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UHY GLOBAL JULY 2019 PERSONAL PROFILE


BELIEVING IS SUCCEEDING


RENÉ PÉREZ, FOUNDING PARTNER OF UHY PÉREZ & CO, LEARNED FROM CHILDHOOD THAT TO BE THE VERY BEST AT ANYTHING YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD, BE RESPECTFUL AND PUT JOY AND PASSION INTO EVERY TASK. As a small boy in Guatemala he walked to school without shoes and played football with his friends in bare feet. He describes his childhood as a happy one and claims that his mother’s love and encouragement always gave him the confidence and determination to achieve. RIGHT CHOICES “When I was little I wanted to become a heart consultant because in those days, medicine was considered the best profession to be in,” says René. “When I realised that our family did not have the resources to put me through medical school, I chose instead to train as an auditor. It was a decision which turned out to be absolutely right – I set out to become a professional in an international audit and consulting firm and this is exactly what I have achieved.” After graduating as a public accountant, René became a resident manager and audit manager at two of the most successful Big Four firms in the world before deciding, in 2004, to set up his own firm. “The time was right. I had recently been elected superintendent of tax administration of the Republic of Guatemala. I am so proud to have started from scratch and 15 years later we are thriving. Our current monthly payroll is now higher than our annual income in our earliest years.” In recognition of his reputation for outstanding professional service, René was nominated President of the Latin American Institute of Tax Law in 2018. Clearly an expert and dedicated accountant, always looking for new ways to make a difference, it is no wonder that René is so well thought of throughout the UHY network and Central America. GIVING BACK UHY Perez & Co has expanded and continues to be a growing family enterprise – his son Omar is now a partner at UHY Auditores y Consultores, S.A., Costa Rica and UHY Auditores y Consultores, S.A., Honduras, whilst another son, Bryan, is a partner at UHY Asesores y Consultores, SA De CV in El Salvador. René’s daughter, Fabiola, is UHY Perez & Co’s administrator, and his youngest son René is about to graduate. “My aim now is to consolidate our offices in Guatemala and across Central America so we are better positioned to help communities develop exceptional entrepreneurs, and advise the countries we work in about how to create new opportunities and stimulate greater economic growth,” says René. Conscious of all the support he has had over the years, René is keen to mentor newcomers to the profession – “Giving back makes me happy. I want us to work together to create a more balanced society. I want to contribute towards making sure the next generation will be the best in every way. If I can make my mark and contribute towards developing a better Guatemala and indeed, a better Central America, I will be happy. Everything I do I approach with love, hard work and transparency.” FUNDACIÓN PÉREZ Consolidating all that he has gained from and given to, René has created and self-funded a foundation called Fundación Pérez, which is dedicated to creating community programmes for those in need. “Since establishing the firm we have tried to help as many people as possible – when we first started we had eight employees despite only needing five. Now, with time and growth, we have plenty of work for everyone. This is where the idea of creating a foundation came from. “The principle of the foundation is to support people in distress with our own resources, and in the future we may accept funds from other businesses and organisations. So far, we have equipped a computer centre in Retalhuleu, where there is a home for abused children whose education and wellbeing we also look after. Last Christmas we gave 120 children from another centre gifts and food. We have also kitted out a school with as many desks as they needed and provided 3,000 pairs of shoes for poor people in San Agustín Acasaguastlán, El Progreso. “There are so many people in desperate need in Guatemala and around the world, but we want to do what we can to help some of them in our own country and throughout Central America,” says René. HAPPY FAMILY Attributing much of his success and concern for his community to his early upbringing, René says, “I grew up on banana farms where my mother worked. I was very happy and I always felt so loved. Those days of walking around without shoes paid off. I never take anything for granted.” “Nowadays I laugh at so many things and am thankful for the good and the bad. Being grateful for what I enjoy makes me happy. Happiness is part of my DNA – I am happy being with my wife at home or when I am at work or socialising with people I love. Even when things are difficult I seem to manage to switch to being happy quite quickly,” he says. Married for 41 years and with four children and 11 grandchildren between the ages of 27 and seven months old, René considers himself a lucky man. “My incredible mother would say that my mission is accomplished but I am still keen to reach out and build our business both for UHY and for enabling local communities to flourish.” Thinking back to his childhood René believes that playing soccer from infancy taught him some important lessons – “I learned that to be a winner you have to have discipline, a sense of teamwork, positive leadership skills and a good understanding of what it takes to be a champion. I only stopped playing soccer when I turned 60 and I loved and benefited from every minute of it. “I am proud to be a part of UHY and to be bringing new business into the network. I am also incredibly proud to be a Guatemalan. A businessman called Carlos Paiz said that if you can dream it you can achieve it. I could not have put it better myself and I am living proof of this,” says René.


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