5 million.
- Traded on foreign currency exchange operations to optimize foreign exchange fluctuations exposure in the company; achieved over $20+ million in savings.
Focus areas: Cost Control, Tax Planning, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Oil & Gas, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Treasury, Financial Reporting, Excel Modeling, Investment Analysis, Industrials, Controller, Accounting, US GAAP, M&A (Buy-side), Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Pricing Models, Forecasting, Pricing
CFO
2003 - 2005
Perenco Guatemala
- Marketed and traded the crude oil produced. Negotiated oil spot cargos and long-term oil sale agreements with US refineries, achieving 15% price increases in the oil differential versus previous year contracts.
- Created joint ventures with other petroleum companies for commercialization of asphalt in Central America.
- Reduced accounts receivable by $10+ million in the asphalt division.
- Won a $10 million arbitration litigation against an asphalt client.
- Settled a lengthy $500+ million claim from a supplier in our favor.
Focus areas: Arbitration & Mediation, Tax Planning, Trading, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Oil & Gas, Transportation & Shipping, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Treasury, Financial Reporting, Excel Modeling, Investment Analysis, Industrials, Controller, Accounting, US GAAP, Business Plan Consulting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Forecasting
Regional CFO, Europe and Latin America
2002 - 2003
A Novo
- Led the $50+ million disposal of a subsidiary in Spain, involving marketing the subsidiary and negotiating the sale and purchase agreement, as well as the completion statement to reconcile the interim period from the economic to the closing date.
- Optimized cash in the region with lease-back agreements on buildings and IT assets worth $20+ million.
- Restructured short-term debt to long-term with intense bank negotiations. Followed up on the outstanding debt of corporate bonds (Oceans) in the French stock market and renegotiated terms to avoid bankruptcy.
- Supervised eight subsidiary CFOs, providing training and long-term career development.
- Negotiated with minority shareholders to buy their stake in a transaction worth $10+ million in one of the subsidiaries.
Focus areas: Capital Raising, Disposal, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Modeling, Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Virtual CFO, Transfer Pricing, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Telecommunications, Southern Europe, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Treasury, Tax Planning, Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Consultant, Excel Modeling, Project Finance, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Investment Analysis, Industrials, Controller, Accounting, M&A (Buy-side), Business Plan Consulting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Forecasting, M&A (Sell-side), Cross-border M&A
CFO
1999 - 2002
Valeo
- Achieved a working capital reduction of €18 million in one year, contributing to a record yearly operating cash of €21 million.
- Negotiated annual savings of €25 million in the purchasing department.
- Recovered bad debts by renegotiating the arbitrary debit notes made by Volkswagen for a total amount of $1 million.
- Carried out an in-depth revision of the workflow procedures in the finance department to increase team productivity.
- Reduced bad debts in the Brazilian subsidiary by $4 million by creating an ad hoc team of three people to finalize collections. The ad hoc team was subsequently put in charge of cost reductions.
Focus areas: Financial Accounting, Budgeting, Cost Control, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Latin America (LATAM), Financial Asset Impairment Models, Southern Europe, Automotive, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Treasury, Tax Planning, Financial Reporting, Excel Modeling, Investment Analysis, Industrials, Manufacturing, Controller, Accounting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Forecasting
Finance Manager
1998 - 1999
Accenture
- Negotiated a long-term consulting contract involving 55 full-time employees.
- Led tax optimization in cross-border consulting assignments with $6+ million in savings.
- Headed finance and tax sections of new joint ventures in accounting outsourcing projects valued at $50+ million.
- Drafted the finance and tax sections of the long-term consulting contracts.
Focus areas: Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Cost Management, Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Fractional CFO, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Consulting, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Tax Planning, Financial Reporting, Excel Modeling, Controller, Accounting, Management Consulting, Pricing Consulting
CFO
1995 - 1998
Alcatel Alsthom
- Served as the project manager for the implementation of a new accounting and management information system and was in charge of the full implementation of the new ERP.
- Set up a new structure of project managers to decentralize cost control and project billing.
- Increased profitability of the subsidiary to 5% EBITDA margin in 1997 versus losses of EUR 300+ million in 1995.
- Managed a 33-person team and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Alcatel Alsthom Italy subsidiary.
Focus areas: Treasury, Tax Planning, Enterprise Software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Financial Accounting, Cost Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Three-statement Modeling, P&L Analysis, P&L Forecasting, Telecommunications, Southern Europe, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, CFO, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Microsoft PowerPoint, Cost Control, Financial Reporting, Manufacturing, Controller, Accounting
Internal Auditor
1991 - 1995
Alsthom
- Led the financial audit of a French subsidiary with over $150+ million in sales. Found audit adjustments valued at $3+ million.
- Headed a post-acquisition audit in the Brazilian subsidiary and identified working capital adjustments of $10+ million.
- Recruited and trained a team of 19 people in the finance and purchase organizations while in the interim CFO position of the Mexican subsidiary for three months.
- Implemented billing procedures in the Mexican subsidiary and recovered $5+ million of overdue invoices.
- Reduced inventories in the Mexican subsidiary by $7+ million after negotiations with suppliers who agreed to have their warehouses on the premises of the Mexican subsidiary.
Focus areas: Cost Management, Interim CFO, Internal Audits, Fractional CFO, Southern Europe, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Manufacturing, Accounting
Other Experience
Education
1988 - 1991
Certified MBA (CMBA) in International Business
ESCP-EAP European School of Management - Oxford, United Kingdom
1984 - 1989
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
Autonomous University of Madrid - Madrid, Spain
Skills
Finance
Tax Planning, Cost Management, Financial Accounting, Internal Audits, CFO, Financial Modeling, Financial Asset Impairment Models, Valuation, Three-statement Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Reporting, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Budgeting, Cash Flow, Tax Credits, Corporate Treasury, Financial Consolidation, Funding Process, Fundraising, P&L Forecasting, Revenue Modeling, Revenue Management, Reverse Mergers, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Project Finance, Controller, Accounting, M&A (Buy-side), Revenue & Expense Projections, Forecasting, Pricing, M&A (Sell-side), Cross-border M&A, Capital Raising, M&A Modeling, Corporate Finance, Capital Structuring
Industry Expertise
Transportation & Shipping, Telecommunications, Oil & Gas, Automotive, Industrials, Logistics, Renewable Energy
Geographic Expertise
United Kingdom, Latin America (LATAM), Southern Europe
Output Software
Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel
Data & Analysis Software
Bloomberg
Other
Trading, Cost Control, Disposal, Treasury, Transfer Pricing, Interim CFO, Fractional CFO, Virtual CFO, Finance Director, Managerial Finance, Consulting, Cash Flow Consultant, M&A Due Diligence (Financial), Treasury Management, Corporate Legal, Corporate Transactions, IFRS Consolidation, Pitch Decks, P&L Analysis, Revenue Analysis, Revenue Recognition, Investment Capital Raising, Excel Modeling, Investment Analysis, Manufacturing, Business Plan Consulting, Business Models, Pricing Models, Management Consulting, Pricing Consulting, Subscription Pricing, M&A Strategy, Arbitration & Mediation, Sage ERP, Sales Tax, Corporate Law, Pitch Preparation, Revenue Assurance, Property Insurance, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Software, Legal, Payroll & Benefits, Revenue Projections, US GAAP
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