Industry: Higher Education
Role: Senior Accounting Consultant (Full-time, Remote)
Location: Colombia
Monthly Salary: $4,000
Estimated U.S. Cost: $10,000
Total Savings: 60%
Background: A University Seeking Senior-Level Accounting Support
A university with a finance team of 25 professionals across various areas was seeking an experienced accounting consultant to support ongoing initiatives. Most internal processes were still highly manual (Excel-based), and the team needed expertise to help transition toward system-driven workflows while managing multiple strategic projects, including an MS Dynamics F&O ERP implementation, several audits, and expansion-related initiatives.
They required a bilingual (Spanish/English) accounting professional with senior-level expertise to enhance accounting operations efficiently.
The Challenge: Senior-Level Expertise Without U.S.-Level Costs
Hiring this profile in the U.S. (~$10,000/month) would have limited scalability. The candidate needed proven senior experience across:
- 10+ years in accounting
- Manager/Controller-level expertise
- Bilingual English–Spanish
- Strong process and systems-thinking (Dynamics F&O a plus)
Key Responsibilities
- Month-end close under GAAP (expense accruals, revenue recognition, fixed assets)
- Revenue & cost management
- Detailed account analysis and reconciliation
- Lead process improvements and system optimization
The university needed someone experienced, cost-efficient, available quickly, and open to remote work from another region, making LATAM the perfect fit. They reached out to South to accelerate the process.
The Solution: A Fully-Vetted LATAM Consultant Hired in 30 Days
South immediately launched the hiring process. Within 30 days, the university successfully hired their ideal candidate. South managed the full process:
- Candidate sourcing and vetting
- Interviews coordination
- Background checks
- Contracts & compliance
- Payroll setup
- Ongoing support from day one
The client focused solely on evaluating talent; South handled the rest.
Meet the Senior Consultant: Diego from Colombia
Diego brings over 12 years of experience in accounting and finance, with deep expertise in accurate financial reporting, reconciliations, compliance, and tax optimization.
Career Highlights:
- Accounting & Finance Consultant (2021–Present): Delivered detailed financial reports, achieved up to 25% tax reduction through strategic planning, and provided advisory services to multiple companies.
- Accounting Manager (2019–2021): Reduced monthly closing time by 20%; led external audits with clean results.
- Senior Accountant (2015–2019): Ensured compliance with GAAP/IFRS standards and reduced tax processing time by 150%.
Education Includes:
- Specialization in Financial Management – Universidad de los Andes
- Bachelor’s in Accounting
- Financial Accounting Management Certificate (IFRS) – Harvard Business School
The Impact: Immediate Results, Minimal Onboarding
Thanks to his experience, Diego quickly adapted and took ownership with only a brief onboarding phase.
The university saw immediate improvements:
- Smooth integration with the finance team
- Minimal onboarding required
- Significant support in monthly accounting operations
- Higher accuracy and clarity in financial reporting
- Increased internal efficiency without additional full-time headcount
Results
- Time to Hire: 30 days
- Cost Savings: 60% compared to U.S.-based compensation
- Operational Impact: Smooth onboarding, immediate contribution
- Onboarding Time: Minimal, began delivering value almost immediately
Why Hire with South?
South provides access to highly skilled LATAM talent that matches U.S. standards without U.S.-level costs. We manage the entire process, sourcing, vetting, contracts, compliance, payroll, and ongoing support, so your team can focus on performance, not administration.
👉 Looking to strengthen your team with senior LATAM talent? Let’s talk!
