Our Team
Manuel Urrutia
CONFIANZ CEO
Deusto University Law Degree and Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy. Lawyer.
Degree in General Business Management (PDG) from IESE.
He joined CONFIANZ in 1994 as the Offices’ director of taxation, holding said position since 2002. He previously held a position at Arthur Andersen, performing auditing and taxation roles.
Manuel has long standing experience in company occupational, corporate, taxation and accounting assessment and auditing, over a period of more than 35 years constantly in contact with companies, SMEs, large companies and multinationals. He is fully committed to the management of the office’s most important clients, having played a key role in procuring excellent management results.
He is a regular speaker and columnist for highly prestigious forums in relation to business management, and in particular regarding family and multi-family owned business.
He is a professor at Deusto University teaching Fiscal Consultancy, where he teaches Family Business estate planning. He plays a major role in collaborating with the Family-Owned Business Chair of the University of the Basque Country (SARRIKO), acting as speaker in seminars and conferences, particularly with regard to economics, finance and taxation.
He is the independent board member or external consultant of several companies, most of which are family and multifamily-owned businesses.
Recognised in The Best Lawyers in Spain in the practice area of Corporate and M&A Law since 2017.
Ibon Arbaizagoitia
PARTNER. CORPORATE DEPARTMENT
Degree in Economics and Business Studies (Financing). University of the Basque Country. Degree in General Business Management (PDG) from IESE.
He joined Confianz in 1996 as Accounting and Taxation Assessor. He promoted to Accounting and Taxation Department Manager in 1999. He left the firm in October, 2008 and returned in May 2012 as Consultancy Manager, after being in Clinica Quirón for 2 years as deputy CFO.
He became a partner in January, 2015.
Jesús Baranda
PARTNER. ACCOUNTING-TAX DEPARTMENT
Associate in Administration and Finances.
He joined Confianz in 1995, currently holding the position of Financial Manager.
He became a partner in January, 2015.
Joaquín Moral
PARTNER DIRECTOR
Degree in Business Management and Administration, specialising in Marketing from Deusto University.
He pursued his career as Asset Manager at Morgan Stanley, Crédit Agricole Banca Privada and Nervión Agencia de Valores for the last 10 years.
He joined Confianz in February, 2008 as Sales and Marketing Director.
He became a partner in January, 2015.
Álvaro Mendiola
PARTNER. LEGAL–TAX DEPARTMENT
San Pablo CEU University Law Degree, Madrid.
Master’s Degree in Finance at the University College of Financial Studies, Madrid.
Executive Master in Business Law at the Centro de Estudios Garrigues, Madrid.
He pursued his career in LeQuid J. Dutilh Business Law Firm and in Hipoges Iberia, S.L. between 2012 and 2014.
He joined Confianz in April 2015 as Legal Tax Consultant.
He became a partner in January, 2017.
Recognised in The Best Lawyers in Spain in the practice area of Tax Law since 2020.
Estibaliz Cortina
PARTNER. LABOUR DEPARTMENT
Social graduate at the University of Oviedo.
She has worked as labour consultant since 1997.
She joined Confianz in 1998, pursuing her career in her present role as Labour Department Manageress.
She became a partner in January, 2015.
Susana Ascacibar
PARTNER. LABOUR DEPARTMENT
Social graduate at the University of Oviedo.
Her entire career has focused on social-labour relations, initially in charge of the labour management of various companies in Grupo Asesor Lurra since 1993.
She joined Confianz in 2000 as Labour Consultant, boasting highly successful assessment and management of large companies.
She is currently the officer in charge of Confianz’s social-labour assessment department.
She became a partner in January, 2015.
Javier Bragado
PARTNER. LEGAL-TAX DEPARTMENT
Deusto University Law Degree and Business Legal Assessment Masters Degree at the Centre for Financial Studies.
He joined Confianz in 2001 as Legal-Tax Consultant.
Javier has a long standing experience in company occupational, corporate, taxation and accounting assessment and auditing, over a period of 10 years constantly in contact with companies, SMEs, large companies and multinationals.
He became a partner in January, 2015.
Cristina Ríos
GENERAL MANAGEMENT SECRETARY
Diploma in Office Management from Deusto University.
She has pursued her professional career at Confianz since 1995 as Personal Assistant to General Management.
Estíbaliz Barrio
ACCOUNTING-TAX MANAGER
Degree in Business Management and Administration. Speciality Financial Management from University of the Basque Country. Master in Finance. University of the Basque Country.
She began her professional career in 2001 performing administrative tasks in various companies.
She joined Confianz in november 2006 as Accounting-Tax Supervisor, rising to the position of Supervisor in 2007.
She became Accounting-Tax Manager in January, 2017.
Ainhoa Bengoetxea
ACCOUNTING-TAX MANAGER
Degree in Business Management and Administration from University of the Basque Country. MBA in Management and Business Management ESDEN.
She pursued her professional career as an Acconting-Tax Consultant, Administrative Assistant and Technical Advisor in Trade , in Caja Laboral and in the Basque Government, respectively.
She joined Confianz in 2006 as responsible for one of the three types of current customers, providing customers comprehensive advice of accounting, tax, financial and commercial.
She became Accounting-Tax Manager in January, 2017.
Rubén Tercero
IT DIRECTOR
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Management from Deusto University.
He joined Confianz in 2010 as IT Director.
Maria José Arranz
RECEPTION MANAGER
Graduate in Business Sciences specialising in Actuarial studies from the Sarriko Faculty of Economics and Business Studies at the University of the Basque Country.
Diploma in Business Sciences specialising in Commerce from the University College of Business Studies (EUEE) in Bilbao.
She has pursued her professional career at the savings banks BBK and Caja Laboral, and at Fitness First between 2000 and 2009.
She joined Confianz in 2010 as Reception Manager.
Esther San Clemente
MARKETING
Diploma in Business Sciences from the University of the Basque Country.
She has pursued her professional career at Bankinter and Gestoría M.J. Mardaras between 2002 and 2005.
She joined the Marketing Department at Confianz in 2006, and has now become a major player within it.
Ana Arce
MARKETING
Graduate in Musical Pedagogy from the Higher Conservatory of Music in Donostia-San Sebastian.
She has pursued her professional career at Correduría Inmobiliaria Algorta, Atento, Asimag, Mapfre, Grupo Gesa and Xupera between 2003 and 2010.
She joined the Marketing Department at Confianz in 2011, and has now become a major player within it.
Izaskun Solar
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Social Graduate at the University of the Basque Country in Leioa.
She pursued her professional career in law firms and in Tecnitax as responsible of the labour department She joined Confianz in 2008 as Labour Consultant.
Rebeca Sánchez
M&A LAWYER
Graduated in Law from the Autónoma University, Madrid.
Graduated in Political Science and Public Administration from the the Autónoma University, Madrid.
She pursued her professional career at De La Orden Abogados, Tomás Ballestero Abogados, Auditel Ingenieria y Servicios, Iuris Corporate y Corporate Counselors as a corporate lawyer between 2010 and 2021.
She was also Deputy Director at Auditel Ingeniería y Servicios y Corporate Counselors between 2016 and 2021.
In July 2021, she joined Confianz as a Business Law specialist.
Ainara Jiménez
ACCOUNTING-TAX SUPERVISOR
Higher Degree in Business Administration and Finance from Centro San Luis (Bilbao).
She joined Confianz Accounting-Tax Department in 2008. Currently she provides customers with recurrent advisory services on accounting, tax, commercial and financial. She also takes part in various teams that develop consulting projects (advice in shareholder meetings, preparation of financial, stategic plans and so on ).
Juan Acedo
ACCOUNTING-TAX SUPERVISOR
Degree in Business Management and Administration graduate, specialising in financial management at the University of the Basque Country.
Master’s Degree in International Trade and Commerce by the IMF.
He pursued his career in S2G Deloitte as accounting-tax consultant.
He joined Confianz in november 2013 as accounting-tax supervisor, providing our clients a comprehensive service on these matters.
Guillermo Pampín
TAXATION MANAGER
Graduated in Law, Legal-Economic Specialty, from Deusto Universtiy.
Master’s Degree in Business Taxation from Deusto University.
Guillermo is a member of the Bizkaia Bar Association.
He pursued his professional career at Bufete Barrilero, Cuatrecasas and Norgestión between 2000 and 2021.
In September 2021, he joined Confianz as the firm’s Taxation Manager.
With more than 20 years of professional experience in the tax field, he focuses his activity mainly on business advice.
He specializes in corporate operations (Tax Corporate), the design and implementation of corporate restructurings (M&A), family businesses, advice on tax inspection processes, international taxation and consolidated groups.
He is a regular lecturer on current tax issues and numerous training sessions organized by Elkargi and the FVEM. Speaker at the Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy at the University of Deusto.
Asun Camacho
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Graduate in Political Sciences, specialising in Industrial Relations, and Graduate in Sociology, both from the Complutense University in Madrid.
Master’s Degree in Human Resources from the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Autónoma University in Madrid.
She has pursued her professional career as an HR Technician and Labour Technician at Aegon Seguros, Sire Consulting, Lan Ekintza, Asimag Servicios Empresariales and Tecniconta between 1994 and 2015.
She joined Confianz in 2016 as a Labour Consultant.
Monika Rodríguez
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Social Graduate and Diploma in Human Resources from Universitiy of the Basque Country (Leioa).
She joined Confianz Labour Department in 2012 during one year and after that period she joined Adecco, while studying simultaneously to obtain the qualification of specialist in Staff Recruitment.
She joined Confianz, again, in January 2014 as Labour Assistant.
Paula Alonso
SUPERVISOR OF FISCAL-ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
Graduate in Law from Deusto University.
Post-graduate course: Diploma in European Studies from Deusto University.
She has pursued her professional career as Fiscal-Accounting Consultant from 2002 to 2017 at Moyua Asesores, S.L., Jesús Martín Abogados, S.L. and Gutierrez Allúe y Asociados, S.L.
She joined Confianz in September 2017 as a Fiscal-Accounting Consultant. She provides clients with a comprehensive advisory service in accounting, fiscal, commercial and financial matters.
Ignacio Villa
FISCAL-ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN
Graduate in Business Management and Administration and Finances from the University of the Basque Country.
He joined Confianz in September 2105 as a Fiscal-Accounting Technician, providing clients with a comprehensive service in these fields.
MARÍA JESÚS MARTÍN
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Degree in economics from the Complutense University of Madrid.
Master’s Degree in Economic & Financial Management from Centro de Estudios Financieros in Madrid.
Master’s Degree in Taxation & Tax Assessment from Centro de Estudios Financieros in Madrid.
Expert’s Diploma in Spanish Taxation from the Institute of Economists [Colegio de Economistas] in Madrid
María Jesús has worked at Asecovi 2000 as Head of Administration and Control, Financial Manager in Organisational Hubs & Administration, at Accenture and as a financial, accounting and tax adviser at Sociedad Matritense de Asesoría Empresarial from 2007 to February 2020.
She joined Confianz in February 2020 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
PATRICIA PLANELLA
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Graduated in Economics from Carlos III University, Madrid (2009-2013).
Graduated in Business Administration and Management from UNED University (2013-2016).
Taxation Advanced Course at the Centro de Estudios Financieros-CEF, 2016.
Master’s Degree in Taxation and Tax Consultancy at the Centro de Estudios Financieros-CEF, 2018.
Patricia pursued her degree as an Accounting & Tax Advisor at Afixcal Servicios Empresariales S.L and Audalia Nexia S.L, from 2013 to 2020.
In December 2020, she joined Confianz as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
CARLOS ALBA
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Labour Relations from the University of Castilla La Mancha.
Practical Legal Training at the Madrid Professional Association of Employment Consultants, Madrid.
Accounting technician from the CEF (Centro de Estudios Financieros).
He embarked on his professional career as an economic and legal advisor on social-labour fields for different companies and workers since 2007.
From 2015 onwards, he expanded his expertise by representing companies and workers at the Social Courts and leading many proceedings.
In December 2020, he joined Confianz as a Labour Consultant.
MAY CÁCERES
LABOUR ASSISTANT
Graduate in Labour Relations and Human Resources from the University of the Basque Country (UPV) in Leoia.
In June 2021 May joined the Confianz Labour Department as a trainee and in July 2022 she joined the Department as a Labour Assistant.
SANDRA PEÑA
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Graduate in Labour Relations and Human Resources from the University of Burgos.
Sandra has pursued her professional career as a Labour Consultant in a Consultancy-Advisory firm between 2017 and 2022.
She joined Confianz in June 2022 as a Labour Consultant.
ELADIO MORALES
LABOUR CONSULTANT
Law Degree from the University of Granada.
Master in Human Resources Management by ESNA (Escuela Superior de Negocios de Andalucía).
Master’s Degree in Labor Law Management and Consultancy from the University of Granada.
Specialization in labour matters through various courses and seminars.
Eladio has pursued his professional career as Labour Consultant in professional firms as well as in personnel departments of companies since 2008.
He joined Confianz in July 2022 as a Labour Consultant.
ANTHONY SEGURA
M&A ANALYST
Double degree in Business Administration and Law from the Complutense University of Madrid.
Postgraduate degree in Investment Banking and M&A from the Centro de Estudios Financieros (CEF).
Postgraduate degree in Corporate Finance from The London School of Economics (LSE).
Anthony has developed his professional career in the Investment Banking team at Banco Santander in 2019, as an Equity Markets Analyst at UBS in 2020, as an M&A Analyst at CDI Global and Crea Capital Investment Bankers during 2021 and 2022..
In September 2022, he joined Confianz as an M&A Analyst.
IGNACIO HERNANDO
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Graduate in Economics and Business Studies from the University of the Basque Country.
Master’s Degree in Wealth Management and Private Banking from the University of the Basque Country.
Ignacio started his professional career as an Accounting and Tax Advisor at PKF ATTEST in 2012.
He has developed his professional career in different law firms, such as Asesoría Virgen del Mar, Tradde Asesores (Grupo Asegi) and Martín Abogados.
He joined Confianz in April 2023 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
JAVIER BLANCO
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Degree in Taxation and Public Administration from the UPV/EHU.
Mention in Taxation by the UPV/EHU.
Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy from Deusto University.
Javier has developed his professional career as a tax advisor in different companies and professional firms such as BBVA and LKS Next Legal, from 2017 to 2023.
He joined Confianz in April 2023 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
CONSUELO IBÁÑEZ
LEGAL-FISCAL CONSULTANT
Graduated in Law from the Autónoma University, Madrid.
Master’s Degree in International Relations, Antonio de Nebrija University, Madrid 2020.
Course in European Union Studies by the Diplomatic School, Madrid 2013.
Consuelo has developed her professional career at Hipoges Iberia from 2015 to 2023 as a litigation lawyer.
She joined the Legal-Fiscal Department at Confianz in October 2023.
IKER HIDALGO
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Graduate in Law from Deusto University.
Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy from the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce.
Iker has developed his professional career as an Accounting & Tax Advisor at Asem Indafisa Gestión Empresarial between 2021 and 2023.
He joined Confianz in October 2023 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
FRANCISCO JAVIER CURTO
LEGAL-TAX ADVISOR
Graduated in Law, Legal-Economic Specialty, from Deusto University.
Higher Programme of Tax Consultancy for Professionals of the Institute for Business.
Master’s Degree in Taxation by Centro de Estudios Garrigues.
Advanced Financial Technician Course by the Centre for Financial Studies.
Diploma in Tourism from Deusto University.
He is a member of the Bizkaia Bar Association.
Francisco Javier has developed his professional career at Auxadi Contables y Consultores.
With 10 years of professional experience in the tax field, he focuses his activity mainly on business consultancy.
Specialised in advising on tax inspection processes, international taxation and consolidated groups.
He joined Confianz In January 2024 as Legal-Tax Advisor.
JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ-ESCANDÓN
M&A ANALYST
University degree in Business Administration and Management in English from the Catholic University of Canterbury in the United Kingdom.
Prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing. KPMG
Criminal Compliance, KPMG
Javier has developed his professional career in the Governance, Risk and Compliance Department of KPMG between 2021 and 2022, after which he joined Novastone Capital Advisors as a Private Equity Analyst in 2023 for two search funds.
In January 2024, he joined Confianz as an M&A Analyst.
ISABEL DE LA VEGA
LEGAL-TAX ADVISOR
Graduated in Law from the University of Valladolid.
Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy from Deusto University.
Isabel has developed her professional career as a Legal-Tax Advisor at BSK Legal & Fiscal and at Norgestión.
She joined Confiaz in May 2024 as Legal-Tax Advisor.
JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ DE VELASCO
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Graduate in Business Management from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Mention in SME Management by the UPV/EHU.
Currently studying for a Master’s Degree in Account Auditing at the University of Alcalá (UAH).
Javier has developed his professional career as an Accounting & Tax Advisor at at Ig Tax & Legal Consulting since 2018.
He joined Confianz in June 2024 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.
MIKEL GARCÍA
ACCOUNTING & TAX ADVISOR
Graduate in Economics from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Master’s Degree in Tax Consultancy from the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce.
Mikel has developed his professional career as an Accounting & Tax Advisor at Advisor in different firms in Bilbao, such as Aurtenetxe Asesores and Martin Abogados.
He joined Confianz in June 2024 as an Accounting & Tax Advisor.