HEBNESER SUTHERLAND NELSON
Alajuela,Costa Rica
Summary
Dynamic finance leader with a proven track record at APM Terminals, excelling in project management and financial analysis. I've led initiatives that achieved over multi-million dollars in cost reductions while enhancing stakeholder engagement and performance management. Passionate about driving strategic planning and delivering impactful financial insights to elevate organizational success.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
3
3
Certifications
Work History
Regional Senior Finance Business Partner
APM Terminals
Panama
01.2023 - Current
- Supported financial due diligence for acquisition of critical and strategic assets for APM Terminals, delivering finance workstream and aligning interdependencies with other workstreams.
- Portfolio Management: Driving the brown-field portfolio in the development of strategic running-the-business investment proposals through coordination, accurate financial assessments for the enhancement of the region’s business.
- Guided and supported Finance Business Partner community in region by providing clear direction and technical assistance.
- Performance Management: Driving the performance management agenda in the region together with the reporting to HQ.
- Facilitated collaboration among transformation, operations, commercial, and finance to develop joint initiatives, analyses, and projects benefiting region's bottom line.
CFO Star Containers NL
APM Møller Maersk
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
11.2019 - 12.2022
- Secured approval for expansion project in Maasvlakte area, facilitating USD 69 million investment to double operational capacity.
- Restructured financial operations in Netherlands and Belgium, consolidating debt service and reviewing tax liabilities to enhance financial stability.
- Implemented new ERP system, transitioning from Sage to IFS, resulting in streamlined operations and improved financial reporting.
Ocean Finance Fulfillment Lead
APM Møller Maersk
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
10.2019 - 12.2022
- Redefined reporting and analysis landscape within Europe OCL to improve stakeholder decision-making.
- Delivered enriched insights for enhanced understanding of financial figures, contributing to improved customer service.
- Increased visibility and accessibility of financial data while promoting cost awareness within OCL.
- Assisted CFO of Ocean Customer Logistics in developing FBP team by executing EUR OCL roadmap.
Audit Manager
APM Møller Maersk
, Worldwide Scope
05.2017 - 09.2019
- Reported to Maersk’s non-executive Board of Directors, assured internal control framework across APMM Group, identified financial and operational risks, and recommended action plans for risk mitigation.
- Uncovered significant financial exposures for the biggest shipping line in the world by applying advanced data analytics to identify weaknesses in their control framework leading to important organizational and process changes in the company.
- Delivered independent assessment to non-executive board, identifying operational, financial, and control environment exposures that led to closure of largest container production plant in western hemisphere (Chile).
Financial Comptroller
APM Terminals Moin S.A.
Costa Rica
06.2014 - 04.2017
- Supported CFO in driving organizational change for cost awareness, cost-effectiveness, and cost avoidance, identifying saving opportunities and cross-department synergies, resulting in USD 2.0 million OPEX reduction in 2014 and 2015 and USD 1.8 million in 2016.
- Led high-performance finance budgeting and planning team with multiple stakeholders at entity and corporate levels, creating business cases, building and maintaining financial models, coordinating with finance and non-finance departments.
- Successfully led a +USD 1,000mill budget with the coordination and influence over a diverse, multicultural, and highly experienced senior management team.
- Implemented business data analytics tools, providing senior management with real-time financial information to enhance decision-making.
Financial Reporting & Control Analyst
Philip Morris International
Costa Rica / Panama
08.2013 - 05.2014
- Restructured and redesigned financial models to accurately reflect entity’s performance and market economics, enhancing decision-making capabilities.
- Proposed cost-saving initiatives after conducting extensive analysis of OPEX trends and outflows, resulting in 4% cost reduction in Panamanian market.
- Led financial budgeting process for central American affiliates, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
Financial Analysis Assistant Manager
Grupo CALESA
Panama
01.2013 - 07.2013
- Contributed significantly to a financial restructuring process by creating financial models, analyzing cash flows, identifying financial leveraging opportunities, and tracking banking covenants and other key business indicators.
- Developed interest redistribution model to allocate cost-of-debt across companies, accurately reflecting each company's financial performance.
- Managed daily operations to ensure team efficiency and productivity.
- Coordinated staff schedules to optimize resource allocation and coverage.
- Trained new employees on company policies and operational procedures.
Associate Vice-President (Senior Investment Financial Analyst)
AMBA Research
, Costa Rica
07.2011 - 12.2012
Financial and Control Analyst
ENEL Energy Latin-America
, Costa Rica
08.2008 - 07.2009
Multiple Positions
Colgate-Palmolive Costa Rica
, Costa Rica
08.2007 - 07.2008
Education
MBA - Finance and Economics
INCAE Business School
Costa Rica12-2025
Licentiate in Business Administration - Finance Degree
Costa Rica Institute of Technology
Costa Rica08-2008
Skills
- Financial analysis
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Cash flow management
- Working capital management
- Capital investment analysis
- Cost reduction
- Project management
- Performance management
- Data analytics
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Internal controls
Languages
- English
- Spanish, native speaker
- English, Fluent / proficient
Certification
Finance for Professionals Program - 2016 (APM Moller Maersk - Stockholm University)
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Timeline
Regional Senior Finance Business Partner
APM Terminals
01.2023 - Current
CFO Star Containers NL
APM Møller Maersk
11.2019 - 12.2022
Ocean Finance Fulfillment Lead
APM Møller Maersk
10.2019 - 12.2022
Audit Manager
APM Møller Maersk
05.2017 - 09.2019
Financial Comptroller
APM Terminals Moin S.A.
06.2014 - 04.2017
Financial Reporting & Control Analyst
Philip Morris International
08.2013 - 05.2014
Financial Analysis Assistant Manager
Grupo CALESA
01.2013 - 07.2013
Associate Vice-President (Senior Investment Financial Analyst)
AMBA Research
07.2011 - 12.2012
Financial and Control Analyst
ENEL Energy Latin-America
08.2008 - 07.2009
Multiple Positions
Colgate-Palmolive Costa Rica
08.2007 - 07.2008
MBA - Finance and Economics
INCAE Business School
Licentiate in Business Administration - Finance Degree
Costa Rica Institute of Technology