SAP BW Experts in Germany

The online service "Special Use of Streets and No-Parking Zone" was in a partially completed state. The following tasks had to be carried out to reach final completion:

• Preparation of an expert report on the status of the online service, and recommendations for action
• Ensuring that all LEIKAS to be used are available (service catalog / service descriptions of the authorities)
• Creating and aligning concepts for complex IT projects (business/IT concepts, architecture, interfaces, roadmaps)
• Requirements management
• Multi-project management with 3 stakeholders (Police, Dataport, development company)
• Determining resource needs
• Coordination to identify technical requirements through the IT architects
• Creating use cases and test cases
• Creating action items
• Managing external IT service providers
• Coordination and management of all activities
• Conflict resolution / business mediation
• User Acceptance Test (UAT) and acceptance by Hamburg Police (Traffic Directorate, Policy Department, Central Road Traffic Authority)

Technical environment: .NET, EfA minimum requirements, Leikas, Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG), HWG (Hamburg Roads Act), Atlassian Jira, Confluence, MS Office

Europe-wide re-platforming & centralization

• Independently created the migration concept and implementation plan for the Europe-wide centralization and consolidation of IT services for around 20 European companies as part of a re-platforming program.
• Migration assessment: analysis of the existing IT, infrastructure, application, and service landscapes of the companies as the basis for the migration strategy.
• Development of the centralized target vision and target architecture based on a modern technology stack, taking platform and containerization approaches into account.
• Design of a highly available central infrastructure in an active-active model across two data centers; consideration of cloud, infrastructure, application, CMDB, and IAM services.
• Development of the migration and transformation roadmap, including defining migration waves, dependencies, requirements, and priorities for the move from decentralized services to the central platform.
• Analysis of technical and organizational dependencies, identification of migration risks, and development of a structured approach for step-by-step migration and centralization.
• Creation of target, solution, and implementation views for each service domain; design of the end-to-end join-move-leave process as a blueprint for the European rollout (Jira/Jira Asset Management).
• Alignment of migration strategy and roadmap with European companies, management, IT, providers, and other stakeholders; presentation of the 12-month roadmap to the Managing Director Europe.

Scope: Embedded as FP&A Data & AI Architect within the Finance function of a major European refrigeration manufacturer, leading the transformation of manual, fragmented financial reporting into an automated, governance-driven intelligence platform. Driving the shift from Excel-based controlling to structured data architecture, Power BI analytics, and AI-assisted financial operations.

Financial Data Integrity & ERP Governance

• Initiated and led GL vs. subledger reconciliation investigations, identifying and resolving structural mismatches between General Ledger and subledger data that had gone undetected prior to engagement
• Conducted asset analysis to identify items missing from General Ledger postings, surfacing gaps in fixed asset tracking and period-end completeness
• Validated SAP reports, establishing baseline data quality standards for Finance team consumption
• Established systematic SAP data validation framework ensuring ongoing integrity between ERP postings and downstream reporting outputs

Finance Reporting Transformation

• Designed and implemented a structured Transformation Project approach for converting manual Finance reports into fully automated processes
• Created and owns the Data Reporting Audit Log; a centralized tracking system capturing report owners, stakeholders, data sources, manual effort estimates, and automation opportunity scores across the Finance function
• Mapped the full reporting landscape identifying quick-win automation targets and strategic Power BI migration candidates
• Actively reducing manual Excel and PowerPoint dependency across FP&A workflows; replacing point-in-time snapshots with live, governed data models

Power BI & Analytics Enablement

• Introduced and presented Power BI as the strategic reporting platform to Finance leadership, building internal buy-in for the BI transformation roadmap
• Designed initial Power BI architecture aligned with SAP, Salesforce and Oracle data structures and FP&A reporting requirements
• Established report ownership, governance documentation, and data lineage standards enabling sustainable self-service analytics across the Finance team

Transformation Infrastructure & Collaboration

• Configured and deployed Jira as the transformation project management hub, establishing structured sprint workflows, backlog management, and progress visibility for Finance IT initiatives
• Proposed and initiated a dedicated FP&A Communication & Transformation Hub, a structured cross-functional forum aligning Finance, IT, and business stakeholders around the reporting transformation roadmap
• Positioned the Finance function as an active driver of data governance and digital transformation within the broader organization

Outcomes

• GL/subledger reconciliation gaps identified and investigation framework established within first two weeks of engagement
• Data Reporting Audit Log deployed; first structured inventory of Finance reporting landscape in company history
• Power BI transformation roadmap presented and approved by Finance leadership
• Jira-based project governance live; Finance transformation now tracked with full sprint visibility

Technologies: SAP FI/CO · Power BI · DAX · SQL · Excel (advanced) · Power Query (M) · Power Automate · VBA · Jira · Microsoft 365 · SharePoint · Salesforce (Sales Data) · Oracle HCM · Python

• Led enterprise reporting modernization by migrating legacy SSRS reporting solutions to Power BI, supporting 500+ business users while ensuring full GDPR/DSGVO compliance.
• Designed and optimized Power BI and Microsoft Fabric semantic models using star schema, dimensional modeling, advanced DAX, and performance optimization techniques, reducing query latency by 25%.
• Delivered 20+ executive and operational dashboards featuring KPI scorecards, drill-through, bookmarks, and row-level security, improving reporting efficiency by 20%.
• Enabled self-service analytics through governed Power BI datasets, dataflows, and gateway architecture, increasing business-led reporting adoption by 35%.
• Configured an incremental refresh policy and query folding for a 50+ million row sales dataset, reducing daily report refresh times by 85%.
• Deployed automated ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, and Snowflake, reducing reporting delivery timelines by 40% through workflow automation.
• Spearheaded Microsoft Fabric analytics modernization initiatives including lakehouse architecture, OneLake integration, and centralized data platform development, reducing data latency from 2 hours to 20 minutes.
• Translated business requirements from 15+ stakeholders into scalable Power BI semantic models and dashboards, improving reporting consistency and reducing ad-hoc reporting requests by 25%.
• Applied Microsoft Copilot and generative AI tools to accelerate SQL development, DAX authoring, technical documentation, and testing activities, reducing development effort by approximately 15 hours per week.

• Building, implementing and selling automated Data Science solutions such as Scorecard Factory and Forecast Factory
• Implementation of automated end-to-end cloud processes
• Development of LLM and NLP models
• Creation of interactive reports
• Support for national and international large corporations as well as medium-sized companies in implementing ML projects

• Stream lead - Training
• Trainings – lead of the team & support of the relevant stakeholders
• Management of learning journeys & development of training plans
• Training environment & data – definition & development with the IT team
• Training documentation – management & coordination of the preparation
• Project lead - Germany
• Project management – planning, motivation, communication, execution
• Business process integration – analysis, definition, management
• Rollout management – planning, coordination, deployment
• Governance – template & project
• Test management – definition, findings, solutions, documentation
• Trainings – management of the training programs
• Business process management – integration, analysis, optimization, etc.
• Template & project governance
• Customizing FI
• Definition of the scope of acceptance test cases
• Organizing and execution of the tests – findings, development of design solutions based on business requirements, documentation, etc.
• Trainings – planning, creation, delivery, documentation, etc.
• Business process management – definition of data transfer, etc.
• Preparation and management of template workshops
• Preparation of technical and process documentation
• Agile project management
• Stream lead – process integration & governance
• Business process management – integration, analysis, optimization, etc.
• Management of the rollout quality gates
• Project governance – planning, monitoring, control of project progress
• Template governance – harmonization and standardization of business processes
• Standing governance – master data, chart of accounts, authorizations, customizing, etc.
• Standardization of repeating processes, incl. analysis and optimization, planning the transition to daily business and the activities within the month, interim, annual close, creation of a concept, checklist, etc.
• Participation in defining different interfaces (incl. concept, defining organizational structures, master data, template & standing governance, etc.)
• Definition and structuring of monitoring processes: IDocs, BI folders, etc.
• Participation in the definition and customizing of different areas in FI

• Support to management on critical strategic topics with high investment volumes (e.g. large project > EUR 250 million).
• Support for the financing of large projects with a credit volume of EUR 100 million.
• Advice on difficult personnel issues and on filling leadership positions.
• Leadership and management in virtual project environments.
• Strategic consulting on digitalization as well as financing and equity topics.
• Impulse giver and advisor for stuck negotiations, contract design, and solution options.

• Built and maintained Power BI dashboards (DAX, Power Query, data modeling) tracking KPIs across 15+ global manufacturing sites — primary reporting tool for EU leadership decision-making.
• Developed a multi-screen Power Apps application (configurator-style tool) with SharePoint-based workflow integration for the sales team — designed jointly with business stakeholders and IT.
• Built and maintained automated Power Automate workflows connecting to SQL databases; independently identified and deployed an LLM-driven automation use case that eliminated 90% of manual reporting effort — self-pitched to leadership and taken end-to-end into production.
• Built a Python-based data pipeline (SQL) extracting, modeling, and validating data across 10+ EU plants — establishing reliable data models and KPIs for cross-site reporting.

• Accounting, controlling and reporting, taxes, risk management, treasury, credit management, legal affairs, internal control/SOX, HR, IT, cooperation with auditors, tax consultants and government authorities
• Logistics, production and HACCP, occupational safety and veterinary and hygiene regulations (food manufacturing)
• Due diligence, M&A, corporate split-offs, crisis management, project management

Selected interim projects:

• Twistcafe (fast-food restaurants) – Interim CFO (global): solved issues with accounting and tax documents for the year-end close of the German and Austrian subsidiaries; standardized the intercompany billing of raw material and cash transfers (CZ, SK, DE, AT, PL); automated the recharging of promotions and cashless payments; improved cost center accounting (200+ cost centers)
• VIB Vermögen AG (Branicks Group, real estate) – Interim Head of Accounting (DE): completed HGB year-end financial statements for 19 companies without complications; IFRS group financial statements without issues; automated consolidation tasks (debt consolidation, expense and revenue consolidation); automated reporting processes
• NTT (telecommunications) – Interim Senior Controller (DE): simplified, standardized and automated monthly closing activities (provisions for customer and supplier rebates, order backlogs, accrued revenues, monthly gross profit adjustments), including SOX compliance evidence; balance sheet reconciliation; improved loyalty reporting
• Lilium (aerospace) – Interim Senior Accountant (DE): tax line corrections; asset migration from Datev to Infor LN for two companies, including data quality improvements; automated processing of interim asset investments and asset additions; led successful SOX audit for fixed assets leading up to the US IPO
• Brose (automotive) – Interim Head of Controlling (CZ): successful Forecast III; simplified and automated calculations and reporting (hourly rates, temporary workers, monthly reports, scrap and external rework, direct personnel costs); platform change for the monthly board meeting
• LUST Hybrid-Technik (Pankl-SHW Industries, manufacturing) – Interim Finance Controller (DE): monthly and annual financial statements (including inventory valuation, cost accounting), plan vs. actual comparisons, variance analysis, ad hoc reports, forecast preparation, automation
• Gebr. Bode (Schaltbau Group, manufacturing) – Interim Head of Accounting (DE): year-end financial statements without complications; simplified and automated liquidity planning; automated open items report, standardized intercompany reconciliations; implemented and automated the fixed assets report
• Hyva Georg Hydraulik (manufacturing) – Interim Senior Accountant/Finance Manager (DE): simplified and automated VAT returns, Intrastat and other statistical reports; automated fixed assets report; implemented and automated the cost center report/forecast and temporary labor reserves; master data correction
• Beiersdorf (FMCG) – Interim Finance Manager (DE/SK): oversaw transfer of the local finance department in Slovakia to the SSC Hamburg
• Trèves (automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance & Controlling (CZ): identified weaknesses; implemented controlling processes for the procurement process (PR/PO/GR), payroll, energy costs, ICO accounting, cost center reporting
• Hella Slovakia Signal-Lighting (automotive) – Interim Head of Controlling (SK): 10% reduction in receivables open items; automated reporting (capex, cost center, maintenance costs); standardized and automated inventory and receivables write-offs
• Tunap Cosmetics (FMCG) – Interim Finance Manager (DE): reduced DSO by 21 days within four months; balance sheet cleanup (fixed assets, provisions, prepaid expenses); reduced unprocessed invoices in the workflow by EUR 1.2 million during year-end; automated write-offs, controls and reporting
• Hanon Systems Autopal (automotive) – Interim Finance Controller (CZ): identified weaknesses; automated cost center reporting and purchase orders; automated inventory and receivables write-offs
• Drägerwerk (manufacturing) – Interim Finance Controller (CZ): FI/CO management, process audit, investment incentives, accounting accuracy, SAP settings (FI/CO, MM)
• Maxim Chicken (FMCG) – Interim Head of Finance and Controlling (CZ): introduced new gastronomy products leading to increased sales; implemented cash flow forecasting; reduced variable and fixed costs (raw materials, property leasing); successfully passed veterinary audit
• Trelleborg Automotive Czech Republic (automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance (CZ); Carbody Czech Republic (automotive) – Interim Plant Controller/Head of Finance (CZ): corrected accounting; corporate split-off with SAP separation; implemented cash flow forecasting; factoring
• Kantar Media (WPP Group, media) – Interim Finance Manager (CZ): automated US GAAP reporting; reduced fixed costs (supplier contracts, personnel expenses); implemented standard processes; successful SOX audit; production relocation

• Sourcing contractors, temp labour and direct-search suppliers
• Advisor to procurement and HR on a change project

• Disciplinary and professional leadership of the IT and service team
• Definition and documentation of the Current Mode of Operation (CMO) in Confluence: application landscape, infrastructure, networks, backup & storage
• Development of the Future Mode of Operation (FMO) including process analysis & stakeholder interviews with all departments using BPMN and flowcharts
• Optimization of license management: reduction of ongoing software costs by approx. 17% p.a.
• Introduction and establishment of Jira as the central tool for project and service management
• Introduction and rollout of the HR software MindKey to digitize HR processes
• Introduction of a VoIP solution with Microsoft Teams incl. PSTN connection to replace classic telephony
• Introduction of the production and planning software OptiControl to digitize operational processes
• Rollout of Intune as a Mobile Device Management solution for Windows, iOS and Android
• Build-up of Power BI dashboards for machine park monitoring and financial reporting
• Planning and execution of the IT consolidation of two locations for 170 users
• Introduction of automated penetration testing with Pentera
• Coaching and mentoring the team in agile methods & project management
• Operational support in day-to-day business: administration, incident & change management
• Management of external service providers and assurance of the quality of outsourced IT services
• Responsibility for the IT budget incl. planning and controlling
• Direct reporting line to management with regular management reports on IT KPIs, budget and project status

• Lead Buyer for elastomers (coated fabrics) in the group
• Responsible for purchasing wire, chemicals and machined components at Matzen & Timm
• Price and contract negotiations
• Make-or-buy strategies for plastic molded parts
• Development of a 2nd source strategy for aerospace
• Continuous development and auditing of suppliers and improvement of a supplier evaluation system to ensure a reliable supplier base
• Preparation of purchasing-related, meaningful statistics to support strategic decision-making in the procurement process
• Creating and presenting monthly and quarterly reports with the corresponding KPIs
• Trade show visits
• Handling imports from overseas
• Invoice verification and claim handling
• Optimization of purchasing processes or process changes
• Optimization of the product portfolio in terms of materials and suppliers
• Participation in projects affecting the procurement process
• Customs and export officer in the company

Project description: Design and step-by-step implementation of a central, multidimensional controlling platform based on IBM Planning Analytics to optimize and automate internal company planning and reporting.

Business & technical consulting: Analyzed the provided operational base data and proactively advised the controlling team on cube design best practices and optimal dimension structures.

Data integration & ETL: Designed and developed robust TurboIntegrator processes for automated data loading, transformation, and dimension maintenance.

Logic & business implementation: Implemented complex business logic and calculations with high performance using TM1 business rules (including efficient skipping/feeding).

Development of a Python HTTPS server to integrate an input widget in IBM PAW, enabling direct data write-back to TM1 cubes via the TM1 REST API.

Reporting & analytics: Created dynamic, user-friendly reports and dashboards for management and specialist departments.