Sebastian is available for hire
Hire SebastianSebastian Barbagallo
Verified Expert in Management Consulting
Management Consulting Expert
Madrid, Spain
Toptal member since November 24, 2022
Bio
Sebastian is a seasoned financial executive with over two decades of experience in high-impact leadership roles across diverse industries, including eCommerce, marketplace, service, media, and manufacturing. Sebastian has successfully provided strategic financial oversight to multiple startups, enhancing their operational efficiencies and driving significant growth. His expertise spans financial management, underpinned by a solid education from Harvard Business School and IE Business School.
Career Highlights
Interim and Consulting CFO
Senigon Consulting
CFO
Travelgenio
Finance Director
Emerson Electric
Education Highlights
Advanced Management Program (AMP)
Harvard Business School
Master's Degree
IE Business School
Bachelor's Degree
Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE)
Case Studies
Property Investment
Business AnalysisFinancial ModelingP&L ManagementP&L AnalysisRevenue & Expense ProjectionsInternationalization+ 3 more
Glamping Investment Analysis
Business AnalysisFinancial ModelingP&L ManagementProfitability AnalysisInternationalizationRevenue & Expense Projections+ 1 more
Anti-fraud Modeling
Anti-fraudProfitability AnalysisFinancial ModelingOnline PaymentsOnline BusinessP&L Management+ 2 more
Expertise
- Accounting
- Business Planning
- Controlling
- Financial Modeling
- Internationalization
- Online Business
- Operational Finance
- Profitability Analysis
Work Experience
Interim and Consulting CFO
2022 - PRESENT
Senigon Consulting
- Served as a part-time CFO of Glamping Hub, a global technology glamping marketplace startup with over 21,000 unique outdoor accommodation units in nature.
- Identified and minimized operational risks. Developed a new business plan strategy and financial modeling for strategic initiatives. Reviewed and controlled pricing policies.
- Created and presented a financial analysis and overview to the board of directors.
- Negotiated financing agreements and coordinated and directed main group financial processes, treasury, budget, financial forecasts, and actual reporting.
- Managed investor relations, board presentations, supporting fundraising activities, and pitch deck preparation.
- Served as a part-time CFO for Branch Out Ventures, a US technology startup focused on sales and marketing services for outdoor accommodation in nature. Developed a new business plan and financial modeling.
- Played a key role as an accounting advisor in a US startup company.
- Acted as a fractional CFO for Jaguar Path Ventures, a venture builder with several projects. Oversaw financial venture model and operations and developed financial, tax, budgeting, cash, and equity strategies.
Focus areas: Forecasting, Business Planning, Modeling, Financing, Stripe, Online Payments, Microsoft Excel, Month-end Processes, P&L Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Interim CFO, Fractional CFO, Profitability Analysis, Management, Strategy, Business Analysis, Online Business, Scaling, Financial Modeling, Internationalization, Revenue & Expense Projections, Accounting, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Valuation, IFRS Consolidation, Fundraising, Startups, US GAAP, SOX Compliance, Reporting, Statistics, StatsModels, Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Cash Flow Modeling, eCommerce, Business to Consumer (B2C), Budgeting, Cash Flow Management, CFO, QuickBooks Online, Stripe Payments, Operational Finance, Business Models, Three-statement Modeling, Business Plan Consulting, Pitch Decks, Marketplace Platforms, Business Process Analysis, Data Analysis, Revenue Recognition, Complex Account Reconciliations, Business Strategy, Cash Flow, Business Consulting, Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue Modeling
Accounting Expert
2024 - 2025
World Floral Sales, LLC
- Streamlined financial operations. Successfully integrated Stripe with QuickBooks, automating the reconciliation of online sales.
- Enhanced team capabilities. Delivered tailored training sessions on Stripe and QuickBooks, empowering the finance team to manage daily transactions independently and preparing them for the anticipated growth in online sales.
- Prepared for scalability. Developed a robust financial framework by aligning payment processes and accounting practices, ensuring the company’s finance infrastructure is ready to scale alongside the expansion of its online sales channel.
Focus areas: Stripe Payments, Accounting, QuickBooks Online
CFO
2013 - 2022
Travelgenio
- Acted as a CFO of an online travel agency with sales in 56 countries, €1,500 million in gross sales, and more than €100 million in annual turnover.
- Supervised a dedicated financial team that developed the financial strategy plan and managed accounting, treasury, administration, HHRR, tax, legal, and business analysis.
- Controlled and developed company policies and operational procedures and evaluated and minimized operational risks.
- Implemented a cash management optimization in over 50 currencies and managed the banking debt negotiation concerning more than €20 million in loans.
- Collaborated with the CEO to develop new markets, products, and global strategies with an overall increase in turnover of over 600% in five years.
- Implemented new financial systems. Performed cash management optimization in multiple currencies and several payment methods.
- Developed, implemented, and maintained a sophisticated anti-fraud system that reduced 70% of global transaction fraud, saving the company a substantial amount of time and money.
- Created finance, treasury, and accounting departments from scratch, including the company scorecard.
- Developed transfer pricing policies within subsidiaries.
Focus areas: Accounting, Finance, Debt, Online Payments, IFRS Consolidation, Anti-fraud, Internationalization, Scaling, Startups, Microsoft Excel, Month-end Processes, P&L Management, Business Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Management, Strategy, Modeling, Business Analysis, Online Business, Financial Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Valuation, Fundraising, US GAAP, SOX Compliance, Reporting, Statistics, StatsModels, Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), eCommerce, CFO, Business to Consumer (B2C), Cash Flow Modeling, Budgeting, Cash Flow Management, Controller, Operational Finance, Business Models, Three-statement Modeling, Business Process Analysis, Data Analysis, Revenue Recognition, Complex Account Reconciliations, Business Strategy, Cash Flow, Business Consulting, Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue Modeling
Finance Director
2011 - 2013
Emerson Electric
- Acted as the finance director and supervised and controlled company projects, including pricing, invoicing, payment, delivery incoterms, and legal issues.
- Implemented new payment conditions, reducing the working capital balance by over 25%.
- Reviewed and optimized expenses, saving over €100,000 annually.
- Contributed to developing overall sales, pricing, and commercial strategies improving EBITDA by 45% in three years.
- Oversaw the financial team, including the month-end close, annual operating plan, and quarterly reviews.
Focus areas: Reporting, Projects, Microsoft Excel, Month-end Processes, P&L Management, Business Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Management, Strategy, Modeling, Business Analysis, Scaling, Financial Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Valuation, Online Business, IFRS Consolidation, Accounting, SOX Compliance, Statistics, StatsModels, Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Inventory Management, Controller, Operational Finance, Business Models, Three-statement Modeling, Data Analysis, Revenue Recognition, Business Strategy, Cash Flow, Profit & Loss (P&L)
Founder
2009 - 2010
Global Work Consulting
- Founded a consultancy company focused on providing SAP consultants to companies.
- Developed company growth and sales strategies for different industries.
- Established and negotiated a pricing strategy with customers.
Focus areas: Business Planning, Startups, Consulting, Business Analysis, Pitch Presentations, Sales Growth, Business Models, Three-statement Modeling, Profit & Loss (P&L)
Finance Manager
2006 - 2009
MTV
- Managed the financial department, including the monthly close, annual budget, quarter estimates, deviation analysis, and review of KPIs.
- Implemented SOX controls, internal controls, and new procedures.
- Established a new program acquisition process, converting from ratings to financial goals with an overall ROI improvement of 15%.
- Improved profits through business performance analysis and proposals.
- Developed a working knowledge of Italian, UK, and US accounting principles.
- Evaluated the company's long-term business plan and proposed improvements.
Focus areas: Accounting, Month-end Processes, SOX Compliance, US GAAP, UK GAAP, P&L Management, Business Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Management, Strategy, Modeling, Business Analysis, Financial Modeling, Revenue & Expense Projections, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Online Business, Reporting, Statistics, StatsModels, Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Operational Finance, Business Models, Cash Flow, Profit & Loss (P&L)
Financial Controller
2004 - 2006
Bertelsmann SE
- Developed a new annual company budget and forecast system.
- Analyzed and presented monthly company reports covering sales, expenses, and margins.
- Handled cost control systems and conducted manufacturing cost and procedure analyses.
- Created a new standard cost model, increasing the margin and sales by €300,000.
- Saved €50,000 in yearly cost through comparative analysis of manufacturing processes.
Focus areas: Controlling, Costing, Standard Costing, Expense Management, Microsoft Excel, P&L Management, Business Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Management, Business Analysis, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Accounting, Reporting, Statistics, StatsModels, Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Inventory Management, Controller, Operational Finance, Cash Flow, Profit & Loss (P&L)
Manufacturing Cost and Control
2000 - 2002
Compañias de Alimentos Fargo
- Performed and updated the monthly cost and expenses report.
- Controlled industrial and commercial business plans.
- Developed a new monthly manufacturing control report covering every product and plant.
- Established a business plan analysis to lunch new products.
Focus areas: Cost Control, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Costing, P&L Management, Business Planning, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Management, Financial Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Accounting, Reporting, Statistics, StatsModels, Inventory Management, Operational Finance, Profit & Loss (P&L)
Education
2021 - 2022
Advanced Management Program (AMP) in Business Administration
Harvard Business School - Boston, MA, USA
2003 - 2003
Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
IE Business School - Madrid, Spain
1993 - 1998
Bachelor's Degree in Economics
Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE) - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Skills
Finance
Accounting, Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Profitability Analysis, Revenue & Expense Projections, CFO, Budgeting, Operational Finance, Three-statement Modeling, Data Analysis, Cash Flow, Profit & Loss (P&L), Revenue Modeling, Operating Expenses (OPEX), Fundraising, Valuation, Cash Flow Modeling, Debt, UK GAAP, Controller, Internal Audits
Output Software
Microsoft Excel, Stripe Payments
Geographic Expertise
Spain
Data & Analysis Software
QuickBooks Online
Other
P&L Management, Business Planning, Modeling, Finance, Online Payments, Reporting, Controlling, Expense Management, Month-end Processes, Business Analysis, Online Business, P&L Analysis, Financial Forecasting, eCommerce, Business to Consumer (B2C), Business Models, Business Process Analysis, Complex Account Reconciliations, Business Strategy, Business Consulting, Financing, Stripe, Projects, Standard Costing, SOX Compliance, US GAAP, IFRS Consolidation, Anti-fraud, Internationalization, Scaling, Startups, Interim CFO, Fractional CFO, Inventory Management, Pitch Decks, Marketplace Platforms, Revenue Recognition, Strategy, Management, Operations, Marketing, Economics, Econometrics, Statistics, StatsModels, Costing, Cost Control, Consulting, Pitch Presentations, Sales Growth, Cash Flow Management, Business Plan Consulting, Internal Control
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