As we celebrate Public Accountant’s Day in Colombia and set the stage for honoring the strength of #MujerUnicaucana throughout March, our alma mater highlights the work and career of Dr. Zoraida Ramírez Gutiérrez. A professor in the Department of Accounting Sciences, she has dedicated her academic and professional life to the study and teaching of accounting, finance, and management.

Every March 1st, we celebrate Public Accountant’s Day, a date established to commemorate the first National Meeting of Board of Directors of Professional Associations in Colombia, held in 1975 at the University of Antioquia. This gathering aimed to address the dominance of foreign entities in the country’s accounting market and became an opportunity to recognize the work and professionalism of those in this field. In this context, and given that our institution shapes public accountants who are integral, responsible, and committed to building a fairer and more equitable society, we take this occasion to share the story of Professor Zoraida Ramírez—an outstanding Public Accountant, an excellent professional, and a dedicated teacher who lives and breathes a passion for education.

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“I have always been passionate about numbers and mathematics, which led me to excel academically. I was the top graduate from INEM School in Armenia and earned a scholarship to the National University in Bogotá, which I couldn’t accept due to financial constraints. My intuition and a natural connection with statistics led me to choose Public Accounting, where I discovered that it’s not just about recording numbers but analyzing, interpreting, and questioning them. I realized that financial statements tell stories, reflect decisions, and reveal strategies. That understanding led me to develop a critical and reflective approach to financial and accounting information and its impact on organizations and society as a whole,” Professor Zoraida fondly recalled, reflecting on the beginning of her academic journey.

Her professional career began at the Finance Secretariat of the Armenia City Hall while simultaneously teaching at various higher education institutions. Two decades ago, in 2005, she joined the Universidad del Cauca as a full-time professor, dedicating herself entirely to research and teaching. Throughout her tenure at our institution, she has held leadership positions such as Head of the Department of Accounting Sciences, Coordinator of the Public Accounting Program, Vice-Rector for Administration, Vice-Rector for Culture and Well-being, and, at times, Acting Rector.

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“Holding leadership and representative positions at the Universidad del Cauca as a woman and an outsider has been a challenge. Breaking the glass ceiling has not been easy, especially transitioning from personal merit to university leadership while upholding principles of transparency, honesty, and justice,” she reflects, sharing a powerful message.

It is important to mention that Professor Zoraida is a Public Accountant, a specialist in Financial Administration, a Master in Economic and Financial Administration, a Master in Administration with a focus on Corporate Finance, and a Ph.D. in Accounting and Corporate Finance from the University of Valencia, Spain.

Currently, she is a tenured professor at the Universidad del Cauca, affiliated with the Department of Accounting Sciences, a Junior Researcher at MinCiencias, and Director of the Study and Research Group in Finance and Management (GREIFG). Additionally, in 2022, she was appointed Academic Director of the Ibero-American Association for Management Control (AICOGestión), where she also serves on the Board of Directors. Alongside her academic work at Unicauca, she holds the academic directorship for Latin America at the Peruvian multinational CONTACOM, further solidifying her standing as a leader in accounting and financial management.

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On this special day and as a prelude to our Women’s Month campaign, Professor Zoraida shares a message for future generations of public accountants: “It is essential to have clear convictions about the principles and values that govern our profession. Education must be continuous and ongoing; the university provides the foundation, but learning is something we must pursue for a lifetime. Public Accounting has a significant social impact, and we must take on the responsibility of disseminating not only financial and accounting information but also environmental, social, and governance-related data.”

With her distinguished career, this professor and #MujerUnicaucana stands as a role model in academic and accounting research, inspiring new generations to practice this profession with excellence and responsibility. Today, with admiration and gratitude, we offer a special recognition for her invaluable contributions—contributions that elevate the name of our alma mater in various fields and settings. And, of course, we cannot conclude this message without extending our warmest congratulations to all accountants whose knowledge and leadership reflect the hallmark of excellence that defines this institution, a true #PatrimonioDeTodos.

Happy Public Accountant’s Day to those who understand the power of numbers!

Written by: Communications Management Center