ANDY CASTRO
Uccle
Summary
Energetic professional bringing robust background in engineering messages to boost organizational image and preparing supporting professionally written materials. Driven to craft targeted messaging to promote and inform general public of events, promotions and campaigns. Experienced in leveraging detailed analytics reports to monitor and document success.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
International Relations Officer
NATO Resource Policy Planning Board (RPPB)
Brussels, Belgium
10.2019 - 12.2021
- United States representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Resource Policy and Planning Board (RPPB), dealing with 29 other Allies; responsible for US national positions on various international NATO policies, with the goal of aligning these policies with U.S. objectives
- Key roles entailed providing resource advice and recommendations to senior U.S. personnel up to the Ambassadorial and Undersecretary level on the NATO Alliance policies and initiatives.
- Advised high-ranking government officials on appropriate diplomatic responses to emerging crises or conflicts in foreign countries.
International Financial Analyst
NATO Budget Committee
Brussels, Belgium
07.2013 - 10.2019
- Financial administrator working in a unique international environment as the United States representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Budget Committee, NATO Communications & Information Organization (NCIO) Finance Committee (FinCom), NATO Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO) Finance Administration & Audit Committee (FAA), as well as the role of Chairman for the Central European Pipeline System (CEPS) Budget Committee.
- Developed comprehensive financial models, enabling informed decision-making for investment opportunities abroad; to include international procurement policies.
Financial Controller
USAG BENELUX
SHAPE, Belgium
04.2007 - 07.2013
- Financial Controller of programs of exceeding $1.2B that support U.S. NATO Military and Diplomatic customers spanning throughout several nations
- Supported executive decision-making through comprehensive analysis of financial data and trends.
- Change manager & Super user for implementation Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)-Systems Applications and Products (SAP), to also include Travel Card expenses and organizational Purchase Card programs (PC).
- Improved overall financial reporting by streamlining control processes and reporting structures.
Financial Management Analyst
GSA-General Services Administration
Washington, DC
06.2005 - 04.2007
- Lead Financial Analyst responsible for the formulation, justification, presentation and execution of the Public Buildings Service financial management program which administers over eight billion dollars annual revenue from federal agencies nationwide
- Develop requirements for contractual support of divisional activities such as operational and financial systems, in addition to administering contracts to assure products are in working order and services are responsive, complete, and timely.
- Developed comprehensive financial models for forecasting and budgeting purposes, enabling better decision-making.
Education
Associate Degree in Management -
Community College of The Air Force
Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting -
Thomas Edison State College
Trenton, New JerseyMBA - International Finance Program
National Defense University
Washington, DC05.2007
Skills
- Accredited Business Communicator (ABC)
- Communication Strategy Development
- Expert with international and diplomatic relations & negotiation
- Geopolitical Knowledge
- Strategy Development
Accomplishments
- Through NATO agency reform initiatives convinced other Allies to adopt a shared services (general services) concept to NATO agencies - NATO Communications & Information Agency (NCIA) and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency for agile, international acquisition that provided a framework for open competition to industries of all 30 nations of the NATO Alliance.
- Change manager in collaborating with other member nations on the necessity to update the NATO Financial Regulations (NFR), an international financial management regulation of over 30 years. This challenging accomplishment was the ability to convince other nations the need for a change, and at the same time synchronizing U.S. fiscal law and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) into a system based on International Public Sector Standards (IPSAS) and European Union Financial Regulations.
- Significantly improved the General Services Administration (GSA-FTS) accounting reconciliation system that was the foundation for accurately recording revenue of four billion dollars; this achievement resulted in the Federal Technology Service Commissioners Financial Award for record amounts of revenue.
References
- James Hursch, Defense Advisor (DEFAD) for the U.S. Mission to NATO, hurschja@state.gov
- Marilyn Morse, SES USNATO Director of Resources & Logistics, + (32) 2 724 3155, morsemd@state.gov
- Matthew Warren, SES USNATO Director of Communication & Electronics, + (32) 2 724 3175, warrenm2@state.gov
Training
- NATO Financial Regulations (NFR), and Financial Rules & Procedures (FRP)
- NATO International Procurement Regulations
- DoD Financial Management Certification - Level 3
- Certified Defense Financial Management Training (CDFMT)
- NATO – International Resource Management Education Program (RMEP)
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) academy
- Senior Resource Manager
- Executive Comptroller Course (ECC)
- System Applications and Products (SAP) Power User
- Advanced Governmental Management Accounting
- Advanced Appropriations Law
Affiliations
- Association of Government Accountants (AGA)
- American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC)
- International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
Certification
- Certified Defense Financial (CDFM) Management
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO) academy
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- DoD Financial Management Certification Program (DFMCP)
Additional Information
MILITARY EXPERIENCE: 1982-2003, Honorable discharge
Languages
French
Elementary (A2)
German
Elementary (A2)
Timeline
International Relations Officer
NATO Resource Policy Planning Board (RPPB)
10.2019 - 12.2021
International Financial Analyst
NATO Budget Committee
07.2013 - 10.2019
Financial Controller
USAG BENELUX
04.2007 - 07.2013
Financial Management Analyst
GSA-General Services Administration
06.2005 - 04.2007
Associate Degree in Management -
Community College of The Air Force
Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting -
Thomas Edison State College
MBA - International Finance Program
National Defense University