Saul Mateos

CEO

Atlanta, Georgia, United States20 yrs 6 mos experience
Most Likely To SwitchAI Enabled

Key Highlights

  • Managed $40B P&Ls at Fortune 1000 companies.
  • Transformed forecasting accuracy from 85% to 99% at Expedia.
  • Led Coca-Cola's largest reorganization with $1B impact.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a SaaS CFO-Operator with extensive experience in financial leadership and operational efficiency.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Finance TransformationCfo-operator ModelOperational EfficiencyFinance LeadershipGrowth StrategyChange LeadershipBusiness Model InnovationData AnalyticsOperational ExcellenceProfit MaximizationPerformance & Accountability CulturesCost ControlTalent AcquisitionCorporate FinanceOrganizational DesignTransformation LeadershipCash Flow ManagementStrategic Negotiation

Other Skills

ReportingFinancial AnalysisCross-functional Team LeadershipAI ImplementationFinancial PlanningCapital RaisingBusiness Process ImprovementFinancial Planning & AnalysisBusiness AutomationCrisis ManagementSupplier ManagementCash ManagementTeam LeadershipTreasury OperationsChange Management

About

Excel is the cockroach of enterprise software. Nuclear winter couldn't kill it.I've tried to kill it. Spent three hours getting AI to replace a spreadsheet that took 20 minutes to rebuild manually. I've managed $40B P&Ls at Fortune 1000 companies and turned around failing startups. Now I operate Finance, Marketing, Technology, and HR at a scaling SaaS company. That's not a typo. Four departments. One CFO. This is the reality of the modern CFO-Operator. We're not financial reporters anymore. We build the operational engine that powers growth. We have Claude writing Python, reviewing marketing campaigns while fixing the hiring process. 🔸WHAT I'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY: ► Rose from intern to CFO of a $1B business in 8 years at GM ► Led Coca-Cola's largest reorganization in decades ($1B impact, $400M in efficiencies delivered personally) ► Transformed forecasting accuracy from 85% to 99% at Expedia ► Executed turnaround at GAIN: 30% cost reduction, 100% revenue growth, cash flow positive🔸THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH:Most CFO content is theory from consultants who haven't operated in a decade. Most "AI transformation" advice comes from people who've never shipped a real workflow.I share what actually works. And what spectacularly doesn't. 🔸CFO LAB NEWSLETTER: Every week, thousands of CFOs and founders get field-tested frameworks for operating beyond finance. No theory. No LinkedIn BS. Just what I'm learning from operating four departments at a scaling company.What you'll get: ► Operational frameworks you can implement Monday morning ► AI tools I'm actually using (and the ones I've abandoned) ► The failures that taught me more than the wins ► Stage-specific guidance from $0 to $40BThe best CFOs don't just report on operations. They run them. Let's connect if you're building something or navigating the CFO-Operator reality.

Experience

Gain

Chief Financial Officer & Head of Marketing, Technology, and HR

Dec 2022 – Present · 3 yrs 4 mos · Atlanta Metropolitan Area · On-site

  • Chief Financial Officer & Head of Human Resources • Gain
  • Dec 2022 – Present
  • 🔸 THE CFO-OPERATOR REALITY:
  • This is what modern CFO leadership looks like. Not just finance. Four departments. One operational engine. Building the infrastructure that powers growth while running the numbers that measure it.
  • 🔸 IMPACT:
  • â–ş Operating across Finance, Marketing, Technology, and HR as a unified operational function.
  • â–ş Built cross-functional metrics and reporting that connect every department to unit economics.
  • â–ş Integrated AI workflows into daily operations for efficiency gains across all four departments.
  • 🔸 ROLE:
  • CFO and Head of Marketing, Technology, and HR at an AI-enhanced SaaS platform. Full P&L responsibility with direct teams spanning FP&A, controllership, treasury, marketing operations, technology infrastructure, and people operations.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE:
  • â–ş Launched integrated operational reporting across four departments, enabling faster decision-making and tighter alignment with business goals.
  • â–ş Built finance teams that partner with the business rather than police it.
  • â–ş Drove operational efficiency through process improvement and cross-functional coordination.
  • â–ş Strengthened unit economics visibility across marketing (CAC, LTV, attribution), technology (build vs buy, technical debt), and HR (cost per hire, productivity).
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & STRENGTHENED:
  • CFO-Operator Model / Multi-Department Operations / Finance Transformation / AI Implementation / Cross-Functional Leadership / SaaS Metrics / FP&A / Operational Efficiency
ReportingFinancial AnalysisCross-functional Team LeadershipAI ImplementationOperational EfficiencyFinance Transformation+1

Pure watercraft

Chief Financial Officer

Oct 2021 – Dec 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos · Atlanta Metropolitan Area

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Boostrapped existing resources to protect valuation in a difficult market and grow the business. â–ş Stood up the finance organization and provided visibility into key success drivers. â–ş Led a critical capital raise to realize key corporate initiatives for future growth.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Reporting to the board with full P&L responsibility, direct teams across business finance and FP&A, controllership and treasury, internal and external reporting, and banking relations.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE:
  • â–ş Enhanced forecasting abilities and strategic decision making through performance visibility by launching the FP&A function with internal and external reporting.
  • â–ş Readied the company for future growth through far-reaching process improvement and controls, strengthening core finance/accounting functions and the operational model.
  • â–ş Overcame a dried-up EV funding market, raising critical funds through massive outreach to the private market and by tapping into existing investor base.
  • â–ş Slashed costs and capital requirements in production, leading negotiations with manufacturers.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & STRENGTHENED:
  • Finance Leadership / Growth Strategy / Data Analytics & Business Intelligence / Business Process Improvement / Capital Raising / IPO Readiness / People Development / Team Building
ReportingFinancial PlanningCapital RaisingBusiness Process ImprovementFinance LeadershipGrowth Strategy

The coca-cola company

CFO, Marketing & Head of Category Finance │ Steered Coca-Cola’s largest reorg in decades

Oct 2019 – Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 3 mos · Atlanta Metropolitan Area

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Led a historic transformation to centralize the marketing function and P&L structure. â–şOvercame extreme Covid-19 challenges. â–şUnlocked massive savings and delivered needle-moving efficiencies.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Reporting to the most senior company level, directed a team of Category CFOs, and led marketing FP&A with P&L responsibility over full product portfolio and direct management over marketing spend.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Analyzed for opportunities in marketing efficiencies and designed a centralized operating model. Built a streamlined global marketing organization.
  • â–ş Created a product P&L accountability from scratch, as well as a resource allocation model to invest in strategic category priorities.
  • â–ş Transformed the business model—setting up new governance framework, data analytics infrastructure, FP&A teams, reporting and forecasting procedures, and data-driven long-range planning.
  • â–ş Championed cultural shift to embrace new ways of operating by setting up processes early in restructuring roadmap and gaining buy-in across multiple stakeholders.
  • â–ş Revitalized portfolio to favor power brands and generate operating income gains.
  • â–ş Positioned the category finance organization as key function for career ascent, both attracting and exporting top talent, with 6 team members being promoted to more senior levels.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & STRENGTHENED:
  • Change Leadership / Restructuring / Cultural Transformations / Business Model Innovation / Business Process Improvement / Portfolio Optimization / Data Analytics / FP&A / Stakeholder Management / People Development / Team Building / Consumer Goods
ReportingChange LeadershipData AnalyticsBusiness Process ImprovementBusiness Model Innovation

Expedia group

Sr. Finance Director, FP&A & Analytics, Egencia │ Propelled Expedia into the future of finance

Jan 2017 – Oct 2019 · 2 yrs 9 mos · Seattle, Washington, United States

  • 🔸IMPACT: â–şReengineered core finance processes into automated, cutting-edge cloud-based solutions. â–şRevealed the true drivers of P&L. â–şEnabled strategic leadership decision making.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Managed FP&A, Finance Analytics, and Marketing, Technology & Product Finance for Egencia, the SaaS corporate travel division of Expedia. Led 4 direct and 20 indirect reports.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Created a sophisticated team of experts spanning 3 continents that brought cutting-edge know-how to optimize performance.
  • â–ş Launched a full suite of real-time predictive analytics tools that use machine learning and algorithm-based models in partnership with an India-based data analytics firm.
  • â–ş After automating the forecast process, transferred valuable resources from manual processes to
  • value-added activities and improved forecasting accuracy from 85% to 99%.
  • â–ş Drove double-digit sales growth by overhauling sales force and marketing investments, leveraging data to estimate customer LTV and acquisition costs.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & STRENGTHENED:
  • Global Team Building / SAAS (Software as a Service) / B2B / Strategic Alliances / Business Intelligence / Business Process Improvement / Financial Planning & Analysis / Business Automation / Cross-Cultural Communication Skills / Finance Leadership / Data Analytics / Change Management
ReportingFinancial Planning & AnalysisBusiness AutomationFinance LeadershipData Analytics

General motors

5 roles

CFO – GM Chile, Peru & Bolivia ► $1B P&L ► Drove loss-generating division to profitability

Promoted

Feb 2015 – Dec 2016 · 1 yr 10 mos

  • 🔸IMPACT: â–şLed organization to profitable performance through data strategies, preventing shutdown of operations. â–ş Built top-brass FP&A, Controllership, and Treasury teams that provided critical support to Sales, Marketing, Purchasing, and Manufacturing to achieve stretch targets.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Senior finance leader of a $1B, 300-employee operation. Led 5 direct and 25 indirect reports.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Built and developed an Accounting, Treasury, and FP&A team that ranked #1 in the region across KPIs.
  • â–ş Led pricing and portfolio adjustments that contributed to a total performance turnaround. Phased out an unprofitable brand, launched 5 new products in less than one year and executed the necessary shutdown of unprofitable operations.
  • â–ş Bridged the gap between the Supply Chain and the Sales functions to ensure new orders matched real business requirements, leading to a reduction in aged inventory from 40% to 5%.
  • â–ş Led highly successful negotiations with key suppliers that led to significant bottom-line impact.
  • â–ş Coordinated reorganization initiatives that enabled the company to invest in a new team dedicated to selling premium products, which had a positive impact on EBIT margin.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & STRENGTHENED:
  • Operational Excellence / Profit Maximization / Cross-Functional Collaboration / Restructuring / Business Intelligence / Cost Control / Team Building / Performance Management / Pricing Strategies / Portfolio Optimization
ReportingFinancial AnalysisCost ControlOperational ExcellenceProfit Maximization

Finance Head Supporting GM South America Purchasing │Crisis management & cost control

Jan 2014 – Jan 2015 · 1 yr

  • 🔸IMPACT: â–şProtected organization from 100% currency devaluation in Brazil and region. â–şFostered a performance culture within Purchasing Area. â–şBuilt strong link between Finance and Operations.
  • 🔸ROLE: Managed $10B P&L and 1K suppliers in 5 countries with 6 direct reports.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Developed a financial model that aligned purchasing actions with real P&L impact. Enabled improved forecasting and fostered accountability and ownership of the bottom-line results.
  • â–ş Generated multimillion-dollar savings by influencing and replacing suppliers, which led to no cost inflation in 2015.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Performance & Accountability Cultures / Cost Control / Supplier Management / Crisis Management / Finance Innovation / Business Process Improvement / P&L Management / Team Leadership
ReportingCrisis ManagementSupplier ManagementPerformance & Accountability CulturesCost Control

Treasury Manager─South America Corporate Finance & Capital Markets │ Award-winning performance

Dec 2012 – Dec 2013 · 1 yr

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Stabilized the region during a severe economic crisis. â–ş Developed a strong funding and dividend plan to ensure realization of corporate strategy. â–ş Improved cash flow and working capital management.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Led capital markets, risk management, and financing operations for GM South America with 6 direct reports.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Developed a highly regarded trainee rotational program by partnering with the leading business schools in Brazil as a source of talent. GM South America earned a prominent place on the corporate map in terms of talent strategy, and the program was later rolled out in the US.
  • â–ş Earned companywide recognition with the “GM do Brasil” Presidential Award and GM Corporation Transformers Award for playing a key role in the execution of a leaseback transaction in Brazil that had a significant impact on the Q4 2015 results.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Talent Acquisition / Strategic Partnerships / Team Building / Cash Management / Working Capital Management / Corporate Finance / Capital Markets / Risk Management / Team Leadership / People Development
ReportingCash ManagementTeam LeadershipTalent AcquisitionCorporate Finance

Treasury Manager─Treasury Transformation│Centralized treasury functions from 60 BUs around the world

Promoted

Apr 2012 – Dec 2012 · 8 mos

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Centralized 7 key treasury functions into a modern, shared services center. â–şDelivered game-changing cost savings and shareholder value to the company.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Charged with leading consolidation and change management of treasury operations, leading 3 direct reports.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Designed the target operating model for the centralized GM Treasury function.
  • â–ş Overhauled a treasury management system that performed more than five million transactions monthly with over $40B in notional value.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Organizational Design / Transformation Leadership / Operating Model Design / Restructuring / Change Management / Treasury Operations / Team Leadership
ReportingTreasury OperationsChange ManagementOrganizational DesignTransformation Leadership

Senior Treasury & FP&A Analyst─GM Corporation │ Instrumental in turnaround following reorganization

Jun 2009 – Mar 2012 · 2 yrs 9 mos

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Enhanced cash visibility and forecasting accuracy following 2009 bankruptcy.
  • 🔸 ROLE: Recruited through Treasury Rotational Program to support Capital Planning and Auto Finance.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Revamped the supplier payment terms that reduced capital requirements and prevented dramatic changes in cash flow.
  • â–ş Formed part of the IPO team that created an FP&A model that formed the basis of strategic negotiations with banks and IPO subscribers.
  • â–ş Developed a mutually beneficial partnership with Wells Fargo for the retail subvention financing that led to savings of up to $400M per year.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Cash Flow Management / Financial Modelling / Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) / Strategic Partnerships / Cost Cutting / Performance Turnarounds / IPO / Strategic Negotiation / Post-M&A Integration / Cross-Cultural Communication
ReportingFinancial ModellingMergers & AcquisitionsCash Flow ManagementStrategic Negotiation

Grupo abrisa

2 roles

Financial & Administration Director─Media Team│Launched a new business venture─a $30M investment

Aug 2006 – Aug 2007 · 1 yr · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Built a 150-employee operation. â–şDeveloped Finance & Administration departments from scratch including FP&A, Accounting, Controllership, Treasury, HR, and Purchasing.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Orchestrated a critical $20M printing press acquisition that enabled full control over printing operations.
  • â–ş Fostered an environment of teamwork and collaboration by bringing teams together to share expertise and provide support with a direct impact on the organization’s performance.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Investment Strategies / Cross-Functional Collaboration / New Business Launch / Operating Model Development / Financial Planning & Analysis / Treasury Operations / Accounting Operations / Controllership

Corporate Development Consultant │Developed the strategy that led to $1B in revenue Grupo Abrisa

Jan 2005 – Jul 2006 · 1 yr 6 mos · Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–şSupported President and Board of Directors in new business development to drive profitable growth.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Secured $250M in bonds by developing a business plan for the valuation of the Cap Cana real estate project. Enabled funding of new investments.
  • â–ş Paved the way for $1B in real estate investments by developing a solid business strategy for a 6M square meter real estate project at the popular beach of Playa Rincon.
  • â–ş Developed the business case for a new mass media company. Promoted to launch and build it as the Finance and Administration Director.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Capital Raising / Strategic Planning / Business Development / Board Interactions / Business Strategy Development / Business Modelling

Universitat de girona - technology transfer office

Business Development Manager─Technology Transfer Office │ Led launch of 15 startups and raised $3M

Jun 2002 – Dec 2004 · 2 yrs 6 mos · Girona, Spain

  • 🔸 IMPACT: â–ş Actively managed launch of university business incubator’s research spinoffs. â–şTransformed academic research into viable business models.
  • 🔸 LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS:
  • â–ş Supported launch of 15+ companies, playing an active management role in 7 of them.
  • â–ş Secured $3M in funding for the startups, which included private investment and government grants.
  • â–şTaught courses for the University of Girona’s first Master’s degree program in Entrepreneurship to postgraduate students and mentored ESADE students on their final projects.
  • 🔸 EXPERTISE LEVERAGED & HONED:
  • Startups / New Business Launch / Capital Raise / Thought Leadership / Training / Leadership

Education

University of Virginia Darden School of Business

MBA — Business

Jan 2007 – Jan 2009

Stanford University

Stanford Leadership Lead Program

Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

Esade

Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) — Management

Jan 1997 – Jan 2002

CASP Barcelona

Jan 1998 – Present

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