Flexmanager - Director Finance/Financial Controller

Director Finance/Financial Controller

Work Experience

Work experience:

- I have started my career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in The Hague as an auditor, which I have done for about six years. Most clients which were audited were international clients originated in the U.S. and U.K.

- From the period 1972 – 1981 I was a European Financial Controller for an American container shipping company called Seatrain Europe BV located in Rotterdam as the European Head office.
The main responsibilities were:
Monthly reporting to the Head office New York
Preparation and maintaining of internal control procedures
Automation of systems
Budget preparation
European consolidation
All tax matters

During this period of working for Seatrain, I have been located in London for one year in order to set up the Middle East organisation, which had a head office in Dubai.
When I left the company I was Vice president Finance Europe and Middle East.

- From 1982 – 1986 I worked for Singer sewing machines in Amsterdam as Financial director Benelux were I was responsible for monthly reporting to the U.S., budget preparation, Treasurer and all IT developments.

- During the period 1987 - 1991 I worked for AGB Attwood, an U.K. owned Research Company. As from 1988 I became financial controller for the whole AGB Benelux Group.
The total Benelux Group had thirteen working companies with their own specific market research specialities, like Consumer behaviour, Retail, Media research and Ad Hoc activities.
The main responsibilities were:
Monthly reporting to the Head office in London
Preparation and maintaining of internal control procedures
Automation of systems
Budget preparation
European consolidation
All tax matters

Until 1994 AGB was part of the Maxwell organisation and performed a management buy out when the Maxwell imperial collapsed. As a result GfK AG based in Nuremberg was invited to join as shareholder. Mr Valstar and myself directed this management buy out and I was co shareholder during this period.

In 1994 GfK AG took the majority in the Dongen activities and a Benelux organisation was created, where I became Director of Finance. During the same period Information Resources (IRI) set up a joint venture with GfK AG and started a new service in The Netherlands as a direct competitor to AC Nielsen. This joint venture with GfK in the Netherlands became very successful. The company IRI in Holland was integrated in the Dongen GfK office and from the very start of the IRI activities in Holland, finance and administration were my responsibility, reporting directly to Chicago HQ and London.

During the number of years in market research I have learned a lot about the business in general and particular on retail business and consumer business.

I have experience in consolidating companies, tax matters and joint venture aspects. I am further familiar with the Dutch GAAP standards as well as German GAAP and US GAAP.
I have a lot of experience in resolving all kind of IT problems.

My native language is Dutch and I have a good knowledge of the English language.

As from April 1 2008 I will be available to do interim management jobs for 4-5 days a week.