Case Studies

IPO Readiness & IFRS Conversion

Industry: Automotive / Electric Mobility
Role: Head of Accounting
Period: 2021–2022

Objective

Prepare a rapidly growing electric-mobility startup for a potential IPO by establishing an IFRS-compliant finance organization, implementing internal controls, digitizing procurement processes, and creating consolidated group reporting capabilities.

Challenges

• Transition from local accounting standards to IFRS
• Absence of consolidated reporting structures
• Need for IPO-ready governance and finance processes
• Accelerated timeline driven by capital-market requirements
• Coordination among multiple legal entities and external advisors

Execution

• Led IFRS conversion including implementation of IFRS 15 and IFRS 16
• Established group consolidation procedures across multiple entities
• Designed and implemented an Internal Control System (ICS)
• Digitized the Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) process
• Supported external due diligence reviews
• Assisted management with IPO documentation requirements
• Coordinated accounting policies and reporting standards across the group
• Introduced structured month-end and quarter-end close procedures

Key Achievements

• Achieved IFRS-compliant fast close within four months
• Established IPO-ready finance processes and reporting structures
• Successfully completed audits without material findings
• Increased transparency and governance across the organization

Created scalable financial infrastructure supporting future growth

Finance Transformation & Audit Recovery in an International Group

Industry: Digital Marketing & Technology Services
Role: Finance Manager / Senior Expert
Period: 2023–2024

Objective

Restore audit readiness and financial reporting capability across three German entities after several years of accounting backlog while integrating operations into the reporting structure of the Dutch parent company.

Challenges

• Multiple years of overdue financial statements
• Significant balance-sheet reconciliation issues
• Lack of standardized monthly reporting
• Private-equity reporting requirements
• Need to coordinate across German and Dutch management teams

Execution

• Prepared multiple overdue statutory financial statements
• Reconstructed accounting records and supporting documentation
• Introduced monthly management reporting through LucaNet and Power BI
• Reviewed and corrected provisions and accruals
• Cleared intercompany discrepancies and balance-sheet issues
• Supported transfer-pricing alignment
• Coordinated closely with the Dutch Group CFO
• Assisted external auditors throughout the review process
• Introduced reporting standards and governance procedures

Key Achievements

• Restored audit readiness across all German entities
• Successfully completed audits within private-equity environment
• Implemented automated CFO-level reporting
• Significantly reduced manual corrections and historical accounting issues

Improved management transparency and decision-making quality

Rapid Factoring Implementation Following a Carve-Out

Industry: Specialty Chemicals
Role: Interim Treasury Manager
Period: 2015

Objective

Implement a factoring solution within four weeks following a private-equity-backed carve-out to secure liquidity and ensure compliance with syndicated financing agreements.

Challenges

• Extremely limited implementation timeline
• Complex SAP environment
• Multiple legal and contractual dependencies
• Immediate liquidity requirements following separation
• Coordination between lenders, management and operational teams

Execution

• Identified legal and system-related barriers within SAP
• Structured factoring agreement with financing partners
• Developed automated receivables-transfer processes
• Coordinated implementation with lenders and service providers
• Trained accounting personnel on revised processes
• Managed system testing and implementation activities
• Executed go-live through factoring platform
• Established governance and monitoring procedures

Key Achievements

• Successfully launched factoring solution within deadline
• Achieved seamless SAP integration without reconciliation issues
• Stabilized liquidity immediately after carve-out
• Strengthened financing flexibility

Established sustainable treasury and liquidity-management processes

Shared Services Implementation & ERP Harmonization

Industry: Industrial Valves / Manufacturing
Role: Finance Manager D/F | Co-CFO
Period: 2016–2018

Objective

Create a cross-border shared-service environment and harmonize finance processes between German and French operations while implementing governance standards and improving efficiency.

Challenges

• Two countries with different accounting environments
• Organizational complexity across locations
• Requirement for SOX compliance
• Need for standardized reporting and processes
• Pressure to improve efficiency and reduce administrative cost

Execution

• Designed target operating model for finance and HR functions
• Developed shared-service-center concept
• Migrated French accounting activities to Lindau
• Outsourced payroll and tax services in France
• Harmonized reporting standards and finance processes
• Introduced governance controls and SOX procedures
• Coordinated implementation with local and international stakeholders
• Standardized finance organization and responsibilities

Key Achievements

• Shared Service Center operational within six months
• Standardized ERP and reporting processes across entities
• Improved compliance and governance
• Reduced administrative cost through process consolidation

Increased transparency and operational efficiency 

BI Platform for Revenue & Margin Management

Industry: MedTech / Optical Products
Role: Head of Controlling
Period: 2013

Objective

Replace a legacy Microsoft Access-based planning solution with a scalable business-intelligence platform supporting revenue planning, profitability analysis, budgeting and management reporting.

Challenges

• Limited transparency into customer and product profitability
• Fragmented reporting environment
• Manual planning processes
• Increasing management demand for analytical insights

Execution

• Expanded Cubeware BI architecture and data model
• Managed external implementation partner
• Collaborated closely with sales leadership
• Designed planning and profitability framework
• Introduced phased rollout strategy
• Conducted training and user-adoption activities
• Implemented QlikView-based reporting environment
• Established structured budgeting and scenario-planning process

Key Achievements

• Delivered fully operational BI platform within six months
• Achieved complete margin transparency by customer and product group
• Improved pricing and supply-chain decision-making
• Reduced manual reporting effort
• Enhanced planning accuracy and management insight