Detail-oriented Compliance Controller dedicated to improving policies and procedures in all business areas. Hardworking and driven with quality-focused and proactive approach. Bringing 16 years of experience in the Tourism Industry.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Compliance Controller
Belize Tourism Board
64 Regent Street, Belize City
04.2024 - Current
Participate in the development of both the Licensing and Compliance work plan, ensuring that all the relevant activities to be undertaken and required resources are considered.
Organize and deliver comprehensive training sessions for newly appointed compliance officers, as well as refresher courses for existing officers, to ensure they are well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively uphold compliance standards.
Maintain effective working relationships with other departments to facilitate liaison and coordination of necessary compliance activities.
Conduct periodic reviews of the licensing process and standards for accommodations, live-aboard vessels, superyachts, and other segments of the tourism value chain. This review should be based on existing regulations, policies, and industry trends at both local and regional levels. After the review, make any necessary recommendations.
Provide a monthly overview of the unit's performance using key performance indicators for the licensing and inspection unit.
Establish and implement structured periodic monitoring of employees to ensure optimal staff performance, especially in the licensing functions and at inspection sites.
Oversee the budget and submissions of all operations conducted by the Compliance Unit, specifically Licensing, and Inspections, ensuring that expenses adhere to BTB’s established travel criteria.
Manage, coordinate, and assign responsibilities to Compliance Officers to ensure a fair and objective distribution of the workload.
May be required to join physical inspections to measure compliance levels for industry standards, regulations, and policies for various tourism sub-sectors: accommodation, restaurants, gift shops, sites, etc.
Foster and sustain a strong, collaborative relationship with key external agencies, such as the Central Build Authority, the Department of Environment, and the Fire and Public Health Department. To ensure effective communication and cooperation on regulatory matters and safety standards for the tourism Industry.
Formulate and produce accommodation and inspection reports and listings as requested by other departments and management teams.
Ensure the provision of an efficient system for licensing Accommodation and Liveaboard in Belize. In carrying out these duties, the following shall be required:
Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are developed and followed in the licensing of Accommodation and Liveaboard.
Ensure that programs are implemented to keep Accommodation and Liveaboard informed about licensing requirements and policies.
Establish new tools, systems and programs to facilitate and improve the efficiency of licensing processing by the department.
Draft recommendations for the modernization and enhancement of Accommodation and Liveaboard regulations.
Manage the timely processing of accommodation and liveaboard licensing approvals, as well as accommodation inspections and stakeholder briefings.
Review, verify, and approve Accommodation License submitted by Compliance Officers
Tack Accommodation License submission status; Expired, Declined, and Application Received.
Ensure the provision of an efficient system for Accommodation Inspection in Belize. In carrying out these duties, the following shall be required:
Develop standard operating procedures, including supporting forms, documents, and instruments, to enhance the efficiency of Accommodation Inspection conducted by the Unit. These SOPs shall include pre-audit, audit, and post-audit activities, as well as corrective actions.
Develop a roster to ensure that all accommodation inspections, deployments, and status updates are conducted fairly and promptly, while maintaining proper checks and balances at all times.
Review and verify inspection reports submitted by Compliance Officers.
Verify corrective action plans developed from inspection findings, and ensure that properties or tourism businesses are adequately informed about their requirements and that follow-up actions are taken accordingly.
Compliance Officer
Belize Tourism Board
Belize City
10.2012 - 04.2024
Managed practical action plans to respond to audit discoveries and compliance violations.
Implemented improvement initiatives and developed compliance testing program to monitor and identify gaps in new and existing practices.
Conducted external audits to confirm compliance level within Belize's' tourism Industry as it relates to Tourist and Hotel Accommodation regulations.
Developed and maintained system for tracking and reporting compliance violations.
Identified, investigated and documented compliance violations and recommended corrective measures.
Investigated and documented all violations of compliance regulations to determine necessary improvements.
Prepared and submitted regulatory filings in timely manner.
Developed and implemented corrective action plans for non-compliance issues.
Investigated locations to confirm license data, conducted background checked and assessed premises for compliance with licensing requirements.
Maintained composure in stressful situations, confrontations, interviews and records searches.
Maintained up-to-date knowledge of applicable laws and regulations.
Licensing Officer
Belize Tourism Board
Belize
01.2011 - 09.2012
Process new and renewing applications for Hotels, Tour Guides and Tour Operators.
Assisted stakeholder in learning about application process and verification procedures.
Updated operational records with licensing information for stakeholder.
Responded to in-person, telephone and email requests for information from stakeholders as it relates to their licensing matters.
Informed stakeholders by email or telephone of additional steps needed to obtain licenses.
Created documents with applicant information and verified data against stakeholder database information.
Performed routine data entry and document management.
Worked closely with applicants to determine eligibility and verify accuracy and integrity of application data.
Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
Data Entry Clerk
Belize Tourism Board
Belize
05.2011 - 12.2011
Scanned documents and saved in database to keep records of essential organizational information.
Organized, sorted, and checked input data against original documents.
Completed data entry tasks with accuracy and efficiency.
Sorted documents and maintained organized filing process.
Collated and organized data entry documents into filing systems for easy access.
Entered data into various computer systems accurately using Microsoft Office Suite.
Verified accuracy of data entered into system to produce error-free reports.
Developed data entry policies and procedures in compliance with company standards.
Created spreadsheets for more efficient recordkeeping.
Updated and maintained customer information, documents and records.
Followed data entry protocols, rules and regulations.
Statistical Officer
Belize Tourism Board
Belize
10.2007 - 04.2011
Collected statistical data in cruise tourism sector for arrival and departures into the Country.
Performed data cleaning and data preparation to support high-quality data and catch errors before processing.
Extracted cruise tourism data information to be processed by our company's data analyst.
Developed strong communication and organizational skills through working with team members.
<ul><li>Assist in preparing Subs Annual Budgets and reviewing Subs financial reports.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Conduct partner technical supportive supervision on request basis from Grants & Compliance teams.</li><li>Coordinate grantee proposal review process and ensure compliance with solicitations and donor regulations.</li><li>Coordinate pre-award evaluations and assessments of potential grantees as needed.</li><li>Analyze, verify and review grantees proposal budgets to ensure donor compliance and reasonableness.</li><li>Coordinate the assessment of grantee risk and implement appropriate systems and agreements to minimize risk.</li><li>Ensure timely and appropriate close-out of sub-grants and coordinate the close-out of EGPAF prime grants.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners finance staff to build financial and accounting capacity to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Monitor partners’ spending patterns as part of the overall project budget to actual analytics.</li><li>Follow up on Grantee monthly invoices & supporting documents</li><li>Serve as an expert on applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and assist staff with their interpretation and understanding of these.</li><li>Stays abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations and host country legal requirements and informs local and regional management of significant changes.</li><li>Perform internal departmental/grants reviews ensuring compliance with Foundation and donor requirements. Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; assists with the development of corrective action plans for the resolution of problematic issues; and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar issues in the future</li><li>Conduct on-site financial compliance reviews which include: cash counts; review of accounts receivables including employee receivables; documentation of segregation of duties and internal control structure; document storage and retention</li><li>Document findings, propose improvements or change as relevant, disseminate findings and ensure follow up implementation of recommendations as well as resolution</li><li>Conduct random surprise checks and vendor verification reviews to ensure proper procurement procedures are being practiced and report on findings</li><li>Develops an effective Compliance & Ethics training program, including appropriate introductory training for new employees as well as ongoing training for all employees and managers</li><li>Assists with improving the awareness and understanding of compliance to assist employees with the establishment of a “culture of compliance”</li></ul> at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation<ul><li>Assist in preparing Subs Annual Budgets and reviewing Subs financial reports.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Conduct partner technical supportive supervision on request basis from Grants & Compliance teams.</li><li>Coordinate grantee proposal review process and ensure compliance with solicitations and donor regulations.</li><li>Coordinate pre-award evaluations and assessments of potential grantees as needed.</li><li>Analyze, verify and review grantees proposal budgets to ensure donor compliance and reasonableness.</li><li>Coordinate the assessment of grantee risk and implement appropriate systems and agreements to minimize risk.</li><li>Ensure timely and appropriate close-out of sub-grants and coordinate the close-out of EGPAF prime grants.</li><li>Provide support and training to partners finance staff to build financial and accounting capacity to ensure adequate support for the program component.</li><li>Monitor partners’ spending patterns as part of the overall project budget to actual analytics.</li><li>Follow up on Grantee monthly invoices & supporting documents</li><li>Serve as an expert on applicable policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and assist staff with their interpretation and understanding of these.</li><li>Stays abreast of donor policies, procedures, rules and regulations and host country legal requirements and informs local and regional management of significant changes.</li><li>Perform internal departmental/grants reviews ensuring compliance with Foundation and donor requirements. Identify potential areas of compliance vulnerability and risk; assists with the development of corrective action plans for the resolution of problematic issues; and provides general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar issues in the future</li><li>Conduct on-site financial compliance reviews which include: cash counts; review of accounts receivables including employee receivables; documentation of segregation of duties and internal control structure; document storage and retention</li><li>Document findings, propose improvements or change as relevant, disseminate findings and ensure follow up implementation of recommendations as well as resolution</li><li>Conduct random surprise checks and vendor verification reviews to ensure proper procurement procedures are being practiced and report on findings</li><li>Develops an effective Compliance & Ethics training program, including appropriate introductory training for new employees as well as ongoing training for all employees and managers</li><li>Assists with improving the awareness and understanding of compliance to assist employees with the establishment of a “culture of compliance”</li></ul> at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation
<ul><li>Advised 20+ leaders on complex employee relations issues like performance management and workplace investigations, ensuring full compliance with Panamanian labor law and minimizing legal risks.</li><li>Keeping an Open-Door policy for the employees. Investigations regarding employee issues and complaints. Collaboration with the Security and Employee Relations departments in investigations.</li><li>Review and approval of disciplinary actions. Completed more than 500 terminations according to Panamanian labor law.</li><li>Requesting, reviewing and approving of HRIS updates, transfers, benefits payments, intercompany and schedules changes.</li><li>Led the foreigner workers contract terminations according to the established Labor Law and company policies.</li><li>Participated in the Health and Safety Committee and inspections of the Social Insurance Institution, obtaining a passing score on every inspection. Developed the accidents events guidelines and form.</li><li>Participated in projects and tasks together with other areas such as HRIS and HR Corporate, for instance, the creation of the employee knowledge database to feed the chatbot for employees questions/answers.</li><li>Reporting and KPIs examination, including attrition and exit interviews results.</li><li>Review of policies, guidelines and procedures. Creation and updates of processes and control spreadsheets such as job abandonment process and form and the Oracle Manager Self Service control.</li><li>Implemented the onboarding program for new hires.</li><li>Developed HR Topics training plan for Operations staff.</li><li>Provided on the job training to the local HR members, developing skills and empowering the team.</li><li>Managed the HR providers purchase orders and payment requests.</li><li>Maintained close collaboration with the payroll department on claims and other employees inquiries, as well as support with compliance documents.</li></ul> at ALORICA<ul><li>Advised 20+ leaders on complex employee relations issues like performance management and workplace investigations, ensuring full compliance with Panamanian labor law and minimizing legal risks.</li><li>Keeping an Open-Door policy for the employees. Investigations regarding employee issues and complaints. Collaboration with the Security and Employee Relations departments in investigations.</li><li>Review and approval of disciplinary actions. Completed more than 500 terminations according to Panamanian labor law.</li><li>Requesting, reviewing and approving of HRIS updates, transfers, benefits payments, intercompany and schedules changes.</li><li>Led the foreigner workers contract terminations according to the established Labor Law and company policies.</li><li>Participated in the Health and Safety Committee and inspections of the Social Insurance Institution, obtaining a passing score on every inspection. Developed the accidents events guidelines and form.</li><li>Participated in projects and tasks together with other areas such as HRIS and HR Corporate, for instance, the creation of the employee knowledge database to feed the chatbot for employees questions/answers.</li><li>Reporting and KPIs examination, including attrition and exit interviews results.</li><li>Review of policies, guidelines and procedures. Creation and updates of processes and control spreadsheets such as job abandonment process and form and the Oracle Manager Self Service control.</li><li>Implemented the onboarding program for new hires.</li><li>Developed HR Topics training plan for Operations staff.</li><li>Provided on the job training to the local HR members, developing skills and empowering the team.</li><li>Managed the HR providers purchase orders and payment requests.</li><li>Maintained close collaboration with the payroll department on claims and other employees inquiries, as well as support with compliance documents.</li></ul> at ALORICA
Lead Document Controller / Data Controller at Archcorp Architectural EngineeringLead Document Controller / Data Controller at Archcorp Architectural Engineering