Virgilio Penso
Virgilio Penso
CFO
Miami-Fort Lauderdale Miami-Fort Lauderdale
About
Virgilio brings over 30 years of experience in finance and operations across the U.S., Latin America and China, working with multinationals, family-owned companies and joint ventures in consumer products, food and beverage, restaurants, pharmaceuticals, media and retail. Some of the most fulfilling work of his career has come from sitting in the SMB seat himself — most notably as VP Finance & Operations of an owner-led $40M family food business in South Florida, where his team cut working capital by 43% through a custom-built ERP and won a major national retailer as category captain across more than 3,300 stores. That chapter taught him a simple truth: owner-led companies don't need bigger finance departments. They need the right view of the numbers, and a partner willing to sit at the table with them. At FocusCFO, Virgilio's gift is turning a noisy P&L into a clear answer. He builds the rolling cash forecasts, dashboards and SKU/customer/channel profitability views that — often for the first time — show an owner which products and customers are actually making money, where cash is trapped, and what to do this week, this month and this quarter. He works alongside Controllers, CPAs, bookkeepers and operating teams as if he were a permanent member of the staff — coaching where it helps, rolling up his sleeves where it doesn't, and never making anyone feel small for asking a basic question. When Virgilio leaves an engagement, the owner sleeps better: there's a reporting cadence they trust, a finance team confident enough to run it, and a business that's more transferable — easier to sell, pass on or simply enjoy — because the numbers no longer live in the owner's head.
Get to know Virgilio’s other interests
Other Interests
- What is your favorite way to spend free time? I enjoy exploring Coconut Grove and Biscayne Bay with my wife, cooking authentic Venezuelan cuisine for friends, and staying active playing pickleball..
- What was your favorite vacation? My favorite vacation was a 9-day walking pilgrimage through Italy with ten close friends, exploring the historic path from Terni to Assisi.
- Something most people don't know about you I'm both a licensed private pilot and a certified scuba diver—I enjoy exploring the world from the sky to the deep sea
Before FocusCFO
Prior to joining FocusCFO, Virgilio spent 12 years as Regional Finance Senior Director, LATAM & China for a global pharmaceutical company, leading planning, treasury, accounting, tax and controls for a multi-country division . Earlier, he held senior finance roles across premium beverages , restaurants, media and an owner-led food and consumer-products business in South Florida — where he won a major national retailer as the category captain across 3,300+ stores. He began his career with twelve years at a leading global consumer products company in finance roles across Venezuela, Cincinnati and Peru/Bolivia. Virgilio holds an MBA from IESA in Caracas and a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College. Additionally, he completed the Finance Acceleration Program at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
What attracted you to FocusCFO?
After three decades working in large multinationals and one hands-on stint at an owner-led food business, I joined FocusCFO to bring what I learned to the entrepreneurs and family-owned companies that power South Florida. Helping an owner finally see their numbers clearly, sleep better at night, and build something they can pass on or sell on their own terms — that's the work I love most.
At FocusCFO, we help you direct your financial strategy and achieve your goals, giving you the freedom to change your life.
FocusCFO provides expert to help entrepreneurs like you overcome these obstacles and achieve sustainable, transferable business value.
Part of Your Team
Our experienced CFOs become an embedded part of your leadership team, providing strategic financial guidance to drive growth and profitabilityC-Level Experience
Benefit from the insights of seasoned financial executives who have decades of experience working in industry, not just for it, as financial executives and entrepreneurs.Team Approach
Leverage the collective wisdom of our collaborative team of CFOs - decades of expertise and best practices derived from a culture of collaboration and teamwork.THE VALUE PYRAMID PROCESS
Guiding entrepreneurs on the climb to building sustainable, transferable business value
Our fractional CFOs provide the expertise of a full-time CFO at a fraction of the cost, with the flexibility to scale your support as needed. You will gain a clear understanding of your financial performance, streamline your operations, and develop a strategic roadmap for success.
