Rüdiger Tiedemann

Senior Accounting Specialist

Cologne, Germany

Experience

Nov 2024 - Feb 2025
4 months
Cologne, Germany

Senior Accounting Specialist

Alpha Trains Europa GmbH

  • Leasing of rail vehicles, ERP: Dynamics 365
  • Project leader: CFO, Staff: 150
  • Special topics such as IFRS 9 / accounting for complex syndicated loans
  • Accounting for 2 subsidiaries
Oct 2024 - Feb 2025
5 months
Düsseldorf, Germany

CFO

CMR CureDiab Metabolic Research GmbH

  • Pharma / biotech start-up, ERP: Datev
  • Project leader: CEO, Staff: 4
  • Part-time – finance & reporting – external accounting, fundraising
Nov 2023 - Sep 2024
11 months
Wuppertal, Germany

Finance Manager / Senior Expert

Macaw

  • Digital marketing agency, ERPs: Unit4, MS Dynamics NAV
  • Project leader: CFO HQ Netherlands, Direct Reports/Staff: 6
  • Preparation of prior-year financial statements for 3 group companies
  • Process optimization in finance and performance areas
  • Ongoing accounting and administration, consolidation
  • Reporting with LucaNet and Power BI
Feb 2023 - Jun 2023
5 months
Zürich, Switzerland

Finance Consultant

Egon Zehnder AG

  • Personnel services – executive search, leadership advisory
  • ERP: Oracle NetSuite
  • Project leader: Head of Finance Projects
  • Process optimization in finance across various branches, implementation of purchase orders
Jun 2022 - Jun 2022
1 month
Cologne, Germany

Consultant

Kaya & Kato GmbH

  • Fashion / industrial workwear, start-up
  • Project leader: CEO
  • 10-year financial planning including cash flow, margin details by customer and product group etc. for negotiations with investors
Apr 2022 - Jan 2023
10 months
Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

CFO

Safran Data Systems GmbH

  • Aerospace & space, part of Safran SA, France
  • Local ERP: Infor M3
  • Project leader: COO/CFO BU
  • Fast close and reporting locally and to HQ in Paris
  • Transition of reporting tools from Hyperion to SQL
  • Internal controls
Aug 2021 - Mar 2022
8 months
Aachen, Germany

Head of Accounting

next e.GO Mobile SE

  • Automotive, start-up
  • Local ERP: eGecko/Penta/Automotive Accelerator
  • Project leader: CFO
  • Operational accounting
  • IFRS conversion
  • Implementation of internal controls and digitization of P2P process, consolidation
  • IPO preparation
Mar 2021 - Feb 2022
1 year
Frankfurt, Germany

Head of Finance / CFO

T-Balance Therapeutics GmbH

  • Biotechnology, start-up
  • ERP: Datev Unternehmen Online
  • Project leader: CEO
  • Budgeting, cash management, reporting
  • Presentations, due diligences with potential investors
Oct 2020 - Jul 2021
10 months
Kiel, Germany

Head of Accounting/LCA

KVP Pharma + Veterinär GmbH

  • Animal pharmacy
  • Group: Elanco, revenue USD 5 bn
  • Local ERP: SAP R/3
  • Project leader: CFO Germany
  • Local country accounting: responsible for accounting, reporting and payments/treasury for the production company KVP in Kiel, EUR 250 m revenue and ~1,000 employees as part of a carve-out from Bayer AG, support for 2 additional sites
  • SOX implementation
  • Optimization of key processes – P2P, O2C, R2R
Oct 2019 - Sep 2020
1 year
Frankfurt, Germany

Senior Expert Finance

Interxion GmbH

  • Colocation / data centers
  • Group: Digital Realty, San Francisco, revenue USD 4 bn
  • Local ERP: SAGE, Reporting: HFM
  • Project leader: CFO Germany
  • Fixed assets: accounting, reporting, CAPEX approval process, IFRS 16, SOX, HFM reports
  • Process optimizations, including in connection with the sale to Digital Realty
Aug 2019 - Sep 2019
2 months
Frankfurt, Germany

Senior Expert Controlling

Groupe SEB

  • Household and kitchen appliances
  • Group revenue EUR 5 bn, Germany: ~EUR 500 m
  • ERP: SAP R/3
  • Project leader: Manager Commercial Agreements
  • Auditing invoice conditions over the past 3 years, ~15,000 line items, based on bookings, invoices and contracts
Oct 2018 - Apr 2019
7 months
Idstein, Germany

Senior Expert Finance & Controlling

Jack Wolfskin

  • Outdoor clothing and equipment
  • Group revenue EUR 350 m
  • ERP MS Dynamics NAV and AX, SAP: implementation
  • Project leader: Group Finance Director
  • Controlling: holdings, OPEX, CAPEX, forecast, budget 1–3 years, operational preparation of reports for owners and management
  • Support in group consolidation of 13 entities
  • IFRS 15 and IFRS 16, implementation of fast close
  • Development of BI systems for sales controlling
  • Determination of purchase price allocations in the context of closing
  • Restructurings after acquisition by Callaway Golf, USA – adjustment of sales reports including margin analysis, account mappings, cost centers, changed P&L/balance sheet structure, bridges from IFRS to US GAAP
  • ERP implementation preparation – MS Dynamics AX and SAP: processes, data structures, chart of accounts
Jun 2018 - Sep 2018
4 months
Munich, Germany

Co-CFO/Senior Finance Expert

New Flag GmbH

  • FMCG / cosmetics and personal care
  • Start-up / grown-up, group revenue EUR 50 m
  • ERP MS Dynamics NAV
  • Project leader: Commercial Managing Director of the group
  • Finance & controlling projects including BI systems
  • Top-down group consolidation of 7 companies
  • Analysis of tax filings vs. tax payments
  • Development of P&L by products, sales channels, key accounts
  • Analysis of customer contracts, pricing, return agreements
  • Determination of reclassifications for cost centers
  • Equity investment controlling: budget variances, postings by month and cost center
Aug 2016 - Jul 2018
2 years
Mulhouse, France

Finance Manager

Crane XOMOX

  • Mechanical engineering: industrial valves
  • Group revenue EUR 3 bn, entity revenue EUR 75 m
  • ERP: QAD
  • Project leader: CFO USA/Europe; Direct Reports/Staff: 7
  • France: finance, production controlling etc. including full operational accounting, HR, payments, administration; setup of suppliers and customers including payment terms, credit limits, credit checks and monitoring, dunning
  • Export financing: setup and review of letters of credit for sales to Africa, coordination with sales on financing; weekly and monthly reporting to HQ in the USA, moderation of weekly meetings on quarterly figures including customer and margin analyses
  • Budgeting and forecasting with Hyperion HFM
  • Monthly and annual close with QAD, HFM
  • Lindau: establishment of shared services for the French finance department, outsourcing of payroll and taxes in France, installation of accounting in Lindau, documentation/communication of change processes; periodic takeover of finance manager tasks
  • Both locations: SOX controls: analysis and update, internal audits
Apr 2016 - Jul 2016
4 months
Bochum, Germany

Finance Manager

Harman Connected Services GmbH

  • Software for top-tier automotive companies – connected car
  • Group revenue EUR 5 bn, entity revenue EUR 10 m
  • ERP MS Dynamics AX
  • Project leader: CFO, India
  • Preparation and audit support of financial statements for 2014 and 2015 during operational bridge
  • HR: monthly review of payroll, handling of employee assignments from India to Germany
  • Development of tax optimization measures
Feb 2016 - Feb 2016
1 month
Lübeck, Germany

Finance Consultant

Erasco/Continental Foods GmbH

  • FMCG / food: market leader for canned soups in Germany
  • Group: CVC Capital Partners/Private Equity, entity revenue EUR 120 m
  • ERP SAP R/3
  • Project leader: CFO
  • Analysis and optimization of sales processes / support of key accounts: campaign planning, support, sales controlling
Jun 2015 - Nov 2015
6 months
Münster, Germany

Interim Manager Treasury

COMPO Expert Gruppe

  • Chemicals: high-quality fertilizers and horticultural products
  • Group revenue approx. EUR 300 m, 20 entities
  • ERP SAP R/3, Project leader: CFO
  • Build-out of treasury in a carve-out after sale by PE Triton to XIO, responsibility for treasury planning across the group
  • Management of syndicated credit facility in triple-digit millions
  • Cash pooling
  • Implementation of 13-week and mid-term liquidity planning
  • Short-term introduction of factoring
  • Operational execution of weekly payment runs in SAP
  • Controlling and financial planning, support in closings
  • Participation in financial statements, consolidation, annual audit
  • Negotiation of new credit insurance

Case Study: Introduction of Factoring within an SAP R/3 System in One Month

  • Task: COMPO Expert was sold as a carve-out of the COMPO Group by PE house Triton to PE firm XIO in June 2015. Accounting and controlling at HQ were provided as a service by the COMPO Group for COMPO Expert. Treasury was newly staffed and tasked with implementing silent factoring under the syndicated credit facility of COMPO Expert.
  • Execution: The objective was to complete the first sale of receivables to the factorer within 4 weeks. Contracts were essentially pre-negotiated for the previous COMPO Group. In coordination with the factorer, potential internal and external dealbreakers were identified. External legal issues were negotiated and resolved with lenders. Internally, the challenge was to match different numbering ranges between invoicing and receivables in the SAP system, which was solved together with IT. Simultaneously, new business transactions were discussed with accounting and booking and reconciliation guidelines were developed. The sale was carried out via the factorer's portal.
  • Result: Through precise identification and elimination of potential dealbreakers in dedicated teams, factoring was implemented extremely quickly within the required 4 weeks.
Apr 2015 - May 2015
2 months
Berlin, Germany

Consultant

Egmont Ehapa GmbH

  • Media / publishing
  • Group revenue approx. EUR 2 bn, entity revenue EUR 80 m
  • ERP MS Dynamics NAV
  • Project leader: CFO
  • Analysis and development of improvement potentials in outsourcing standard finance processes to India
  • Process optimization
  • Assistance in resolving legacy issues – accounts receivable, settlements
Mar 2015 - Apr 2015
2 months
Hartha, Germany

Financial Controller

Trimas Germany GmbH

  • Automotive supplier
  • Group revenue approx. EUR 1 bn, entity revenue EUR 15 m
  • ERP Infor Syteline
  • Project leader: CFO, Direct Reports: 2
  • Operational finance management
  • Controlling and monthly reporting to HQ including variance analyses
  • Monthly/annual close
Jan 2015 - Dec 2016
2 years
Cologne, Germany

Lecturer: Finance/Controlling

Hochschulen Fresenius, ISM

  • Courses on IFRS and international controlling in German and English
Jan 2015 - Feb 2015
2 months
Cologne, Germany

Consultant

Designfirma

  • Process optimization NAV 2013 / US GAAP
Jan 2015 - Feb 2015
2 months
Cologne, Germany

Consultant

Subsidiary of a US IT company

  • Process optimization NAV 2013 / US GAAP
Oct 2014 - Dec 2015
3 months
Berlin, Germany

Development of Financing Concepts

  • Bonds, mezzanine, factoring in collaboration with a chartered accountant firm
Apr 2014 - Sep 2014
6 months
Düsseldorf, Germany

Finance Manager

DIC Europe GmbH

  • Chemicals / specialty chemicals
  • Group revenue EUR 6 bn, entity revenue EUR 40 m
  • ERP: MS Dynamics NAV, Magnitude
  • Project leader: Managing Director, Direct Reports/Staff: 7
  • Payments / treasury, currency hedging
  • Expansion of production controlling at the new plant in Vienna
  • Optimization and automation of finance and administration processes
  • Implementation of fast close
  • Improvement of monthly/quarterly reporting to the US sub‐group HQ
  • Integration of Excel island solutions into Navision
  • Compliance & SOX
  • Update of transfer pricing documentation within the group
Feb 2013 - Dec 2014
11 months
Braunschweig, Germany

Head of Controlling

Essilor GmbH

  • Optical industry / medical technology
  • Group revenue approx. EUR 5 bn, entity revenue EUR 120 m
  • ERP: Oracle, Navision
  • Project leader: CFO Entity, Direct Reports/Staff: 3
  • BI: development and roll-out of an integrated planning software with Cubeware Cockpit for revenue to gross margin by customer, product
  • Management of corporate planning including presentation to HQ
  • Selection, concept and roll-out of sales reporting system with QlikView
  • Business partnering with sales, marketing, HR etc.: analysis of sales pipeline, CRM data, KPIs, restructurings
  • Production controlling
  • HR and supply chain controlling

Case Study: Development and Implementation of a BI System for Planning and Reporting

  • Task: Development of a new process for annual budgeting and subsequent forecasts, moving away from previous use of Excel on one hand and an MS Access database application on the other. The latter was maintained by sales with much implicit, undocumented knowledge. Furthermore, this software version was no longer IT-supported from 2015 and therefore had to be replaced in the medium term.
  • Implementation: Market and resource analysis showed that a database/BI tool was already in use in controlling: Cubeware, with server hardware running Cubeware. Cubeware was used for Opex planning. A solution based on this would thus save part of the necessary investment costs. Additionally, IT was already working on a data warehouse for products. The approach was to extend the DWH to include customers and revenues and to develop a BI solution with Cubeware that maps both actual and planned data in maximum detail. Sales was convinced that existing functionalities of "their" database would largely be transferred and new functions created. After specifications and tendering, the system was developed, tested step by step and successfully implemented.
  • Result: With comparatively low resource deployment, a system with modern technology was created that transparently and flexibly met the budgeting requirements and was accepted by planners. For reporting, a complete data set for revenue and gross profit by customer and product was available for the first time. Building on this, further cost optimizations could be achieved in collaboration with supply chain.
Jan 2010 - Nov 2012
1 year 11 months
Mettmann, Germany

Commercial Director

TechnikService24 GmbH & Co. KG

  • Technical services / aftersales service
  • Revenue EUR 20 m
  • ERP: Microsoft Dynamics NAV
  • Project leader: Managing Director, Direct Reports/Staff: 4/15
  • Restructuring: ERP implementation, integration and migration of all essential processes to MS Dynamics NAV
  • Cost and process optimization, including IT, HR, procurement with Six Sigma
  • Involvement in social plans / partial plant closures
  • Preparation of business cases and negotiations with major customers – top trading companies and manufacturers
  • Preparation and conduct of vendor due diligences
  • Post-insolvency takeover of commercial management for the insolvency administrator, sale and liquidation
Feb 2010 - Jan 2011
1 year
Paris, France

Head of Finance

Medici Arts b.v.

  • Classical music films
  • Media / film production and distribution
  • Group revenue EUR 40 m, Direct Reports/Staff: 4
  • Project leader: CEO
  • EuroArts Berlin: cash management, ensuring cash survival – daily liquidity fine planning, negotiations with creditors, revenue pre-financing, M&A: vendor due diligences, sales negotiations
  • Medici Arts/Idéale Audience, Paris: audits, development and implementation of restructuring measures to maintain operations, negotiations with suppliers, transfer of rights to Germany
Oct 2009 - Jan 2010
4 months
Ludwigshafen, Germany

Consultant

Pfalzwerke AG

  • Energy; Group revenue EUR 1 bn, ERP: SAP R/3
  • Cost optimization in purchasing, fleet: analysis, identification of potentials, presentation
Apr 2009 - Sep 2009
6 months
Cologne, Germany

Start-Up Project

CROUZO

  • Web-based literature distribution: business plan, presentations
Oct 1996 - Mar 2009
12 years 6 months
Cologne, Germany

Finance Director, Controller, Head of Controlling

TASCHEN GmbH

  • Media / publishing
  • Direct Reports/Staff: 10/25
  • ERP: MS Dynamics NAV
  • Supervisor: CEO and owner
  • Build-out of group consolidation with MS Dynamics NAV
  • ERP implementation NAV: selection and migration from DOS system to NAV accounting and controlling at HQ; international roll-out including invoicing, HR etc.
  • Financing & treasury: bank loans, ABS, project financing
  • Equity investment controlling including stores, audit trips
  • Concept and implementation of MIS, PPS and CRM systems
  • M&A: acquisition and integration of a distribution company in Spain

Case Study: ERP Implementation 1996–2001

  • Task: Selection and implementation of a new ERP system for the headquarters’ accounting to break dependency on the current software – product of a small local vendor.
  • Implementation: Definition of specifications including employee interviews and process analyses, market analyses, presentations and shortlist of 3 vendors, selection of Microsoft Navision plus system integrator for implementation support. Consistent change management through intensive employee involvement in specialist topics to bring the “team” on board and convince them of the new system, as well as to ensure optimal mapping of specific processes in the system, such as periodic adjustment of provisions for print orders and short-term liquidity planning including foreign exchange. In the second step, international roll-out in 5 foreign subsidiaries. The final step for accounting was setting up group consolidation in Navision. Subsequently, additional modules were implemented – payroll and HR reporting as well as e-commerce invoicing for the German headquarters, warehousing and invoicing in Japan, etc.
  • Results: A functioning, unified and transparent accounting system across the group. Reduction of closing from D7 to D3 with a flash P&L on D1. Satisfied accounting staff.
Sep 1995 - Jul 1996
11 months
Berlin, Germany

Commercial Management

Bertelsmann / GrundyUfa TV Produktions GmbH

  • Optimization of marketing, merchandising & music production, including development of contract database and budgeting, negotiations with licensors
Mar 1994 - Mar 1995
1 year 1 month
Düsseldorf, Germany

Consultant

Droege & Comp. Unternehmerberatung

  • Optimization of business processes, cost reduction in multiple projects in the financial services, manufacturing and retail sectors – department store, FMCG convenience

Summary

Down-to-earth, hands-on, structured, implementation-driven and team-oriented

Internationally experienced Manager Finance & Administration and Consultant with broad expertise:

  • Financial Reporting / Consolidation
  • Financing and Treasury
  • M&A including PMI and Carve‐Out
  • FP&A and Controlling including Plant Controlling
  • Change: Restructuring / Process Optimization / Change Management
  • ERP Implementation, IT Project Management
  • HR Management and Controlling
  • Supply Chain.

Languages

German
Native
English
Advanced
French
Advanced
Spanish
Intermediate

Education

Jun 1990 - Dec 1993
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Dr. rer. pol., EU · Economics · Cologne, Germany

Oct 1985 - May 1990

Universities of Münster and Cologne

Diplom-Kaufmann, Finance, Banking, Computer Science · Business Administration · Cologne, Germany

Certifications & licenses

CINA Certificate in International Accounting: IFRS