Joel E.-Group CFO

Responsibilities: Management of the Group’s Finance and central functions in Europe, including Controlling, FP&A, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Legal and IT. Responsibility for value creation, exit readiness, M&A integration and business transformation with P&L responsibility of EUR 200 Mio. Reporting to the PE shareholder and the Advisory Board; management of 45 FTE, including 7 direct reports.

Key achievements:

• Earnings improvement: Increased EBITDA by around 10%. Improved liquidity through working capital measures and reduced HQ costs.
• Exit readiness & financing: Expanded investor reporting, governance and controls; managed investor and banking relationships and led refinancing and capital structure measures.
• Buy-and-build readiness: Prepared the Group for international acquisitions and the integration of new dermatological platforms.
• Reporting & IT transformation: Implemented, optimized and launched a new LucaNet solution for 80 companies for Group reporting and consolidation, with a savings target of 1–2 FTE and a closing process that was 2–3 days faster, as well as modernized scalable IT systems for greater transparency and performance management.
• AI & digitalization: Defined and rolled out an AI strategy for the Group and introduced AI tools (Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT) for around 100 users at headquarters, achieving productivity and efficiency gains in Finance.
• Establishment of the Dutch platform: Established and restructured the platform and took over its commercial and operational management, including the implementation of a new ERP system (AFAS).

• Healthcare, approx. 3,000 employees, approx. 600 M€ revenue
• Responsibility for Controlling & Reporting, Accounting, Treasury & Tax within the GHD Group
• Responsibility for monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, including Group reporting to the PE investor (Nordic Capital)
• Developed, reorganized and optimized Group reporting, commercial processes & structures, implemented SAP S4 HANA & Power BI, and developed and coached the Finance functions
• Functional responsibility for M&A transactions within the GHD Group (mergers, exit readiness, etc.)
• Contact person for auditors & tax advisors of the GHD companies
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 65 employees

• Communications and systems integration, 150 employees, 50 M€ revenue
• Corporate turnaround, restructuring and optimization of the entire commercial area (Finance, Controlling, Accounting, HR, Procurement, IT & Legal) of the Aeromaritime Group
• Responsibility for the Group’s annual financial statements in preparation for an upcoming M&A transaction
• Negotiations with suppliers & creditors / negotiations with banks regarding the settlement of bridge financing
• Responsibility for all tax matters of the Group
• Special projects: ERP implementation, conversion of accounting from HGB to IFRS, etc.
• Close cooperation and communication with the PE investors
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 30 employees

• Automotive supplier, 2,500 employees, 250 M€ revenue
• Coordination, execution and responsibility for preparing the Q2-2020 quarterly close, including group reporting (US-GAAP) and cash management for the Westfalia-Automotive Group to the US parent company
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 40 employees

• Water technology, 750 employees, 250 M€ revenue
• Responsibility for all financial matters at the 4 locations in Germany and for the Accounting, Controlling, Treasury & Tax departments
• PMI, change management and reorganization following the merger of 4 companies and the spin-off of one company
• Implementation and optimization of 3 companies within a new Swiss-Principal-Model
• Restructuring and reorganization of the finance function at the 4 German locations
• Responsibility for the closes and group reporting (US-GAAP) to the HQ in the USA
• Responsibility and project management for the implementation of a new ERP system and data management system
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 20 employees

• Chemicals group, 3000 employees, 2.250 M€ revenue
• Overall responsibility for all finances of the subsidiaries in Northern Europe across 12 countries
• Responsibility for preparing the monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements, including group reporting (IFRS) to the HQ in Basel (Switzerland)
• Execution and responsibility for PMI and change management following the carve-out from the Clariant Group for the Central & Northern Europe region
• Management and responsibility for setting up and further developing the PTP, OTC and RTR processes of the Shared Service Center in Prague, Poland and Chennai (India)
• Implementation and project responsibility for the new Swiss Principal tax model (implementation and establishment of production and sales companies)
• Responsibility and project management for implementing a reporting tool and data management system
• Contact person for auditors and tax advisors of the subsidiaries in Northern Europe
• Establishment, management, organization and development of accounting, controlling, tax and FSSC for the Northern European subsidiaries
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 45 employees

• 250 employees, 200 MUSD revenue
• Further development and implementation of the corporate and group strategy, especially with regard to the sustainable profitability and change management of the US group
• Management, control, reorganization, change management and further development of the Finance & Accounting, Controlling, Supply Chain, Legal, IT and HR functions within the organizational and process structures
• Responsibility for the financial statements, including reporting (US-GAAP) to the international HQ
• Establishment of a new reporting and controlling system
• Preparation of the annual budget and in-year forecasts
• Responsibility for controlling from both a strategic and operational perspective
• Responsibility for planning and monitoring investments and ROI
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 45 employees

• Automotive/Bedding/Foam/Insulation, 2500 employees, 750 M€ revenue
• Management of the Accounting, Controlling, Legal, HR, IT, central RECTICEL procurement company and Administration departments
• Preparation and compilation of the German consolidated financial statements (according to HGB/BilMoG)
• Responsibility for the monthly and annual financial statements of the DACH region
• Responsibility for all tax matters of the DACH region
• Responsibility for and management of cash management and treasury for all DACH companies
• Investment controlling of the DACH companies
• Management of the European in-house Financial Shared Service Center in Germany
• Preparation and planning of the annual budget for the DACH region
• Responsibility for transfer pricing regulations between the German companies and the parent group
• Personnel responsibility: approx. 40

• Transport and logistics company, 100 employees, 15 M€ revenue
• Set-up and subsequent coordination & organization of all aspects of commercial operations
• Monthly, semi-annual and annual financial statements and group reporting (IFRS) to HQ in Paris
• Support in preparing the consolidated financial statements
• Responsibility for HR
• Responsibility for liquidity and cash management
• Planning and preparation of the annual budget and forecasts
• Preparation of monthly & annual tax returns
• Personnel responsibility: 15 employees

• Preparation of annual financial statements and tax returns for medium-sized companies
• Preparation of financial and payroll accounting for medium-sized companies