1. Ana‑Bárbara, you founded Pendas International after building a strong international career. What inspired you to take that step?

(We’d love to highlight the firm’s origin and your personal mission behind it.)

I founded Pendas International with the goal of offering more customized, technically rigorous support to clients who are crossing borders and require a more tailored offer than what traditional firms typically provide. My mission has been to enable them to focus on their business, knowing their finance, accounting, tax obligations and compliance are handled by someone who understands both sides.

On a personal level, my husband and I moved to the U.S. in 2010. Since then, I’ve always believed in bridging worlds, combining my Spanish background and education with the U.S. CPA credential. I see my role as a translator, not just linguistically, but also professionally, for clients operating internationally. Because I’ve lived through the same challenges they face, I can connect with them on a very real level and help make their cross-border experience clearer and more manageable.

2. How has your multicultural background influenced the way you lead your firm?

(This question aims to showcase your ability to connect with international clients and understand their unique needs.)

My multicultural background, growing up and being educated in Spain, working in European settings, living in the US for the last 15 years and leading a U.S.-based firm, has shaped the way I approach leadership. It gives me a dual lens: I understand not just the technical rules, but also the mindsets, expectations, and business norms of different countries. This helps us design processes that feel clear and intuitive for clients from different cultures, adapt solutions to their specific context instead of applying a rigid mold, and build a team that can truly communicate across borders. Many of our clients tell us they value that we don’t just understand the numbers, but also what it takes to do business internationally

3. You recently opened a new office in Miami. What does this milestone represent for Pendas International?

(This is a great opportunity to explain the strategic value of Miami and how it strengthens your presence.)

Opening our Miami office is both a strategic and symbolic milestone for Pendas International. Strategically, Miami is a natural hub for Spain-U.S. and Latin America-U.S. business, connecting Spanish-speaking companies and serving as a key gateway for cross-border flows of goods, people, and capital. With a presence there, we can be closer and more accessible to clients from Spain and Latin America who operate in or through Florida, while also supporting U.S. companies expanding abroad. Symbolically, it marks an important step in our firm’s growth, moving from a single-city focus to a multi-geography presence, and reinforces our long-term commitment to helping international clients succeed globally.

4. What are the biggest challenges foreign businesses face when entering the U.S. market?

(We’re looking to highlight your technical expertise and your experience supporting Spanish or Latin American companies.)

Entering the U.S. market brings tremendous opportunities, but it also comes with a unique set of challenges that can be difficult to navigate without the right guidance. From my experience working with Spanish and Latin American clients, success here requires much more than simply replicating an existing business model. Some of the most common hurdles we see include:

• Regulatory & tax complexity: The U.S. has federal, state, and local layers of tax law that often differ significantly. Payroll, state income tax, sales tax, and nexus rules frequently catch foreign businesses by surprise.

• Entity structure and cross-border tax planning: Choosing the right structure, whether an LLC, corporation, or partnership, from the beginning is critical to managing U.S. tax exposure and ensuring treaty benefits are properly applied. Also understanding the consequences of any decision made in the U.S. can affect the companies in their countries of origin.
• Cash flow, banking, and compliance: Opening U.S. banking relationships, complying with reporting obligations such as FATCA and FBAR, and managing currency or payment risks can all pose difficulties.

• Cultural and operational differences: Beyond technical rules, adapting to U.S. business norms, contracts, liability, labor law, benefits, intellectual property, and the legal system, is essential.

In short, foreign businesses need more than a technical roadmap; they need an advisor who understands both the rules and the cultural context. That’s where we focus our support, with our network of specialists, bridging these worlds so our clients can enter and grow in the U.S. market with confidence

5. How does your boutique approach set you apart?

(This helps position the firm as a highly personalized, proactive alternative to large advisory firms.)

What truly sets us apart as a boutique firm is how personal and connected our approach is.
Being boutique means we’re highly specialized, but also flexible and responsive. Our clients work directly with senior professionals who really understand their businesses, so advice never feels generic.

We bring deep technical expertise in U.S. tax and accounting, but also a strong understanding of European and Latin American systems—so we can bridge both sides and anticipate issues that others might miss.

Every client’s story is different, and we adapt our advice to their structure, goals, and comfort with risk instead of following a one-size-fits-all formula. And because we’re small and specialized, we can move quickly when things change, whether it’s a new regulation or a new opportunity.

Most importantly, our relationships are built on clarity, proactive communication, and trust. Especially for international clients navigating uncertainty, that human connection and reliability make all the difference.

6. From your perspective, how is the business relationship between Spain and the U.S. evolving?

(This question adds a binational lens to the conversation and helps contextualize your work.)

The Spain – U.S. business relationship is becoming increasingly dynamic and strategic. Spanish companies are investing more in the U.S., while U.S. investors are showing greater interest in Spain and Latin America. We see growing collaboration in trade, technology, and innovation, particularly in startups, fintech, and renewable energy, with many Spanish businesses now thinking ‘global from day one.’ At the same time, global tax initiatives are driving more alignment and transparency, which encourages companies to approach cross-border operations more professionally. Challenges remain on both sides, but overall, the relationship is maturing: less ad hoc, more structured, and full of opportunity.

7. What tax trends do you think will shape the near future?

(This can include insights on digitalization, global compliance, or regulatory changes.)

Tax is evolving faster than ever, and AI is right at the center of that transformation.

It’s bringing huge opportunities, from automating repetitive tasks to giving us powerful insights in seconds, but also real challenges around accuracy, data privacy, and what ‘human expertise’ means in this new context. For us, the key is using AI intelligently, to enhance our work, not replace the judgment and strategic perspective that clients value.

Regulators are catching up too, from the U.S. One Beautiful Bill to global initiatives like Pillar Two and digital reporting, the tax landscape is being redefined.

All of this points to one clear direction, businesses must be more proactive and strategic than ever. The firms and companies that embrace technology thoughtfully, while staying grounded in trust and expertise, will be the ones that truly thrive.

8. To close on a personal note: what inspires you in your day‑to‑day work as a professional and entrepreneur?

(A warm closing to reflect on leadership, purpose, or client impact.)

What inspires me most is seeing our clients succeed across borders, whether it’s a Spanish company establishing in the U.S. without surprises, a family business expanding with confidence, or an entrepreneur scaling globally. Being their partner in navigating complexity and reducing risk is deeply rewarding.

I’m equally inspired by the team we’ve built at Pendas International. We are a truly international group, with professionals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. I am honored to lead this team, as their perspectives enrich how we solve problems and reflect the global nature of the clients we serve.

At the end of the day, our work goes far beyond numbers and compliance. It’s about building trust, bridging worlds, and making our clients’ goals achievable through thoughtful, tailored advice.