Paula Waggoner-Aguilar, CPA
Managing CFO | Strategic Advisor

Paula Waggoner-Aguilar is a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Texas CPA, and successful C-Suite Finance and Accounting executive who has dedicated more than 25 years helping public and private companies develop, construct, start-up, grow, change, and turnaround their investments in energy (oil & gas, oilfield, chemicals, renewables, export), technology, manufacturing, and life sciences. 

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Paula started her career in the 1990’s working in the oilfield and then power generation in Latin America and has since worked in leadership roles for several Global Fortune 100 companies including Buckeye Partners, BHP Billiton Petroleum, GDF Suez LNG (formerly Tractebel), Duke Energy International, Enron International, Halliburton (formerly Dresser Industries), and most recently for Lewis Energy Group (the largest private vertically integrated oil and gas producers in the US and first US company to explore and drill in Mexico since 1938), owned by the billionaire wildcatter Rod Lewis.  Paula is also an Ernst & Young Alumni. 

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Paula has always focused on helping people solve challenging problems that are inhibiting their businesses.  She is a broad strategic thinker with an understanding of markets, especially energy markets.  She also has a strong business and financial acumen having run global, foreign, domestic, family-owned, and her own business.  Paula really loves looking at companies, understanding the big picture and then building a plan on how to connect the functional pieces and the operational parts of the business.  Through her entrepreneurial work, as well as her work with companies in different industries, she has developed institutional knowledge that enables her to pivot in and around organizations and customize an approach for each of her clients.  Her insights help clients understand and assess what the CEO or CFO on the other side of the negotiating table may be thinking or doing.

Paula obtained her Masters of Science in Taxation (MST) from the University of North Texas and her Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. In addition, she has completed post-graduate studies in an employer-sponsored intensive "MBA type" program administered by INSEAD & Emory University. Being an advanced Spanish speaker, she has enjoyed working on projects in 15+ countries.  Paula’s education has been ongoing coming from significant corporate and operational finance, and global management experience, while working for several Fortune 100 companies, as well as high net worth families who have built significant companies.

Working with Paula

"She is Approachable, Friendly & She Listens".  Feedback from Several Clients
"Strong Moral Compass & High EQ...".  HR Executives
"This Lady CFO Has Got GUTS Challenging ALL These Layoffs...".  Exploring Energy Host

"The ability to be so innovative is a great talent, and Paula will continue to rise and be even more successful than she is now."  Shirley Crandall, President of Crandall and Associates.

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"Paula's energy and positive attitude is INFECTIOUS.  She INFLUENCED a change in mindset that impacted my entire company.  As a result of her coaching, our accountant was promoted to Controller and awarded the Employee of the Year".  Former Content Licensing Client.

"As far as Chief Financial Officers ("CFO") go, Paula is the REAL DEAL."  Former boss, and mentor, Jim Wilkenson (1956-2017), Founder and CEO of The Strategic CFO based in Houston, Texas.

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"She is a rock star and I look forward to working with her more in the future."  Managing Partner CPA Firm who has worked on 4 projects with her.  

Awards | Certification | Articles | Organizations

Awards

• Winner of the prestigious National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) 2019 Women Business Owner Awards.  

• Recognized by the Business Journal as Who's Who in Energy for 3 consecutive years. 

• Named BEST CFO for Private Medium Companies by the San Antonio Business Journal. 

Certifications

• Texas Certified Public Accountant (1999-2019).  The Energy CFO, LLC is not a CPA Firm.

• Intuit Quickbooks Certified ProAdvisor Online (2018-2019).

Published Industry Articles

• HERSTORY:  History of Women in Offshore Oil, Gas.  Rigzone April 13, 2013.

• Taking Risks and Inspiring the Next Generation Women in Energy.  Shale Oil and Gas Magazine January 27, 2016.

• Partnering Up in Business.  Shale Oil and Gas Magazine November/December 2015.

• Weathering the Storm:  Navigating Your Business in a Downturn.  Shale Oil and Gas Magazine September/October 2015.

• Shale's Unconventional Oil and Gas Cliffhanger.  Shale Oil and Gas Magazine July/August 2015.

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Organizations

• San Antonio Global Chamber Board of Advisors since 2018.

• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Central Texas Board of Directors 2018 - Aug 2019.

• International Women's Forum Invitation Only Membership since 2016.

• Pink Petro™ Executive Advisory Board Member (for-profit) 2016 - 2018.

• Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) Member since 2013.

• Association of Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) Member since 2007.

• American Institute of CPA's (AICPA) Member since 2002.

• Chapter Co-founder, Founding Board President, and Advisory Board Member (2013-2017) Women's Energy Network South Texas.

• Realco Seed Fund Program Tech B2B Startup Mentor 2017-2018.