ABOUT US

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

THESE PEOPLE MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE

Joseph A. Fuentes

Joseph A. Fuentes

Founder, President & CEO

Mr. Joseph A. Fuentes is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Puerto Rico (license No. 1777) and Virginia (license No. 23215), and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of CPAs, and the Puerto Rico Society of CPAs. He is the founder of Fuentes-Fernández & Company (FFC), PSC and has been its president and CEO since 1985.

Before founding FFC, Mr. Fuentes was a Senior Auditor at the San Juan office of an international firm, engaged principally with healthcare institutions and hospitals, and manufacturing and construction companies. Since founding FFC, he has been involved, among other things, in audits of retail/wholesale enterprises, pension plans, government clients, non-profit Institutions, service organizations, property and casualty insurance businesses, and auto dealerships.

He routinely serves as the firm’s partner-in-charge for audit work in accordance with GAAP, GAAS and GGAS-Yellow Book. Mr. Fuentes has served on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Accounting and Auditing Committee; as the engagement partner for the Front-End Risk Assessment on the Asset Control Area program for the Office of Single Family Housing at the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development; and as the engagement partner for the Safety and Soundness Examinations of Small Business Lending Companies and the Risk Oversight Support Services for Federally Regulated Lenders at the U.S. Small Business Administration from 2009 to 2015.

In addition, to the traditional audit and audit-related services, Mr. Fuentes has also been involved in performing special services such as business valuations, insurance claims/loss determinations, litigation support services, forecasts and projections, as well as other agreed-upon procedures and engagements of various natures, including a forensic engagement in which he uncovered a $2mm fraud for a private sector client which is a long-standing federal contractor.

Mr. Fuentes has participated in numerous audit and accounting seminars offered by the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and other organizations, including in the field of Risk Assessments offered by the Risk Management Association. Mr. Fuentes meets the requirements of Continuing Professional Education of the Virginia State Society of CPAs, the Puerto Rico Society of CPAs, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Fuentes earned his Accounting Degree at Loyola University in New Orleans.

Leena El-Ali

Leena El-Ali

Partner & Executive Vice President

Leena El-Ali has provided advisory services to FFC since 2003 and has been serving as Executive Vice President of FFC since 2013.

She is a strategic thinker and entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in global emerging market investment management out of London, England that included Latin American and post-Soviet bloc debt restructurings and privatizations; and in international development in Asia and the Middle East out of Washington, DC with a focus on governance in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Since 2013, Leena has been combining her investment and governance careers by providing consulting and advisory services to both traditional development clients as well as private sector ones looking to partner, in one way or another, with government.

Ms. El-Ali studied Economics at the American University of Beirut and Oxford University and speaks Spanish, French and Arabic. She is a trained and experienced mediator and facilitator and is a member of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute.

KEY STAFF

Tariq Ali CPA Senior Project Manager Risk ManagementCarly Wray Business Development AssociateJennifer Ryan Human Resource DirectorAnna Reid Senior Project Manager Risk Management
Bryan Arroyave Senior AuditorWilliam Gossett Senior Examiner & ReviewerLuis Gierbolini, Esq. Principal, Tax AssociateYvette Coburn Senior Examiner & Reviewer
Yvette Coburn Senior Examiner & Reviewer Rocio Vélez, Esq. Senior Government AssociateEdward Murphy Senior Examiner & ReviewerNayef El-Ali Lead International Business Associate

Tariq Ali
CPA
Senior Project Manager
Risk Management

Carly Wray
Business Development
Associate

Jennifer Ryan
Human Resource
Director

Anna Reid
Senior Project Manager
Risk Management

Bryan Arroyave
Senior Auditor

William Gossett
Senior Examiner &
Reviewer

Luis Gierbolini, Esq.
Principal,
Tax Associate

Yvette Coburn
Senior Examiner &
Reviewer

Rocio Vélez, Esq.
Senior Government
Associate

Edward Murphy
Senior Examiner &
Reviewer

Nayef El-Ali
Lead International
Business Associate

COMPANY BACKGROUND

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FFC is a minority-owned (Hispanic) small business of certified public accountants and management consultants established in 1985, with specialization in accounting and auditing, education and training, information management technology, and management consulting.  The firm’s mission is to exceed its clients’ expectations by providing cost-effective, high-quality customized solutions while establishing a long and trustworthy relationship with clients.  Headquartered in Washington, DC  with offices in San Juan, PR, the firm’s success has been a direct result, over 30 years, of building upon two valuable assets — its staff and reputation.  The interests, experience, and entrepreneurial spirit of FFC’s staff, combined with strong management and support capabilities, allow FFC to respond dynamically and effectively to clients’ business needs in several areas of specialization.

FFC brings together the expertise of its certified public accountants and management consultants to provide a full range of financial and advisory services needed by government agencies as well as private businesses in today’s demanding environment.

Our clients include IT, wholesale, construction, real estate, and service enterprises as well as public-sector agencies. These diverse clients have one thing in common:  They have benefited from the full range of professional services made available by FFC.  We help you analyze your organization’s condition and structure, solve today’s problems before they become more difficult and costly, and avoid tomorrow’s problems before they arise.  By making our expertise work for your organization, you can focus on your organization’s core competencies.  We help you build your success.

Our goal is to be the leading minority-owned small business provider of accounting and advisory services to the federal, state and local governments as well as the commercial sector.