Experience

The CFO Centre UK

• United Kingdom
• Financial Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Portfolio FD/CFO/COO on behalf of FD & CFO Centre

  • Sep 2021 - Present



Susanne Kaufmann

• United Kingdom
• Personal Care Product Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CFO/COO

  • Oct 2019 - Aug 2021

  Joined Susanne Kaufmann following acquisition by Manzanita Capital in September 2019. Initially hired to build a finance and supply chain function in the UK, but responsibilities broadened to that of de facto CEO for UK, Austria and German companies from October 2019 to April 2021. Key Achievements: * Recruitment and onboarding of senior management team including Ecommerce Director, Commercial Directors in UK and Germany, Product Development Manager and Marketing Manager. * Successfully presented first budget, post-acquisition, to SK Board * Improved cash position in 2020 by 100%, without government grants, through tight P&L management and working capital controls * Successfully presented business case to relaunch brand website, on Shopify-Plus platform, to SK Board * Supported Ecommerce Director in relaunch of website on Shopify-Plus in January 2021 leading to100%+ increase in traffic and turnover * Brought finance function inhouse, from Austria to UK, without the support of exiting accountants * Uninterrupted shipping into UK from EU post-Brexit



The World

• Writing and Editing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Taking a Break

  • Apr 2019 - Sep 2019



This Works

• United Kingdom
• Personal Care Product Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Operating Officer

  • Mar 2012 - Apr 2019

  Management of Finance, Operations and IT functions in fast-growing skincare brand This Works, recently acquired by US private equity firm Tengram Capital Partners. Key achievements * Sale of Business - Partnered CEO to manage sale of business to Tengram in April 2015 and secured additional funding to support the business' expansion plans * Strategy - Key role in development and execution of post-acquisition 5 year plan * Profitability - Focussed on improvement of profitability through sales growth, maximising gross margins and tight cost controls. Improved EBITDA by 9 percentage points in 2 years * Cashflow management - maintain tight cash controls at all times regardless of whether business is cash constrained or has surplus funds. * Operations - Add value to the business by improving credit terms from suppliers, securing logistics providers in the UK and USA, management of stock to minimise waste and stock shortages. * IT - Maintain best in class IT systems including cloud-based ERP implementation, office365 and VOIP phone system to ensure business continuity * Professional relationships - Manage relationships with investors, banks, auditors and lawyers



Renew Medica

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Finance Director

  • Sep 2008 - Feb 2012

  Very commercial FD role involved in managing the operations of the 12 advanced beauty clinics and driving sales in the sites. Key Achievements •Management - Took responsibility for the running of the company for 3 months during a transition between MDs •Financial Management - Tasked with bringing the loss making company to breakeven at EBITDA level in 2010 and achieved this target through tight cost control. •Systems - Worked with IT team on implementation of ERP system (booking and accounting system.) •Acquisition - Managed the financial due diligence during the acquisition of a sole trader business and the merger between Renew Medica and Destination Skin. •Cost Control – Reduced cost of purchases by £150k in a year through systems and stock control.



Carluccio's PLC

• London

• Financial Controller

  • Aug 2004 - Aug 2008

  Managed a team of 7 during a period of change in the business as it grew from 17 to 35 sites and became a listed company. Key Achievements •Float - Worked closely with the finance director on a successful due diligence and floatation on AIM. •Reporting cycle –reduced the period end process from 10 to 5 days •Systems - Successfully project managed the implementation of the caffes' stock system to very tight deadlines. Managed the upgrade of the accounting and financial reporting system •Controls - Created an internal audit function including writing the audit programme and appointing an external auditor



Red Letter Days

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Financial Controller

  • 2003 - 2004



SEN MEDICINE COMPANY LIMITED

• United Kingdom
• Medical Equipment Manufacturing

• Financial Controller

  • 2002 - 2003



Aroma Cafe

• Financial controller

  • 1999 - 2002