Industry: U.S.-Based Water Damage Restoration
Role: Accounting & Operations Manager (Full-Time, Remote)
Location: Brazil
Salary: $3,300/month
Estimated U.S. Cost: ~$7,000/month
Total Savings: ~53%
Time to Hire: 1 month
Background: Building the Back Office from Scratch
As this U.S.-based water damage restoration company scaled rapidly, the absence of a structured back office quickly became a bottleneck. Leadership needed visibility, financial control, and operational structure without diverting focus from growing the business.
The role was designed as a high-ownership Accounting & Operations position, combining financial oversight with hands-on operational execution. Hiring locally in the U.S. would have been expensive and slow, so the client partnered with South to find a senior, remote-ready professional with strong English skills, financial expertise, and the autonomy to build systems from the ground up.
The Challenge: A High-Ownership, Hybrid Role
The client needed one person who could fully own both finance and operations in a fast-paced, field-driven environment. Someone senior enough to operate independently, detail-oriented enough to manage financial accuracy, and flexible enough to handle operational support, all while communicating clearly with leadership and field teams.
Core Responsibilities
Operations & Process Management
- Build and optimize back-office processes from the ground up
- Identify inefficiencies and implement scalable workflows
- Support leadership with operational insights and reporting
- Coordinate dispatch and operational support for field teams
- Provide phone and email support for internal teams and customers
- Manage vendors, supplies, and ad-hoc operational needs
Business Intelligence & Finance
- Manage QuickBooks and financial tracking
- Build simple BI reports and dashboards
- Monitor job profitability, costs, and operational KPIs
Candidate Profile Requirements
- 5–10+ years of operations experience, ideally in service or field-based businesses
- Strong numerical aptitude; finance or accounting background preferred
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Highly detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity
The Solution: One Strong Hire, Zero Disruption
South managed the process end-to-end, including:
- LATAM talent sourcing
- Technical and experience vetting
- English proficiency evaluation
- Compliance, contracts, and payroll setup
Within one month, South placed a senior candidate who met both the technical requirements and the ownership mindset, without disrupting the client’s ongoing operations.
Meet the Talent: Giselle from Brazil
- Finance & operations professional with 7+ years of experience building structured back offices for growing companies
- Strong hands-on background in QuickBooks, financial controls, and operational reporting for U.S.-based teams
- Former Finance Assistant at a high-growth CPG startup, reporting directly to the CEO and supporting U.S. expansion
- Highly proactive, detail-obsessed, and comfortable owning end-to-end operations in fast-moving environments
Result: A true one-person operations engine who brought immediate structure, clarity, and control, without the cost or complexity of a U.S. hire.
Results: Strong Operations at a Lower Cost
Time to Hire: 1 month
Monthly Cost: $3,300 vs. ~$7,000 in the U.S.
Savings: ~53%
Impact:
- Seamless onboarding with minimal ramp-up time
- Back-office structure implemented quickly
- Improved financial visibility and control
- Reduced operational bottlenecks
- Leadership freed to focus on growth
Giselle is actively working with the client, and the engagement has delivered clear improvements across finance and operations.
Why Hire With South?
South helps U.S. companies scale operations and back-office functions with senior LATAM talent. We handle sourcing, vetting, compliance, payroll, and ongoing support, so our clients can grow efficiently without the cost and complexity of U.S. hiring.
👉 Looking to scale your operations without slowing down your business? Let’s talk.
