Antonio Pato - Group Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary at SPAR Group

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Antonio Calisto Pato Group Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary at SPAR Group

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Antonio Pato is an exceptionally skilled Group Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Corporate Secretary for SPAR Group, the NASDAQ-listed global merchandising and marketing services giant. Demonstrating unparalleled expertise within the Retail industry, Pato's career transcends responsibility for an extensive array of financial functions, from strategic planning, accounting, forecasting, and Mergers & Acquisitions to driving financial growth. With a profound knowledge base established across various business landscapes, such as Apparel and Footwear Production, Consumer Goods, and e-Commerce to name a few, Pato has navigated international waters through leadership roles in diverse geographical markets, sharpening a keen ability to foster company resilience and success in a multiplicity of economic environments.

Boasting over 15,263 LinkedIn connections, Pato's reputation for strategic financial genius and outcome-driven management is evident. Their tenure includes significant stints as Vice President, Director of Business Administration at Chiquita in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and as the Global Head of Tax in Switzerland, amongst other prestigious roles that have honed their capabilities in international tax strategy, ERP implementations, and risk management. Pato also possesses a Corporate Finance Graduate Certificate from Harvard Extension School, which complements their vast on-the-ground experience.

Engaging with modern advancements in technology, Pato utilizes generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing to inform data-centric insights that enhance strategic decision-making and streamline operational efficiencies. This blend of traditional financial acumen with avant-garde technical tools underlines Antonio Pato's commitment to not just keeping pace with, but setting the standard for twenty-first-century financial excellence and sustained organizational growth.

More about this expert

Full name: Antonio Calisto Pato
Location: Charlotte Metro
Title: Group Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary
Company: SPAR Group
Industry: Retail
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apato/
LinkedIn Connections: 15263
Summary: As a seasoned Chief Financial Officer, I bring an all-encompassing perspective to finance, accounting, treasury, and tax operations, with a history of steering these functions towards strategic success. I hold broad industry experience spanning Apparel and Footwear Production, Fast Moving and Packaged Consumer Goods, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Food Distribution, e-Commerce, Logistics, Transportation, Shipping, Construction, and Professional Services sectors. My international expertise has been cultivated through influential leadership roles across five different countries on two continents. This global exposure has deepened my understanding of diverse financial landscapes, enabling me to create robust strategies that foster growth and resilience in various economic climates. I possess a comprehensive skillset in leading corporate restructurings, budgeting, planning, effective cost containment, and driving bottom-line growth. I have demonstrated experience in overseeing Mergers & Acquisitions, effectively navigating the complexities of post-merger integrations. Beyond traditional financial management, I'm adept in leveraging advanced technologies like generative AI for research, data analysis, and interpretation. I'm proficient in using tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, Bing, among others, to extract data-driven insights that propel strategic decision-making and promote operational efficiency. My approach to finance management combines time-tested methods with modern tools, underpinned by a vision to achieve financial excellence, adding value to the business, and creating sustained organizational growth.
Skills: Financial Accounting Management

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Harvard Extension School: Corporate Finance Graduate Certificate
Field of study: Corporate Finance

Positions

SPAR Group Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States · Hybrid: Group Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Corporate Secretary
Feb 2023 - Present

Listed on NASDAQ as SGRP, SPAR Group, Inc. is a multinational leading global merchandising and marketing services company, providing a broad range of services to retailers, manufacturers, and distributors worldwide.

• Reports to the CEO as a critical member of the Executive Management team, with a strategic role in the overall management of the company. Primary day-to-day responsibility is to plan, implement, manage, and control all financial-related activities of the company.
• Directly responsible for accounting, finance, forecasting, strategic planning, job costing, cash flow, deal analysis, negotiations, M&A, financial analysis, tax strategy, internal controls, and direct interaction with the Board of Directors, CEO, COO, and the remaining executive team.
• Drive the Company’s financial planning and continuously assess and communicate organizational performance against budget and strategic financial objectives.
• Oversee the preparation and communication of monthly and annual financial statements, including 10Q and 10K.
• Oversee long-term budgetary planning and cost management.
• Participate in critical decisions about strategic initiatives, corporate strategy, operating model, business strategy, and operational execution.
• Partner with the CEO on operational and strategic planning and execution.
• Control and evaluate the organization’s capital structure.
• Identify critical risks in the business and financial statements.
StreetTrend Remote: Interim Chief Financial Officer
2022 - 2023

Skills: Financial Accounting
Earth Shoes New York (hybrid), located out of Charlotte · Hybrid: Chief Financial Officer
2021 - 2022

• Participate in key decisions as a member of the executive management team.
• Direct numerous functions including Accounting, Finance, Tax, Credits and Collections, Treasury, Administrative, Risk Management, Controls, Trade Compliance and Supply Chain, with indirect assistance to HR, Marketing, Sourcing, Legal and Procurement.
• Develop financial strategies, managing capital requests and budgeting processes, implementing financial KPIs and measurement ratios, oversee all financial operations, manage processes and assure implementation of best practices, implementation/maintenance/consolidation of ERP systems, monitoring cash flow and working capital availabilities as we all forecasts.
• Ensure the normal closing of the books as well as the external audit.
• M&A and PMI
• Interim Replacement of COO managing logistics team, Warehouse team, 3PL relation, etc.
Chiquita Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area: Vice President, Director of Business Administration
2016 - 2021

• Reporting to the President & CEO, full scope of C-level responsibilities leading a team of professionals located in multiple countries;
• Serve as member of senior leadership;
• Direct numerous departments including Accounting, Finance, Tax, Credits and Collections, Legal & Corporate Secretary, Customs & Trade Compliance with indirect assistance to HR, Marketing, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Procurement and IT.
• Responsible for accounting for international group of legal entities; prepare and oversee proper execution of group’s annual plan; prepare and oversee long term forecasts; assist and provide input on pricing decisions; financial analysis, financial reporting and forecasting audit management; review of financial and management accounts; corporate finance and definition of financial ratios and KPIs that manage group performance; assist and provide input on CAPEX decisions; business planning; responsible for monthly/quarterly/annual closes in local GAAP, US GAAP and IFRS as applicable; responsible for quarterly management reports.
• Member of team tasked with vetting potential acquisitions, supervising due-diligence, managing execution of deals and leading PMI.
• Co-lead implementation of 2 new ERPs replacing several legacy ones;
• Oversee all tax matters of the company in the USA, EMEAA and LatAm, including compliance, planning and audits; supervise preparation of U.S. Consolidated Federal Income tax return containing 100 entities and 43 state income tax returns including 14 consolidated returns; supervise preparation of foreign tax returns (CIT, VAT & others) in 21 different countries;
• Direct the review and standardization of legal contracts across the organization;
• Ultimate responsible for all litigations of the group; Responsible for Risk management;
• Manage teams responsible for credits and collections;
• Assembled and manage compliance team ensuring compliance in the areas of quality, HR, etc.
Chiquita Geneva Area, Switzerland: Global Head of Tax
2011 - 2016

• Based in Rolle, Switzerland, direct report to the Global CFO with responsibility for tax functions for all regions (North America, LATAM and EMEAA).
• Managed global tax team of 20+ people located throughout the world.
• Reported on tax issues to executive leadership and the board while supporting leadership on acquisition restructuring, merger integration global process improvement.
CEMEX Bern Area, Switzerland: Tax Manager EMEA
2009 - 2011

For this $17 Billion global leader in building materials and cement production, reported to EMEA Tax Director and oversaw tax deliverable for numerous corporate entities in Europe, Middle East and Africa.