JACQUELINE ZELAYA
Lima,ARE
Summary
Finance operations leader with 20+ years of experience in international organizations, including USAID, with expertise in donor compliance, financial reporting, project budgeting, accounts payable/receivable, and treasury. Skilled in ensuring adherence to IFRS and institutional financial policies, strengthening internal controls, training staff, and providing financial analysis to managers and stakeholders. Proven ability to manage multi-country portfolios, validate transactions, and support audits, safeguarding resources in alignment with humanitarian and development goals.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Accounts Payable & Receivables Manager
USAID/Peru
09.2012 - Current
- Supervised a team of six specialists managing payments exceeding $30M annually across Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, and Paraguay.
- Validated and processed complex transactions in compliance with USAID and IFRS standards, ensuring proper authorization and supporting documentation.
- Developed budgets with project staff, provided variance analysis, and advised managers on expenditure reallocation to meet donor reporting deadlines.
- Prepared, reviewed, and submitted financial reports to meet donor and audit requirements, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Implemented SOPs for VAT recovery and internal controls, reallocating reclaimed funds into mission programs.
- Supported treasury functions: monthly cash requests, vendor account setup, wire transfers, and cash disbursements.
- Conducted financial training for staff and partners across multiple missions, building local capacity in compliance with international financial standards.
- Collaborated with auditors, senior finance officers, and regional controllers, providing documentation, analysis, and corrective action plans.
Accounts Payable Technician
USAID/Peru
10.2005 - 08.2012
- Processed payroll, travel, lease, and allowance vouchers ensuring compliance with USAID policy and donor requirements.
- Performed bank reconciliations, journal entries, and advances management.
- Liaised with contractors, partners, and institutions for advances, reimbursements, and settlements.
Accounting & Finance Assistant
American Airlines
12.1993 - 10.2000
- Oversaw vendor invoice reviews, reimbursements, petty cash, and reconciliations.
- Assisted in budgeting and cost analysis for logistics and operations.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Business Administration
Universidad de Lima
01.1989
Skills
- Financial Policy & Internal Controls: Introduced process innovations and SOPs to ensure compliance, audit readiness, and risk mitigation
- Donor Financial Reporting: Managed timely submission of multi-country donor financial reports, aligned with IFRS and institutional requirements
- Treasury & Vendor Management: Coordinated bank payments, EFT vendor setups, and treasury operations across regional missions
- Capacity Building: Delivered 10 years of financial training to staff in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas
- Budget Monitoring: Conducted detailed variance analysis, advising project managers on financial risks, reallocation, and cost efficiency
Certification
- Supervisory Certification Course (USAID)
- Internal Controls, Financial Analysis, Basic Accounting
- Leadership Development Courses
- ERP (Phoenix System), Travel Policy, Advanced Voucher Examination (Charleston, USA)
- SAP Accounting Module, Excel for Data Analysis, Google Workspace
LANGUAGES
Spanish (Native)
English (Advanced Fluency)
Timeline
Accounts Payable & Receivables Manager
USAID/Peru
09.2012 - Current
Accounts Payable Technician
USAID/Peru
10.2005 - 08.2012
Accounting & Finance Assistant
American Airlines
12.1993 - 10.2000
Bachelor’s Degree - Business Administration
Universidad de Lima