Célia Gonçalves
Leiria
Summary
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, most part of it, in an international environment, working with US and NL teams. I’ve helped the local company to grow the EBITDA more than 16M€ and achieve a revenue of 60M€. During last year, was able to complete with success very important bank financing projects, that will support the growth of the company, as well negotiate 2 investment programs with the governmental entities achieving 35M€ and grants of more than 15M€.
I’m have a strong customer focus and have service oriented, extensive experience in IT development and implementation, as well executional certainty as action drivers. I'm skilled in critical thinking and problem solving helping my peers and colleagues to find the best solutions for the daily challenges. Love work on challenging and rewarding projects that support the company in achieving the goals, within the finance objectives, and complying with internal polices and processes as well all the regulatory requirements as well.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Finance Director & BOD executive
Crisal - Leerdam Crisal Group
06.2022 - Current
- Negotiated with banks financing projects to support the company on the strategy development value above 1M€.
- Conducted financial analysis to manage risks and benefits.
- Established professional relationships with business partners, shareholders, and authorities to develop trust, rapport, and reliability, including governmental entities.
- Oversaw budget to manage costs and meet sales and revenue targets.
- Implemented company policies and legal guidelines to maintain standards and verify compliance from staff.
- Conducted financial analysis, researched business agreements, and negotiated critical contracts, including 2 investment grants programs with Portuguese government agencies of significant level of investment and grant.
- Increased efficiency, effectiveness and profitability by supporting and managing teams productivity, costs and budgets.
- Conducted the several steps and procedures of the due diligence operations that the company has been involved.
- Supported the strategy of the company, including in the M&A business.
- Supported the organization on the implementation of new ERP in the 2 international locations, as a BPO for finance
- Met individually with employees to offer feedback and insight on job tasks based on careful review.
Senior Finance Manager
Libbey SA - Crisal Cristalaria Automática SA
06.2017 - 06.2022
- Managed international team of 11 individuals while leading startup of EMEA SSC organization in Portugal, aligned with the strategy of the company.
- Coordinated all the responsibilities for staff in 2 countries, in order to achieve the defined SLA and KPIs.
- Managed compliance with all financial regulatory and legal obligations.
- Managed end of year accounts reconciliation process overseeing 8 direct reports.
- Assessed, planned and delegated budgets across 10 departments, delegating based on company needs, with a total operating budget over 40M€
- Tracked and logged expenses, ensuring spending remained within approved budgets.
- Prepared management accounts and budget-holder reports, identifying significant trends and variances.
- Identified opportunities for cost-reduction and conducted reviews and evaluations to assess impact and feasibility.
- Represented organization with regulatory bodies and key stakeholders.
- Updated company financial policies and procedures to enhance internal control over accounting and other management systems.
- Supported audit assessments and requirements, ensuring audits met regulations and government requirements.
- Directed financial team, established controls and set policies for optimum operational results.
- Implemented internal audit program, safeguarding company from violations during external audits.
- Ensured company stayed in line with financial laws and guidelines throughout all processes and transactions.
- Maintained and updated fiscal calendar for audit schedule, tax reporting and other reporting deadlines.
- Kept up to date with changes in financial regulations and legislation that may impact company or future financial decision-making.
- Executed year-end audits, working with external auditors to confirm clean financial audits and implementing any improvement suggestions promptly.
Finance & SSC Manager
Libbey Portugal & Libbey Netherlands
10.2012 - 07.2017
- Established an EMEA Finance SSC in Portugal, within the strategy of the company
- Oversaw internationally work of administrative staff supporting 2 operations and facilitated key cross-functional collaboration.
- Directed daily operation of 2 business and flexed with changing demands to consistently meet objectives.
- Managed organizational resources to meet administrative and operational needs whilst adhering to budgetary guidelines and meeting quality and schedule demands.
- Prepared statements detailing operational detail and key performance indicators.
- Managed team of 6 finance staff, providing supportive and productive atmosphere to increase team performance.
- Assisted in planning, preparing and delivering statutory reports, publications and internal and external audits, meeting tight timelines.
- Kept financial suite secure, controlling access and maintaining accounting structures to meet corporate requirements.
- Completed account reconciliations to review and clear balance sheet control accounts on monthly basis, maintaining documentation to support audit.
- Controlled cash flow and expenditures on BaaN, promptly flagging up suspicious transactions and inaccurate data for investigation.
- Experienced in IFRS and USgaap.
- Oversaw ledger reconciliation and managed accounts payable and receivable to keep smooth running of financial operations.
- Delivered monthly close process, analyzing transactions and preparing required journals.
- Performed regular, detailed audits to verify accuracy of financial documents, expenditures and investments.
- Kept organizations financial records electronically and on hard copies, complying with safety protection laws.
- Prepared monthly finance team performance indicators and transparency publications for review.
- Supervised journals, confirming accounting entries were supported by working papers for analytical review and audit.
Previous Work Experience - Finance Controller
Crisal Cristalaria Automatica SA
09.1999 - 10.2012
- Produced financial reports and audit documentation to facilitate internal and external auditing.
- Developed annual budget and compared actual expenses against projected budget to minimize costs.
- Created internal controls and corrective actions to reduce risk or deficiencies.
- Facilitated analysis and audit of financial records and record-keeping by finance departments of each institution following federal regulations and generally accepted accounting principles.
- Liaised with freight and utility vendors to facilitate timely AP processes, including payments, mitigate late fees and increase accuracy.
- Developed high performing finance team to deliver financial statements and provide support to accounting department.
- Develop improved business processes to provide greater transparency, more accurate reporting and better identification of cost-saving opportunities.
- Managed cash flows to optimize year-end tax benefits.
- Advised and educated executives on contracts to minimize risks and avoid significant financial implications.
- Assisted with acquisition, operating financing and systems integration to met project and site-related objectives.
- Reviewed internal disbursement processes to optimize and strengthen security of payment environment.
- Provided guidance, training and leadership to employees to shape goals and meet targeted objectives.
- Managed accounting and financial reporting activities to provide progress and development updates.
- Applied IFRS to shape technical accounting policies and procedures.
- Complied with guidelines and developed policies to maintain compliance with other regulatory statutes.
Education
MBA - Evaluation Companies
Academic University of Évora
2000
University Degree - Economics
University of Évora
1996
Skills
- International Experience
- Business development
- Financial analysis and planning
- Negotiation with external parties
- Budgeting
- Process improvement
- Strategic thinking
- Decision making
- Financial leadership
Languages
Portuguese
First Language
English
Proficient
C2
Spanish
Elementary
A2
French
Beginner
A1
Certification
- Chartered / CPA accountant
- Business evaluation certified
- Chartered training professional
Additional Information
- Date of birth : March, 6th , 1972
Timeline
Finance Director & BOD executive
Crisal - Leerdam Crisal Group
06.2022 - Current
Senior Finance Manager
Libbey SA - Crisal Cristalaria Automática SA
06.2017 - 06.2022
Finance & SSC Manager
Libbey Portugal & Libbey Netherlands
10.2012 - 07.2017
Previous Work Experience - Finance Controller
Crisal Cristalaria Automatica SA
09.1999 - 10.2012
MBA - Evaluation Companies
Academic University of Évora
University Degree - Economics
University of Évora
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