Jose Antonio Arean
Finance Expert
Location
Mexico City, Mexico
Toptal Member Since
April 16, 2017
Jose has directly executed valuations worth over $10 billion and founded Firmus—a firm offering advice in finance and economics. As a freelance, he provides his clients with robust and thorough analyses to help them achieve optimal decisions. In addition to working extensively with public companies in financial modeling and management, Jose has acted as an international expert witness in commercial disputes and as an outsourced CFO for startups.
Jose is available for hire
Hire JoseCareer Highlights
CEO
Firmus Consulting
Financial Analyst and Director
Serficor
Education
Specialty Degree
Mexican College of Civil Engineers
Master's Degree
National University of Mexico
Bachelor's Degree
National University of Mexico
Select Certifications
Investment Philosophies
Stern School of Business at NYU
Applied Corporate Finance
New York University
Advanced Valuation (High Honors)
Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU
Case Studies
Financial Statement Analysis
Financial StatementsFinancial AnalysisCorporate Finance
Financial Model Audit for a Toll Road
Financial ModelingFinancial Model AuditingExcel ModelingFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)InfrastructurePPP Projects
Economic Study on the Contributions of Anglers
EconometricsStrategic Planning & ExecutionFinancial ModelingForecastingIndustry AnalysisMicroeconomics
Infrastructure Project | Won Bid and Ramp-up
Financial ModelingProject BiddingProject FinanceFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)ForecastingFinancial Risk Assessment+ 10 more
Financial Model for Short, Medium and Long Term Planning & Control
Financial ModelingFinancial Model AuditingFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)Debt FinancingEquity FinancingEquity Investment+ 4 more
Industry Expertise
AgricultureCommercial PrintingCivil Engineering ConstructionCommercial & Residential ConstructionEducationEnergy, Utilities & WasteElectricity, Oil & GasWater TreatmentOther Expertise
Corporate FinanceFinancial ModelingForecastingIFRS Financial ReportingInterim CFOMonte Carlo SimulationsValuationWork Experience
2001 - PRESENT
CEO
Firmus Consulting
- Founded Firmus Consulting, delivering advice to private firms and government agencies. In 2022, the firm directly executed business valuations worth US$6 billion.
- Served as an outsourced CFO and board member for a UK oil-and-gas startup in Latin America that achieved annual sales of up to US$10 million; also participated in the winning bid preparation.
- Directed and supervised the valuation of nine sugar mills in Mexico worth US$500 million that were later sold to the private sector. The effort involved six consulting companies and 60 professionals.
- Valued a premium US$120 million land property in Baja, Mexico, for office and housing projects (1,200 acres).
- Managed the debt restructuring of a public facility operated by a database worth US$235 million and restructured the indentured contract regarding debt coverage ratios concerning dividend payments. CDPQ is a shareholder in the venture.
- Completed an expert witness report to support the reimbursement of US$200 million in damages to an EPC contractor led by GE on a US$1 billion hydroelectric project.
- Conducted an M&A valuation of an amusement water park acquired by Six Flags. Tariff structure was also developed based on an elasticity analysis I performed based on a supply-demand exercise.
- Evaluated economic contribution of anglers to Los Cabos: Billfish Foundation sponsored a study to estimate benefits from sport fishing at Los Cabos. The study is now an international reference in the Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2010.
- Completed the valuation of seven high-end hotels operating under premium brands: Four Seasons, Rosewood, Banyan, and One & Only, among others.
Focus areas: IAS 36, PPP Projects, Infrastructure, Monte Carlo Simulations, Debt Restructuring, Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Analysis, Investment Banking, IFRS Financial Reporting, Forecasting, Interim CFO, Valuation, Projects, Financial Risk Assessment, Financial Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling, Financial Management, Strategy, Finance, Real Estate, Commercial Finance, Equipment Finance, International Finance, Corporate Finance, Asset-based Finance, Project Finance
2020 - 2021
Business Consultant
Freelance
- Reviewed in-house valuation models for a home equity investment fund with operations in the US. I applied advanced valuation techniques such as Monte Carlo simulation.
- Prepared a financial model for an investment fund in multifamily housing projects in the US. The model included the three basic financial statements, built from bottom to top, to allow individual project forecasts and a consolidated view.
- Advised a real estate investment fund specialized in single-family projects in Western Europe to define an optimal capital structure.
- Prepared a revenue forecast model for a private school operation in the Western US. The model included a Monte Carlo simulation module that evaluates market risk and the expected performance of the sale effort.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Valuation, DCF Modeling, DCF Valuation, Education, K-12 Education, Private Educational Projects
1995 - 2001
Financial Analyst and Director
Serficor
- Valued and restructured US$600 million of debt held by a vertically integrated edible vegetable oils and shortenings company located in Southeastern Mexico.
- Reviewed the business plans and valued several firms in diverse sectors: non-woven fabrics, auto parts, and ASTM publishing (companies worth over US$50 million).
- Advised on the IPO plan for a wholesale and retail firm operating across Mexico under the 7-Eleven brand. The service included the valuation of the ongoing business through discounted cash flows and market multiples methods.
- Valued Barilla's business plan to expand into Mexico via brand acquisition. Discounted cash flows and multiple valuation models were prepared to value a portfolio of brands worth over US$80 million.
- Valued and negotiated the debt restructuring of an all-inclusive hotel operation in the Sea of Cortez (worth US$30 million).
Focus areas: Distressed Assets, PPP Projects, Infrastructure, Due Diligence, Financial Analysis, Investment Banking, Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Valuation, Asset-based Finance, Finance, Real Estate, Capital Structure Analysis, Corporate Finance, Project Finance, Debt Restructuring, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
1991 - 1995
Financial Analyst and Director
HSBC
- Prepared the financial model and part of the prospectus in the issue of a US$600 million debt financing for the construction of the Huites dam project in Northern Mexico. Bear Sterns and Lehman Brothers issued a Eurobond.
- Led the preparation of Babcock & Wilcox's commercial proposal for the construction and operation of the coal terminal in Lázaro Cárdenas port (worth US$250 million).
- Created the privatization plan for the Mexican ports in the State of Quintana Roo that formed part of the Port Reform Act of 1993.
- Obtained letters of intent from banks to support the ICA Group and Cydsa's financial proposals for sewer treatment plant projects in Mexico (worth US$30 million).
- Valued and prepared a prospectus for Acer IPO in the NYSE and Mexican Bolsa.
Focus areas: PPP Projects, Infrastructure, Debt Restructuring, Due Diligence, Financial Analysis, Investment Banking, Forecasting, Valuation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Strategy, Financial Modeling, Financial Engineering, International Finance, Equipment Finance, Asset-based Finance, Finance, Real Estate, Commercial Finance, Corporate Finance, Project Finance
1988 - 1991
Financial Analyst
ICA
- Prepared the financial models for the winning bids of over 2,000 km of toll road concessions worth US$12 billion.
- Led the financial modeling for financing the La Zurda water supply project in Guadalajara City. A syndicate of banks advanced funds for US$300 million.
- Developed the financial models for the bids of urban public service concessions projects—resulting in winning the concession to operate the Aguascalientes City water supply and drainage system (population of 1 million).
- Created and managed the financial modeling for a cruise ship terminal project in Cozumel, México.
- Prepared board presentations for the CFO of a company listed in the NYSE and the Mexican Bolsa.
Focus areas: PPP Projects, Infrastructure, Due Diligence, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Valuation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling, Equipment Finance, Commercial Finance, International Finance, Corporate Finance, Project Finance
Education
2012 - 2013
Specialty Degree in Business Valuation
Mexican College of Civil Engineers - Mexico City, Mexico
2004 - 2007
Master's Degree in Finance
National University of Mexico - Mexico City, Mexico
1978 - 1982
Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering
National University of Mexico - Mexico City, Mexico
Certifications
JUNE 2021 - PRESENT
Investment Philosophies
Stern School of Business at NYU
JANUARY 2020 - PRESENT
Applied Corporate Finance
New York University
JANUARY 2019 - PRESENT
Advanced Valuation (High Honors)
Leonard N. Stern School of Business, NYU