Judith Geiß

Q: Where is Judith based?

Judith is based in Viernheim, Germany .

Q: What languages does Judith speak?

Judith speaks the following languages: German (Advanced), English (Advanced) .

Q: How many years of experience does Judith have?

Judith has at least 24 years of experience. During this time, Judith has worked in at least 35 different roles and for 7 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 8 months . Note that Judith may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Judith's latest experience?

Judith's most recent position is Establishing processes and structures in the accounting department .

Q: What companies has Judith worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Judith has worked for the Bridge .

Q: Which industries is Judith most experienced in?

Judith is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing , Information Technology , and Automotive . Judith also has some experience in Professional Services , Banking and Finance , and Utilities .

Q: Which business areas is Judith most experienced in?

Judith is most experienced in business areas like Accounting , Finance , and Project Management . Judith also has some experience in Audit , Information Technology , and Business Intelligence .

Q: Which industries has Judith worked in recently?

Judith has recently worked in industries like Automotive , Information Technology , and Manufacturing .

Q: Which business areas has Judith worked in recently?

Judith has recently worked in business areas like Accounting , Finance , and Audit .

Recommended expert

Viernheim, Germany

Check rate

Experience

Jul 2022 - Jun 2023

1 year

Establishing processes and structures in the accounting department

Assessment of the existing processes and structures in accounting
Development of recommendations for the future department structure
Implementation of the new processes and structures, especially the introduction of a Fast Close
Completion of the annual financial statement audit incl. audit opinion by the end of May 2023 for 2 companies as well as one company as a first-time audit

Jul 2022 - Nov 2022

5 months

Support during post-merger integration

Assessment of the existing processes and structures in accounting
Development of recommendations for the future structure in the new parent company
Implementation of the new structures incl. Fast Close implementation to enable a monthly close by the 5th of the following month.

Apr 2022 - May 2022

2 months

Covering a vacancy in Finance/Accounting

Ensuring monthly close and reporting
Documentation of processes
Preparation of company documentation

Nov 2021 - Mar 2022

5 months

BU Controller/Finance Director

Post-merger integration after a US acquisition
Merger of 2 companies as well as audit of all companies by the end of February 2022
Spin-off of one company
Coordination of the finance organization
Support for the CEO as well as CFO internationally
Stabilization of the team structure
Knowledge transfer

Feb 2021 - Oct 2021

9 months

Accounting & Process Manager international

Consulting and project coordination during the change of service provider for the subsidiary
Preparation of project plans
Assessment together with the specialist departments
Coordination of service providers and specialist departments
Process optimization and employee training
Consulting on IT processes in accounting for departments and subsidiaries
Process optimization in accounting

Jun 2020 - Dec 2020

7 months

Above Country Accountant/ Regional Accounting Leader EMEA

Post-merger integration for the EMEA region (global business volume: EUR 7.6 bn)
Interface between Corporate Accounting & Reporting and the EMEA subsidiaries
Development of new guidelines as well as accounting and closing processes (fast close) and their implementation in the EMEA subsidiaries
Support for the subsidiaries in implementing internal controls for financial reporting (SOX)
Support for the subsidiaries regarding control design and execution
Coordination of the monthly close for 16 entities in EMEA within the timeline

Feb 2020 - Jun 2020

5 months

Various projects in the area of business coaching and finance

Feb 2020 - Jun 2020

5 months

Author of the book “The Takeover Formula - Practical Guide: Post-merger integration after a US acquisition,”

Springer Gabler

May 2019 - Feb 2020

10 months

Carve-out of 3 business units

Partial project lead General Ledger
Coordination of integration tests
Coordination of cookbooks for carve-out
Support for the Head of Finance Services Germany

Aug 2018 - Sep 2019

1 year 2 months

Integration into the American parent company

Project lead for SOX implementation
Contact person for all questions related to SOX
Ensuring accounting after the change of Head of Finance
Preparation of inventory instructions and execution of the annual inventory
Setup of account reconciliations for the company
Simplification of the related process.

May 2018 - Oct 2018

6 months

Optimization of month-end closing/Fast Close

Assessment of the existing month-end closing/Fast Close
Development of solution proposals
Implementation and testing of the proposals in day-to-day work
Creation of an individual training concept for the team on site

Nov 2017 - Apr 2018

6 months

Project support for integration into the British parent company

Support with the rollout of global policies
Support with the Navision implementation
Validation of data
Support with setting up reporting
Process optimization

Apr 2017 - Nov 2017

8 months

Project management as part of IFRS conversion & transfer pricing

Project and consulting services as part of IFRS conversion & transfer pricing
Troubleshooting for all project-related matters
Development of the training concept as part of IFRS conversion & transfer pricing
Creation of training documentation
Consulting and support as part of the project

Oct 2015 - Jun 2018

2 years 9 months

Project management and support in the General Ledger area, BASE project

Consulting and support for reorganizations, carve-outs/mergers, migrations and release changes
Development of the training concept for the Shared Service Center and Local Services
Creation of process diagrams and training documentation
Support for company documentation
Direct support for the Head of General Ledger as part of the project
Troubleshooting for all project-related matters

Jul 2015 - Sep 2015

3 months

Berlin, Germany

Cleaning up/accounting optimization, process optimizations in SAP

Cleaning up the accounting at the Heidelberg site
Handling special topics (opening balances, reconciliation of fixed assets, etc.)
Review of accounts receivable/accounts payable processes (invoice workflow)
Optimization of SAP usage at the Heidelberg/Berlin sites
Training and coaching of employees incl. manual creation (SAP)
Support in day-to-day business

May 2015 - Mar 2017

1 year 11 months

Project management in the finance department

Transfer pricing documentation for the group
As-is analysis and derivation of action recommendations
Data collection for the creation of master file and local file templates
Organization and communication as part of the transfer pricing process
Adjustment of financial manuals/policies related to fixed assets, inventory, accruals
Support for the Head of Finance Services Germany

Jan 2015 - Apr 2015

4 months

Project and consulting work in the area of travel expense reporting and optimization

Consulting tasks to improve accounting efficiency
Plausibility checks of travel expenses
Reconciliation of internal travel expense policies

Oct 2014 - Dec 2014

3 months

Subproject lead Transition Accounting

Process analysis, documentation and implementation according to the parent company's requirements
Employee training and coaching
Support with moving accounts payable accounting to the shared service center
Support during the transfer of general ledger accounting/reporting to the current company

Aug 2014 - Oct 2014

3 months

Various projects in the area of business coaching and cleanup/optimization of accounting

Jan 2014 - Jul 2014

7 months

Preparation of annual financial statements 2013 and support during the statutory audit for the closing statements, process

Preparation of annual financial statements 2013
Preparation and support of the audit of the closing statements for the sold group companies
Preparation of the audit of the remaining companies
Restructuring of the team and day-to-day operations
Introduction of fast close

Sep 2013 - Jan 2014

5 months

Preparation of the sale of company divisions and presentation in accounting / preparation of closing financial statements

Leading a team of up to 6 permanent employees and a team of up to 4 interim managers
Preparation of monthly financial statements according to HGB & US-GAAP for 7 companies
Preparation of the closing financial statements for 2 companies due to the sale of company divisions
Reconciliation work / plausibility checks in connection with the closing

Sep 2012 - Sep 2013

1 year 1 month

Support with the integration due to a new ownership structure and new ERP system and introduction of SOX

Preparation of an inventory instruction for the German companies. Cross-department project / implementation of the parent company's requirements as well as support for the inventory count in December 2012
Preparation of documents in cooperation with all business areas in connection with the SOX requirements of the parent company
Trouble-shooting due to the ERP implementation and the related issues in Finance

Jun 2012 - Sep 2012

4 months

Transfer of US-GAAP financial statements to HGB for 4 companies

Preparation of the annual financial statements according to HGB incl. notes and management report
Transfer of the US-GAAP financial statements to HGB
Support of the audit and point of contact for the auditors
Support with mapping due to an ERP system change

Feb 2012 - May 2012

4 months

Support Team Leader General Ledger & Consolidation

Deputising due to the team leader's absence caused by illness
Preparation of monthly / quarterly and annual financial statements according to US-GAAP
Support in the integration process into the new ownership structure / SOX inventory review

Aug 2011 - Jan 2012

6 months

Process optimization in Accounts Payable as team leader

Approval of invoices from the individual companies in the respective systems Prang and PeopleSoft.
Documentation of processes and workflows, especially in PeopleSoft
Implementation of process improvements
Communication with the IT department in case of PeopleSoft issues
Leading the Accounts Payable team with up to 6 employees
Operational support during employee absences (due to illness/vacation)
Communication with Deutsche Bank regarding the new bank accounts and requirements for PeopleSoft
Revision of job descriptions and work guidelines
Intranet presence for the Accounts Payable team

Jan 2011 - Feb 2011

2 months

Outsourcing der Buchhaltung

Support for outsourcing the accounting to an external service provider
Process improvements and implementation
Preparation of the 2010 annual financial statements

Sep 2010 - Dec 2010

4 months

Head of Accounting & Purchasing ad interim

Responsibility for the financial accounting and purchasing of two companies
Leadership of a team of up to 6 employees
Preparation of monthly financial statements according to HGB and preparation of annual financial statements (including accruals and bank reconciliations)
Support of fixed assets and plausibility checks with an external SAP consultant (incorrect representation of fixed assets from previous years and impact on the current year)
Ad-hoc analyses for management
Development and implementation of process improvements
Documentation of processes in accounting and in SAP
Development of a reporting tool in MS Excel
Contact person for internal and external auditors

May 2010 - Aug 2010

4 months

Head of Accounting & Controlling ad interim

Responsibility for the financial accounting and controlling of two companies
Leadership of a team of up to 4 employees
Preparation of monthly financial statements according to HGB
Preparation of monthly reporting to the parent company
Ad-hoc analyses for management
Preparatory annual closing tasks for 2009
Development and implementation of process improvements
Documentation of processes in accounting and in SAP as well as cooperation with internal SAP support teams for necessary customising
Reconciliation of fixed assets since SAP implementation and automation of depreciation runs
Resolution of issues related to the SAP implementation in the previous year
Adjustment of the cost center structure due to changes in the production process
Support of HR audit and reconciliation of payroll accounts
Development of a reporting tool in MS Excel
Contact person for banks and auditors

Feb 2010 - Present

16 years 6 months

Viernheim, Germany

Owner / Management consulting in accounting

the Bridge

Specialized in American takeovers.
"Building bridges is my specialty!"
Why? Years ago, I was personally affected by an acquisition - today I help others with this experience.
For this very reason, with my experience of almost 20 years in accounting + controlling, I offer your company hands-on support for all business processes in accounting and controlling that arise as part of an acquisition by an American group and often pose a major challenge.
Management consulting in accounting for various companies in the industries: manufacturing, automotive, information and communication technology, entertainment, chemicals, security, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Coordination and ensuring the timely preparation of monthly financial statements according to HGB/US-GAAP and preparation of annual financial statements as well as reporting to the headquarters or local management.
Consulting on the introduction of SOX 404.
Strategic support in adapting ERP systems.
Team leadership and creating a working atmosphere that leads to higher team productivity. "Meeting each employee where they are at".
Support during internal audits, contact person for auditors as well as external examiners.
Creation of training concepts tailored to the respective requirements of the company.
Implementation of Fast Close.

Mar 2008 - Jan 2010

1 year 11 months

Viernheim, Germany

Certified balance sheet accountant

Sidel GmbH

Accounting for the company
Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements according to HGB and IFRS
Preparation of monthly reporting to the parent company
Continuous improvement of the reporting tool in MS Excel
Development and implementation of process improvements
Adjustment of general ledger and cost center structures to reporting requirements

Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

5 months

Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Head of Finance

MegaPlast GmbH & Co. KG

Preparation of monthly financial statements under HGB, annual financial statements, and reporting to the Finance Director, as well as contact person for banks, auditors, and tax advisors
Adjustment of the cost center and general ledger account structure as the basis for efficient controlling
Leading a team of up to 4 employees

Feb 2007 - Jul 2007

6 months

Mannheim, Germany

Tax and Audit Assistant

hardorp, müller & partner

Review and preparation of annual financial statements
Preparation of tax returns
Business analyses and evaluations

Oct 2005 - Jan 2007

1 year 4 months

Germany

Employee in Reporting/Planning

Johnson Controls Systems & Service GmbH

Sole accountant for the subsidiary Sigma-Frigo-Therm Handels-GmbH and responsible for accruals and deferrals for York Germany and York Switzerland, as well as contact person for internal and external auditors
Preparation of monthly and annual financial statements under HGB and US GAAP, as well as support in internal reporting/controlling, monthly reporting to the parent company, and support in preparing the budget for York Germany including all subsidiaries

May 2004 - Sep 2005

1 year 5 months

Heidelberg, Germany

Employee in Controlling and Cost Accounting

Heidelberger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH

Commercial contact person on the topic of "liberalization of the energy market" with a main focus on shaping the requirements regarding "unbundling" in the existing operational cost accounting systems, e.g. adjustment of cost center and profit center structures
Setup and preparation of cost object accounting in connection with the calculation of usage fees as well as contribution margin analyses for specific customers or customer groups, and preparation of partial balance sheets according to the requirements of the applicable energy law
Preparation of the quarterly report for all group companies including all subsidiaries, including the monthly short-term profit and loss calculation

Oct 2002 - Apr 2004

1 year 7 months

Heidelberg, Germany

Employee in Controlling and Job Billing

Heidelberger Versorgungs- und Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH

Cost accounting support for the investments and training of the employees there, as well as introduction of job billing in one of the companies
Implementation of SAP R/3-based service recording (including preparation of a manual and employee training) as well as introduction of job billing at Stadtwerke Neckargemünd
Billing and controlling of large-scale and subsidy projects for third parties, as well as recharging of orders from affiliated companies to third parties and between the affiliated companies

Industry Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time.

Experienced in Manufacturing, Information Technology, Automotive, Professional Services, Banking and Finance, and Utilities.

Manufacturing

Information Technology

Automotive

Professional Services

Banking and Finance

Utilities

Business Area Experience

See which departments and functions this freelancer has contributed to most.

Experienced in Accounting, Finance, Project Management, Audit, Information Technology, and Business Intelligence.

Accounting

Finance

Project Management

Audit

Information Technology

Business Intelligence

Summary

Building bridges is my specialty!

Why? Years ago, I was personally affected by an acquisition - today I help others with this experience.

That is exactly why, with my experience of almost 20 years in accounting + controlling, I offer your company active support in all business processes in the areas of accounting and controlling that come up as part of an acquisition by an American corporation and are often a major challenge.

In addition to my many years of specialized know-how, other highly qualified experts contribute to the Bridge success concept. When working with me, if needed, you have direct access to this versatile the Bridge consultant network, which I built up. With this network in the background, we can support you even better and in a more individual way.

From our many years of experience as interim managers, consultants, and trainers in national and international accounting, we all know the challenges you have to master during a US acquisition. Let us maximize your success together and benefit from the holistic the Bridge company concept, which combines implementation consulting, training measures, and coaching in the best possible way.

Skills

Focus Areas

Coordination And Ensuring The Timely Preparation Of Monthly Financial Statements According To Hgb/Us Gaap And Preparation Of Annual Financial Statements As Well As Reporting To The Headquarters Or Local Management
Consulting On Sox 404 Implementation
Strategic Support In Adapting Erp Systems
Team Leadership And Creating A Work Atmosphere That Leads To Higher Team Productivity
Support During Internal Audits, Contact Person For Auditors And External Examiners
Creating Training Concepts Tailored To The Company’S Specific Needs
Implementation Of Fast Close

Services

Consulting – We Come To Leave (Support For The Transfer From Hgb To Us Gaap)
Training – We Qualify Your Employees (No Restructuring, Use Of Existing Staff)
Project Management / Change Management
Interim Management
Training On The Job
Operational Support
English
Intercultural Training
Excel For Reporting
Specialist Seminars
Leadership Training

Additional Knowledge

Erp Software: Sap Erp 6.0, Hs Varial, Datev, Wincarat, Peoplesoft
Reporting Software: Hyperion, Cartesis Magnitude

Languages

German

Advanced

English

Advanced

Education

Diploma in Business Administration (BA) · Business Administration

Certifications & licenses

Training of Trainers certificate (IHK)

AgilePM® Agile Project Management Foundation

Accounting User with SAP® ERP 6.0 additional qualification in Controlling

Certified Accountant National and International (IHK)

Change Management Foundation & Practitioner

NLP Practitioner (DVNLP)

PRINCE2® Foundation & Practitioner Certificate

Systemic Coaching with NLP with a focus on "Conflict Coaching" (DVNLP)

WingWave® Coach

Statistics

Experience

Total positions 35

Experience in Manufacturing 20 y

Avg length 1 y 1 m

Longest experience 16 y 5 m

Global Experience

Countries worked in 1 (Germany)

Primary country Germany

Expertise

Recent roles Establishing processes and structures in the accounting department, Support during post-merger integration, Covering a vacancy in Finance/Accounting

Main industries Manufacturing, Information Technology, Automotive

Main business areas Accounting, Finance, Project Management

Qualifications

Highest degree Bachelor

Certifications earned 9

Profile

Created

November 2024

Last Update

July 2026

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Frequently asked questions

Have questions? Find more information here.

Judith is based in Viernheim, Germany.

Judith speaks the following languages: German (Advanced), English (Advanced).

Judith has at least 24 years of experience. During this time, Judith has worked in at least 35 different roles and for 7 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 1 year and 8 months. Note that Judith may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Based on recent experience, Judith would be well-suited for roles such as: Establishing processes and structures in the accounting department, Support during post-merger integration, Covering a vacancy in Finance/Accounting.

Judith's most recent position is Establishing processes and structures in the accounting department.

In recent years, Judith has worked for the Bridge.

Judith is most experienced in industries like Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Automotive. Judith also has some experience in Professional Services, Banking and Finance, and Utilities.

Judith is most experienced in business areas like Accounting, Finance, and Project Management. Judith also has some experience in Audit, Information Technology, and Business Intelligence.

Judith has recently worked in industries like Automotive, Information Technology, and Manufacturing.

Judith has recently worked in business areas like Accounting, Finance, and Audit.

Judith holds a Bachelor in Business Administration.

Judith has 9 certificates. Among them, these include: Training of Trainers certificate (IHK), AgilePM® Agile Project Management Foundation, and Accounting User with SAP® ERP 6.0 additional qualification in Controlling.

Judith is immediately available part-time for suitable projects.

Judith's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.

To hire Judith, click the Meet button on the profile to request a meeting and discuss your project needs.