FP&A Coaches

Hello and welcome to my profile! With a robust background in finance, I currently serve as a Financial Analyst at Apple, where I've gained extensive experience across various finance functions, including Operations, R&D, Retail, and Sales Finance. Currently, I am the Finance partner for the Infrastructure Services Engineering organization at Apple. I focus on engineering and operations strategy for Apple's global data centers, networks, server acquisition, and 3P Cloud utilization. Additionally, I have experiencing managing interns & full-time employees that rotate through Apple's Finance Development Program. I have also interviewed 20+ candidates for Apple. My journey began with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UC Berkeley, and I've since honed my skills through my experience at Apple Finance. In addition to my corporate experience, I am the Vice President at Driven Academics, where I have been instrumental in mentoring students and guiding them through college applications and academic challenges. I am passionate about helping others succeed and would love to assist you in navigating the complexities of FP&A - whether you are already working as a full-time employee or looking to break into the industry, I am here. Feel free to reach out to discuss how I can support your career goals!

Hi there, great to e-meet you! I know firsthand how tough and competitive building a career in FP&A can be—whether you're just starting out, looking to level up, or even making a big international move. But I also know that with the right guidance, a clear strategy, and some well-placed effort, you can achieve your goals faster and with more confidence. That’s where I come in. I’m an experienced finance professional with a global career spanning FP&A, Reporting, Controlling, Credit, Collection, and Project Management across six countries and three continents. I’ve navigated the complexities of multinational finance, earned promotions, and participated in hiring processes—so I understand what companies look for and what it takes to stand out. More importantly, I’ve helped over 40 friends, family members, and clients break into top companies, gain admission to graduate programs, and successfully transition across countries and continents. My coaching approach is built on experience, structure, and extreme personalization—because every career journey is unique. Coming from Venezuela—a country in crisis—and making it to a top-tier manufacturing company in Switzerland/Liechtenstein in a global FP&A leadership role, I know what it’s like to face challenges, doubts, and setbacks. But I also know how to turn obstacles into opportunities. And I can help you do the same. I’ve been the go-to person for CV reviews, cover letters, job applications, mock interviews, and career strategies since my Bachelor’s days. At Hilti Group, I’ve directly coached candidates into junior and mid-management positions worldwide and helped dozens of professionals land jobs, secure promotions, and build long-term careers in FP&A. But enough about me—this is about you. Your career, your goals, your next big move. Whether you want to break into FP&A, fast-track your promotion, switch industries, or move to Europe, I’m here to help you make it happen. Together, we’ll build a strategy tailored to your unique strengths and situation, so you can achieve your goals with clarity and confidence. Let’s take your FP&A career to the next level—let’s get started!

My name is Derek and I'm excited to meet you! I specialize in coaching FP&A professionals, but I'll work to support you in whatever your goals are! Rather than simply sharing what worked for me, I'd love to be a guide as you explore what will work for YOU! Whether your focus is kicking your career journey off, growing into leadership roles, or just looking for a new professional challenge, I would love to help you navigate your career and educational journey! I have been fortunate to learn in world-class environments, both academically and professionally. I earned a BS in Finance from Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Additionally, I have developed finance expertise learning from mentors at two of the top companies for developing CFOs: Honeywell and PepsiCo. I'm now expanding on my leadership capabilities as a Director at Rad Power Bikes. More importantly, I have experience as a teacher, mentor, and friend. Reach out if there is any way I can be a helper to you!

Welcome to my profile! Ive worked on the systems side of financial planning and analysis, I have honed my skills across leading tech companies such as Cash App, DoorDash, and PayPal. As a Lead Product Manager at Cash App, I spearhead the Money Infrastructure Platform, leveraging my extensive background in finance systems and analytics. My journey began at Zynga, where I developed financial models and dashboards, and continued through roles at OpenTable and PayPal, focusing on financial transactions and product management. I am passionate about helping clients navigate the complexities of transitioning out of an FP&A role.

After working for two years in public accounting, I worked as an FP&A analyst at a private equity fund. I worked with a portfolio of B2B SaaS companies on ad-hoc FP&A projects including modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and SaaS metrics. I found that there was a large overlap between accounting and FP&A, and I would love to help you learn FP&A skills as either a transition out of accounting or a first-time role.

I bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record in guiding students towards successful careers in the tech finance industry. With a background in FP&A and corporate strategy, I've honed my expertise to help over 100 individuals fine-tune their resumes and interview skills, leading to placements at some of the world's foremost companies. My particular strength lies in facilitating individuals’ entry into tech companies, where I've achieved outstanding results. I'm proud to have played a pivotal role in securing offers for my clients at prestigious tech giants, such as Microsoft and Amazon, among many others. Having received and worked for these tech companies myself, I am able to provide insider insights for what they are looking for. My deep understanding of the tech finance landscape and my commitment to empowering individuals make me an ideal coach for those aspiring to excel in this competitive field.

I’ve built my career at the intersection of healthcare, finance, and strategy—shaped by experiences at some of the world’s most respected Fortune 500 companies: Amazon (#2), UnitedHealth Group (#3), American Airlines (#81), JPMorgan Chase (#11), and now Cigna (#13). I have spent the majority of my career in FP&A roles spanning accounting, M&A, financial modeling, and reporting. I am passionate about talent having spent four years recruiting for Amazon. Furthermore, I am actively involved with recruiting at the MBA level for my current employer and can help with all things required to land the role from resume and LinkedIn to interview prep and offer review.

After a career in Investment Banking and Private Equity, I made the move over an Operating role, running FP&A. I'm now the CFO of a company, and can help people understand the difference in career paths and how to progress to an eventual Executive role.

I currently lead the finance organization at Collectly, Series A FinTech startup backed by Sapphire Ventures. Prior to taking on the CFO role, I was VP Finance at two a16z-backed early-stage startups (Keep Financial and Co:Create). Before 2022, I had been a VP Corporate Development, forging multi-billion dollar strategic partnerships, leading 20+ investments on behalf of American Express, and leading the $850 million sale of Kabbage in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Building on 10+ of my investment banking and growth equity experience, I successfully transitioned to an operating role at Kabbage, the leading provider of financial services to small businesses. I devised and led distribution partnerships with the leading banks in the world growing Kabbage’s revenues to $500 million. When Covid hit, I led the overhaul of our corporate strategy and led the company’s sale, while managing relationships with our board, investors, partners, and employees. Joining American Express as part of the Kabbage’s sale exposed me to the most challenging process of any acquisition – integration. While building a cross-functional team to ensure Kabbage fit well within American Express, I led the expansion of Amex’s small business services via M&A and strategic investments deploying over $1 billion of capital in 2 years.