Judith Geiß
Establishing Processes and Structures in the Accounting Department
Experience
Jul 2022 - Jun 2023
1 yearEstablishing Processes and Structures in the Accounting Department
- Inventory of existing processes and structures in accounting
- Development of recommendations for the future department structure
- Implementation of new processes and structures, especially introduction of a fast close
- Completion of the year-end audit including certificate by the end of May 2023 for two entities and a first audit for one entity
Jul 2022 - Nov 2022
5 monthsSupport in Post-Merger Integration
- Inventory of existing accounting processes and structures
- Development of recommendations for the future structure under the new parent company
- Implementation of new structures including fast close to enable month-end closing by the 5th of the following month
Apr 2022 - May 2022
2 monthsShort-Term Coverage in Finance/Accounting
- Ensuring monthly close and reporting
- Documentation of processes
- Creation of entity documentation
Nov 2021 - Mar 2022
5 monthsBU Controller/Finance Director
- Post-merger integration after a US takeover
- Merger of two entities and audit of all entities by end of February 2022
- Spin-off of an entity
- Coordination of the finance organization
- International support for the CEO and CFO
- Team structure stabilization
- Knowledge transfer
Feb 2021 - Oct 2021
9 monthsAccounting & Process Manager International
- Consulting and project coordination for service provider change in the subsidiary
- Preparation of project plans
- Inventory with specialist departments
- Coordination of service providers and departments
- Process optimization and staff training
- Consulting on IT processes in accounting for departments and subsidiaries
- Accounting process optimization
Jun 2020 - Dec 2020
7 monthsAbove Country Accountant/Regional Accounting Leader EMEA
- Post-merger integration for the EMEA region (global volume: €7.6 billion)
- Interface between corporate accounting & reporting and EMEA subsidiaries
- Development of new policies and accounting and closing processes (fast close) and implementation in EMEA subsidiaries
- Support for subsidiaries in implementing internal controls for financial reporting (SOX)
- Advising subsidiaries on control design and execution
- Coordination of the month-end close for 16 EMEA units according to schedule
Feb 2020 - Jun 2020
5 monthsVarious Projects in Business Coaching and Finance
Feb 2020 - Jun 2020
5 monthsAuthor of the book “The Acquisition Formula - A Practical Guide: Post-Merger Integration after a US Takeover,”
Springer Gabler
May 2019 - Feb 2020
10 monthsCarve-out of 3 Business Units
- Sub-project lead for general ledger
- Coordination of integration tests
- Coordination of carve-out cookbooks
- Support for the head of finance services Germany
Aug 2018 - Sep 2019
1 year 2 monthsIntegration into the American Parent Company
- Project lead for SOX implementation
- Contact person for all SOX questions
- Ensuring accounting continuity after head of finance change
- Creation of inventory instructions and conducting the annual inventory
- Establishing account reconciliations for the entity
- Simplification of the related process
May 2018 - Oct 2018
6 monthsOptimizing Month-End Close/Fast Close
- Inventory of the existing month-end close/fast close
- Development of solution proposals
- Implementation and testing of proposals in daily operations
- Creation of a customized training concept for the on-site team
Nov 2017 - Apr 2018
6 monthsProject Support for Integration into a UK Parent Company
- Support for introducing global policies
- Support for Navision implementation
- Data validation
- Support for building reporting
- Process optimization
Apr 2017 - Nov 2017
8 monthsProject Management for IFRS Conversion & Transfer Pricing
- Project and consulting services for IFRS conversion & transfer pricing
- Trouble-shooting for all project matters
- Development of a training concept for IFRS conversion & transfer pricing
- Preparation of training documentation
- Consulting and support during the project
Oct 2015 - Jun 2018
2 years 9 monthsProject Lead and Support in General Ledger, Project BASE
- Consulting and support for reorganizations, carve-out/merger, migrations, and release changes
- Development of a training concept for the shared service center and local services
- Creation of process diagrams and training documentation
- Management of entity documentation
- Direct support of the head of general ledger during the project
- Trouble-shooting for all project matters
Jul 2015 - Sep 2015
3 months Berlin, Germany
Cleanup/Optimization of Accounting, Process Optimizations in SAP
- Cleaning up accounting at the Heidelberg site
- Handling special topics (balance carryforwards, fixed asset reconciliations, etc.)
- Reviewing accounts receivable/accounts payable processes (invoice workflows)
- Optimizing SAP usage at the Heidelberg/Berlin sites
- Training staff and creating manuals (SAP)
- Daily operations support
May 2015 - Mar 2017
1 year 11 monthsProject Management in the Finance Department
- Group transfer pricing documentation
- As-is inventory and development of recommendations
- Data collection for master file and local file templates
- Organization and communication for the transfer pricing process
- Updating financial manuals/policies for fixed assets, inventory, accruals
- Support for the head of finance services Germany
Jan 2015 - Apr 2015
4 monthsProject and Consulting Services in Travel Expense Reporting and Optimization
- Consulting tasks to optimize accounting effectiveness
- Plausibility checks of travel expenses
- Matching internal travel expense policies
Oct 2014 - Dec 2015
3 monthsSub-project Lead Transition Accounting
- Process analysis, documentation, and implementation per parent company requirements
- Staff training and coaching
- Support for moving accounts payable to the shared service center
- Overseeing the transfer of general ledger/reporting to the current company
Aug 2014 - Oct 2014
3 monthsVarious Projects in Business Coaching and Accounting Cleanup/Optimization
Jan 2014 - Jul 2014
7 monthsPreparation of 2013 Financial Statements and Audit Support for the Closing, Process Optimizations
- Preparation of 2013 financial statements
- Audit preparation and support for closing statements of sold entities
- Audit prep for remaining entities
- Team restructuring and daily operations redesign
- Introduction of fast close
Sep 2013 - Jan 2014
5 monthsPreparation for Sale of Business Units and Accounting Presentation/Closing Statement Preparation
- Leading a team of up to six permanent staff and up to four interim managers
- Preparation of month-end close under HGB & US-GAAP for seven entities
- Preparation of closing statements for two entities due to business unit sale
- Reconciliations and plausibility checks during closing
Sep 2012 - Sep 2013
1 year 1 monthSupport for Integration Due to New Ownership Structure and New ERP System and SOX Introduction
- Creation of inventory instructions for German entities. A cross-department project implementing parent company requirements and overseeing the December 2012 inventory
- Preparing documents in cooperation with all departments for parent company SOX requirements
- Trouble-shooting related to ERP roll-out and finance issues
Jun 2012 - Sep 2012
4 monthsConversion of US-GAAP Statements to HGB for Four Entities
- Preparation of HGB financial statements including notes and management report
- Conversion of US-GAAP statements to HGB
- Audit coordination and contact for auditors
- Support for mapping due to ERP system change
Feb 2012 - May 2012
4 monthsSupport Team Leader General Ledger & Consolidation
- Covering for team leader during illness
- Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual statements under US-GAAP
- Support during integration into new ownership structure/SOX inventory
Aug 2011 - Jan 2012
6 monthsProcess Optimization in Accounts Payable as Team Leader
- Approval of invoices for each entity in Prang and PeopleSoft systems
- Documentation of processes and workflows, especially in PeopleSoft
- Implementation of process improvements
- Communication with IT on PeopleSoft issues
- Leading the accounts payable team of up to six
- Operational support during staff absences (sick/vacation)
- Communication with Deutsche Bank on new accounts and PeopleSoft requirements
- Revision of job descriptions and work guidelines
- Intranet presence for the accounts payable team
Jan 2010 - Feb 2011
2 monthsOutsourcing Accounting
- Managing the outsourcing of accounting to an external service provider
- Process improvements and implementation
- Preparation of the 2010 year-end close
Sep 2010 - Dec 2010
4 monthsInterim Head of Accounting & Purchasing
- Responsibility for financial accounting and purchasing for two entities
- Leading a team of up to six
- Preparation of monthly closes under HGB and year-end prep (including provisions and bank reconciliation)
- Fixed asset management and plausibility checks with external SAP consultant (fixing prior year asset errors and current year impacts)
- Ad-hoc reports for management
- Development and implementation of process improvements
- Documentation of accounting and SAP processes
- Development of an Excel reporting tool
- Contact person for tax and financial auditors
May 2010 - Aug 2010
4 monthsInterim Head of Accounting & Controlling
- Responsibility for financial accounting and controlling for two entities
- Leading a team of up to four
- Preparation of monthly closes under HGB
- Monthly reporting to the parent company
- Ad-hoc reports for management
- Year-end prep for 2009
- Development and implementation of process improvements
- Documentation of accounting and SAP processes and cooperation with internal SAP support for customizations
- Fixed asset reviews since SAP go-live and automation of depreciation runs
- Cleanup of issues from prior SAP implementation
- Cost center structure adjustments due to changes in production flow
- Support for HR audit and personnel account cleanup
- Development of an Excel reporting tool
- Contact for banks and auditors
Feb 2010 - Present
15 years 6 months Viernheim, Germany
Owner / Accounting Consultant
the Bridge
- Specialized in US takeovers
- "Building bridges is my specialty!"
- Why? Years ago I went through an acquisition myself—today I use that knowledge to help others.
- That’s why I offer your company, with nearly 20 years of accounting and controlling experience, hands-on support in all accounting and controlling processes that arise during an American acquisition and often pose a big challenge.
- Accounting consulting for various companies in manufacturing, automotive, ICT, entertainment, chemicals, security, pharma, and biotech.
- Coordinating and ensuring timely monthly closes under HGB/US-GAAP, year-end prep, and reporting to headquarters or local management.
- Consulting on SOX 404 implementation.
- Strategic support for ERP system adjustments.
- Team leadership and creating a work atmosphere that boosts team productivity: “Meet each person where they are.”
- Handling internal audits, contact for auditors and external reviewers.
- Development of training concepts tailored to each company’s needs.
- Fast close implementation.
Mar 2008 - Jan 2010
1 year 11 months Viernheim, Germany
Financial Accountant
Sidel GmbH
- Company accounting
- Preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual statements under HGB and IFRS
- Monthly reporting to the parent company
- Continuous improvement of Excel reporting tools
- Development and implementation of process improvements
- Adjustment of chart of accounts and cost center structure to reporting requirements
Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
5 months Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Head of Finance
MegaPlast GmbH & Co. KG
- Preparation of monthly closes under HGB, year-end statements, and reporting to the finance director; contact for banks, auditors, and tax advisors
- Adjustment of cost center and chart of accounts for efficient controlling
- Leading a team of up to four
Feb 2007 - Jul 2007
6 months Mannheim, Germany
Tax and Audit Assistant
hardorp, müller & partner
- Auditing and preparing annual financial statements
- Preparing tax returns
- Business analyses and reporting
Oct 2005 - Jan 2007
1 year 4 months Germany
Reporting/Planning Specialist
Johnson Controls Systems & Service GmbH
- Sole accounting for Sigma-Frigo-Therm Handels-GmbH and responsible for provisions and accruals for York Germany and York Switzerland; contact for internal and external auditors
- Preparation of monthly and annual statements under HGB and US-GAAP; support in internal reporting/controlling, month-end reporting to the parent company, and budget preparation for York Germany and its subsidiaries
May 2004 - Sep 2005
1 year 5 months Heidelberg, Germany
Controlling and Cost Accounting Specialist
Heidelberger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH
- Financial contact for “Energy Market Liberalization,” focusing on unbundling requirements in existing cost accounting systems, e.g., adjusting cost center and profit center structures
- Development of cost unit accounting for usage fees and contribution margin accounting for specific customers or segments; creation of partial balance sheets per energy law requirements
- Quarterly reporting for all group companies, including all subsidiaries, and monthly short-term profit and loss statements
Oct 2002 - Apr 2004
1 year 7 months Heidelberg, Germany
Controlling and Order Billing Specialist
Heidelberger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH
- Cost accounting support for equity investments and training of local staff; introduction of order billing in one subsidiary
- Implementing SAP R/3–based performance recording (including manual creation and staff training) and order billing at Stadtwerke Neckargemünd
- Billing and controlling of large and grant projects for third parties, plus recharging of orders between group entities
Summary
"Building bridges is my specialty!"
Why? Years ago I went through an acquisition myself—today I use that knowledge to help others.
That’s exactly why I offer your company, with my nearly 20 years of accounting and controlling experience, hands-on support in all accounting and controlling business processes that arise during an acquisition by an American corporation, which often pose a major challenge.
In addition to my many years of specialized know-how, other highly qualified experts contribute to the the Bridge success concept. When working with me, you have direct access to this versatile the Bridge consultant network I built—so we can support you even better and more individually.
From our diverse experience as interim managers, consultants, and trainers in national and international accounting, we know all the challenges you must master during a US takeover. Let’s maximize your successes together and benefit from the holistic the Bridge corporate concept, which combines implementation consulting, training measures, and coaching perfectly.
Rely on a broad network of different experts who bring their expertise tailored to your company’s needs. We know exactly what it takes to transition your accounting, financial statements, and reporting quickly and efficiently to the new international requirements.
Languages
German
Native
English
Advanced
Education
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Diploma in Business Administration · Business Administration
Certifications & licenses
AdA Certificate (IHK)
IHK
AgilePM® Agile Project Management Foundation
SAP® ERP 6.0 Accounting User with Controlling Qualification
Certified National and International Financial Accountant (IHK)
IHK
Change Management Foundation & Practitioner
NLP Practitioner (DVNLP)
DVNLP
PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner Certificate
Systemic Coaching with NLP Focused on Conflict Coaching (DVNLP)
DVNLP
WingWave® Coach
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