Interim CFO

Museum and events. Led finance & HR, 120 employees, 4 direct reports. ERP: DATEV.

• Optimized accounting, cash, and payment processes
• Implemented modern HR software with AI features
• Restructured internal reporting including cost centers
• Increased automation in HR and finance
• Improved data quality and management decision-making

Biotech / pharma start-up. Built finance function, seed financing, 4 employees. ERP: DATEV.

• Set up finance processes with external accounting
• Developed business plan and seed pitch deck
• Aligned finances with medical management
• Established investor-ready reports and financial planning
• Implemented efficient structure for early-stage financing

HR services – executive search, leadership advisory. ERP: Oracle NetSuite.

• Optimized finance processes across various offices
• Implemented purchase orders
• Established optimized processes

Automotive start-up. Finance management for accounting, approx. 300 employees. ERP: eGecko / Penta.

Objective: Prepare a high-growth e-mobility start-up for a potential IPO. Transition to IFRS, set up internal controls, digitize the procurement process (P2P), and implement consolidated group reporting.

• Built group accounting for IPO preparation
• IFRS conversion incl. IFRS 15/16
• Digitized the P2P process
• IFRS-compliant closing within 4 months
• Achieved audit readiness for IPO preparation
• IFRS transition incl. IFRS 15 & 16
• Digitized the purchase-to-pay process
• Established consolidation across multiple entities
• Designed and implemented an internal control system (ICS)
• Supported due diligence and IPO documentation
• IFRS-compliant fast close within 4 months
• Public-market-ready, digitized financial processes
• Successful audits with no major findings

Animal pharmaceuticals, formerly Bayer, then Elanco. Financial responsibility in carve-out. ERP: SAP R/3.

• Took over accounting, treasury, reporting in the carve-out
• Implemented SOX test plans
• Optimized P2P/O2C/R2R processes
• Acted as interface between Bayer and Elanco during exit
• Successfully migrated SAP in the carve-out
• Achieved international SOX audit readiness in a short time

Household appliances / consumer goods. Short-term project in Commercial Controlling. ERP: SAP R/3.

• Analysis of invoice terms, approx. 15,000 line items
• Reconciliation of postings, contracts and Excel reports
• Resolution of complex legacy items
• Improved traceability of provisions

FMCG / personal care. Mature company, sales €50M. ERP: MS Dynamics NAV, project manager: Group COO.

• Finance & controlling projects including BI systems, group consolidation (7 companies)
• Set up P&L by product, key accounts, sales channels
• Analysis of tax returns vs. payments, reclassifications, pricing
• Implementation of robust structures for reporting and control metrics
• Significantly increased transparency in product/customer profitability

Automotive software (connected car). Entity sales €10M. ERP: MS Dynamics AX. Project manager: CFO India.

• Year-end closing 2014/2015, audit of HR/payroll
• Support for expatriates, development of tax optimizations
• Audit-compliant closings despite on-site gaps
• Stabilized HR/tax processes on an interim basis

Chemicals, premium fertilizers. Treasury management after carve-out (PE XIO). ERP: SAP R/3.

Objective: Implement a factoring solution within 4 weeks after carve-out under private equity ownership. Ensure liquidity and compliance with the consortium loan terms.

• Set up treasury after the carve-out from COMPO / PE Triton
• Implemented factoring within 4 weeks
• Built liquidity planning & cash pooling
• Negotiated credit insurance & payment processes
• Secured rapid liquidity after spin-off
• Rolled out structured treasury processes across 20 companies
• Identified legal and SAP system hurdles
• Structured the factoring agreement with lenders
• Automated receivables transfer in SAP
• Trained accounting on new procedures
• Went live on the factoring portal
• Completed receivables sale within the deadline
• Achieved error-free SAP integration with no reconciliation issues
• Stabilized liquidity immediately after the carve-out

• Taught IFRS, group accounting, international controlling (DE/EN) to students from international partner universities
• Developed hands-on course modules

Medical technology / eyeglass lenses. Head of Controlling, 3 employees. ERP: Oracle, NAV.

Objective: Replace an outdated Access tool with a scalable BI system for revenue and margin planning by customer and product group.

• Developed Cubeware BI system for sales & gross profit
• Implemented QlikView sales reporting
• Business partnering with sales, HR and SCM
• Highly integrated and automated planning and reporting
• Increased transparency on customer/product margins
• Expanded the Cubeware BI system and data model
• Managed an external implementation partner
• Worked closely with sales on model design
• Rolled out in phases including training and testing
• New BI system live in 6 months
• Full margin transparency by customer & product
• Planning basis for price and SCM optimization

Classical film production & distribution, US media group. Restructuring & cash flow management as needed.

• Guaranteed liquidity through daily planning & creditor negotiations
• Restructuring and transfer of rights
• Due diligence and sale preparation of multiple units
• Continued operations during a continuously critical phase
• Successfully completed sale preparation

Publishing / media / retail. Group-wide head of finance, 150 employees, 9 entities. ERP: MS Dynamics NAV.

Objective: Replace various legacy systems with a unified ERP system. Roll out to 9 entities and build global consolidation and management information systems (MIS).

• Implemented NAV ERP system in 7 countries
• Established group consolidation and MIS
• Responsible for treasury, controlling, HR and M&A
• Shortened closing cycle from D7 to D3
• Established global financial integration & reporting
• Supported and safeguarded business development from a finance perspective
• Selected and implemented Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Rolled out in Germany, USA, Spain, Japan and others
• Integrated finance, logistics, CRM and e-commerce modules
• Introduced consolidation and MIS tools
• Fully integrated ERP in a global group structure
• Shortened closing cycle from D7 to D3 (flash P&L at D1)
• High acceptance and data quality across all functions

Management consulting. Advisor for process optimization.

• Projects to reduce costs and increase efficiency in trade, manufacturing and banking
• Achieved measurable cost reductions in several assignments