SUZARA B. VIRAY CPA, CA
North Vancouver,Canada
Summary
International CFO with 30+ years of strategic and operational finance leadership across retail, manufacturing, distribution, clean tech, healthcare, seniors living, charitable, and consumer-centric sectors. Expert in driving financial health, operational excellence, and sustainable growth for multi-entity organizations operating in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Recognized for: Global expansion and multi-currency consolidation. Capital structure optimization, M&A, and post-merger integration. Risk management, ESG alignment, and operational transformation. Leading distributed finance teams of 50+ across multiple geographies. Known for aligning mission-driven goals with business outcomes, building high-performance teams, and serving as a trusted advisor to Boards, CEOs, and private equity stakeholders.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FUND INITIATIVES
WORLD INDIGENOUS BUSINESS NETWORK
01.2024 - Current
- Designed investment frameworks for multi-sector, capital-intensive projects prioritizing sustainable economic development.
- Establish WIBN’s Leading Embers Fund, and develop a framework to ensure the fund’s portfolio prioritizes high-value investments across multiple sectors.
- Ensured alignment with sustainability metrics and risk management frameworks across multi-stakeholder environments.
PARTNER & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
VIRTU RESORT & RESIDENCES
01.2023 - Current
- Led capital strategy and financial governance for multinational, ESG-aligned real estate, and hospitality ventures with Indigenous partnerships.
- Support capital raises and structured financial governance, aligned with PE and institutional stakeholders.
- Implemented project-based forecasting and investor reporting to enhance transparency for institutional and PE stakeholders.
- Implemented project-based forecasting and reporting tools to drive cost visibility and investor transparency.
- Worked closely with Indigenous partners and global stakeholders to align business and ESG goals.
FRACTIONAL CFO
SV CONSULTING SERVICES/THE CFO CENTRE
01.2023 - Current
- Directed financial strategy and growth initiatives for diverse client organizations.
- Guided growth-stage companies through financial strategy, cash flow optimization, ERP upgrades, operational efficiencies, and operational KPI alignment.
- Oversaw budgeting processes and financial forecasting across multiple sectors.
- Established real-time dashboards, improving cost visibility and decision-making speed.
- Led ERP upgrades, job costing frameworks, and finance team reorganizations to align with operational KPIs.
FINANCE DIRECTOR (CFO, Canada)
SPECSAVERS CANADA
01.2021 - 12.2022
- Established and led national finance team for Canadian market entry.
- Oversaw capital strategy, integration, compliance, and reporting processes.
- Implemented FP&A functions, internal controls, and finance systems from inception.
- Reported directly to Global COO while scaling Canadian operations.
- Developed budgeting frameworks and enhanced cost control measures.
- Drove digital transformation initiatives within finance department.
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
NURSE NEXT DOOR
01.2019 - 12.2021
- Member of the executive team, oversaw finance, IT, and data architecture; grew revenue by 50% YOY.
- This included business planning, budgeting, forecasting, IT data and network architecture, cybersecurity, and negotiations.
- Adopted US GAAP ASC 606 Revenue Recognition on US financial statements, specifically assessing multiple performance obligations.
- Work collaboratively with the executive team and business owners on strategic initiatives and new business opportunities.
- Initiated an automation proof of concept around finance processes.
DIRECTOR, CONTROLLERSHIP TEAM
BEST BUY CANADA
01.2016 - 01.2019
- Senior leader of a CAD $4.5 billion company, responsible for overseeing the Finance function, consisting of 58 designated accountants and administrators.
- Achieved annual $2.0 million in SG&A savings through process optimization, automation, and reorganization of the Controllership team.
- Implemented robotic process automation in high-volume, repetitive functions. Results included an 80% decrease in processing time.
- Revamped the financial statement close and reporting process, reduced month-end close from 5 to 2 days; specifically, financial statements were issued within two days of month-end.
CORPORATE CONTROLLER
VERSACOLD LOGISTICS SERVICES
01.2013 - 12.2016
- Executive leader for a PE-backed $500M logistics provider operating 33 warehouses and 8 terminals. Canada's largest supply chain solutions company is focused exclusively on the handling of temperature-sensitive products.
- Led the finance integration of two key strategic acquisitions: Coastal Pacific Xpress (CPX) $100 million acquisition, and Gary Heer Transport (GHT) $10 million acquisition, and implemented ERP systems across operations.
- Year-over-year revenue growth of over 50%, and EBITDA of over 25% during tenure.
- Lead strategic negotiations with key customers, and manage banking relationships.
- Led the reorganization of the finance team with successful annual.
- Successful implementation of an ERP system, including integration of business operations platforms.
- Present financial results to the CEO, CFO, and shareholders on a monthly basis.
DIRECTOR, FINANCE
AVIGILON CORPORATION
01.2012 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: Canada's largest supply chain solutions company focused exclusively on the handling of temperature sensitive products.
- As a senior leader of the company, I was responsible for overseeing a 30-member Finance function which included contributing to the overall profitability, growth and corporate strategy of the company.
- Led finance integration of two key strategic acquisitions - Coastal Pacific Xpress (CPX) $100 million acquisition and Gary Heer Transport (GHT) $10 million acquisitions.
- Year-over-year revenue growth of over 50% and EBITDA of over 25%.
- Lead strategic negotiations with key customers and manage banking relationships.
- Led the reorganization of finance team with successful annual savings of $1M.
- Decreased financial statement close process from 10 days to 3 days.
- Successful implementation of ERP system including integration of business operations platforms.
- Present financial results to the CEO, CFO and shareholders on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
- Canada's largest supply chain solutions company focused exclusively on the handling of temperature sensitive products.
CORPORATE CONTROLLER
COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
01.2008 - 12.2012
- Responsible for managing and providing leadership to the North American Finance Team. Staff of 22 in the head office and satellite offices in Toronto, San Diego, and New York City.
- Reporting to the Canadian COO, my portfolio consisted of financial and management reporting, financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, taxation, acquisition integration, and risk management.
- As a parent company publicly traded on a U.S. stock exchange, we reported under U.S. GAAP and were SOX compliant.
- Finance integration of new partner companies in San Diego, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto, within the Colliers platform.
- Comprehensive review and realignment of the Financial Reporting function to ensure that all areas were US GAAP and SOX compliant.
- Experience with multi-currency accounting and consolidation of multiple entities.
- Lead the project to review the adequacy of the accounting software used, including the implementation of the new modules, and the related change management process.
MANAGER, Senior Strategic Advisor
POWEREX CORP
01.2001 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: Powerex is the wholly owned power trading and marketing subsidiary of BC Hydro, and is a leading marketer of wholesale energy products, services, and financial alternatives in Western Canada and the Western United States.
- Supervised settlement of transactions/contracts was at times complicated due to the numerous parties involved in physically moving energy.
- In addition, the number of transactions in a given month could be 5,000 to 10,000, depending on the demand for energy products.
- My mandate was to address staffing issues, including morale, and efficiency.
- Managed scheduling and resource allocation for multiple projects simultaneously.
- Success was measured by 100% positive feedback from my direct reports to my direct manager.
MANAGER, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
BC HYDRO
01.1997 - 01.2001
- Negotiated contractual agreements, and client dispute resolution
- Managed scheduling and resource allocation for multiple projects simultaneously.
- My annual performance reviews have consistently highlighted my effectiveness as a leader who can develop and motivate staff/project members.
Education
Chartered Accountant - Chartered Professional Accountant
Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia
01.1997
Bachelor of Business Administration - Chartered Accountancy Co-operative Education
Simon Fraser University
06.1995
Certification - Business Continuity and Recovery Planning
Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International
06.2018
Skills
- Global financial strategy
- Investment strategy and capital raising
- Financial forecasting and KPI development
- Process optimization and vendor management
- Investor relations and stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning and business development
- Multi-entity operations management
- Debt and equity management
- M&A and due diligence expertise
- Post-merger integration and risk management
- Compliance and regulatory oversight
- IFRS, US GAAP, and SOX knowledge
- ERP systems implementation
- Financial systems modernization
- ESG reporting and sustainability metrics integration
- Leadership in international finance teams
Websites
Volunteer Experience
- Board Member and Audit & Finance Committee Member, The Family Services of the North Shore, 01/2021, Present
- Parent Advisory Committee Member and Parent Manager, 3D Basketball Academy, 01/2012, 12/2021
- Member of the Parent Advisory Committee, Fundraising Committee Member, Carson Graham Secondary International Baccalaureate School, 01/2015, 12/2021
- Member of the Parent Advisory Committee, Fundraising Committee Member, Capilano Elementary International Baccalaureate School, 01/2012, 12/2018
Timeline
SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, FUND INITIATIVES
WORLD INDIGENOUS BUSINESS NETWORK
01.2024 - Current
PARTNER & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
VIRTU RESORT & RESIDENCES
01.2023 - Current
FRACTIONAL CFO
SV CONSULTING SERVICES/THE CFO CENTRE
01.2023 - Current
FINANCE DIRECTOR (CFO, Canada)
SPECSAVERS CANADA
01.2021 - 12.2022
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
NURSE NEXT DOOR
01.2019 - 12.2021
DIRECTOR, CONTROLLERSHIP TEAM
BEST BUY CANADA
01.2016 - 01.2019
CORPORATE CONTROLLER
VERSACOLD LOGISTICS SERVICES
01.2013 - 12.2016
DIRECTOR, FINANCE
AVIGILON CORPORATION
01.2012 - 12.2013
CORPORATE CONTROLLER
COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
01.2008 - 12.2012
MANAGER, Senior Strategic Advisor
POWEREX CORP
01.2001 - 01.2008
MANAGER, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
BC HYDRO
01.1997 - 01.2001
Chartered Accountant - Chartered Professional Accountant
Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia
Bachelor of Business Administration - Chartered Accountancy Co-operative Education
Simon Fraser University
Certification - Business Continuity and Recovery Planning
Disaster Recovery Institute (DRI) International
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