Joanna CHERES

En résumé

Entreprises

• De Beers Jewellers - Head of Finance

  2017 - maintenant Providing day to day financial oversight and direction to the De Beers Jewellers business unit.
  Establishing and maintaining strong financial controls, processes and effective governance through the implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines covering key financial and commercial processes.
  Supporting the De Beers Jewellers’ management team by providing comprehensive financial analysis and support.
  Monitoring the financial reporting of the group (including overseas entities).
  Providing financial input to DBJ’s developing strategy, determining and implementing structures and processes to support it, and providing hands-on financial direction to the various activities, projects and commercial opportunities as they progress

• Ecover / Method - European Financial Controller

  2016 - 2016 In 2012, Method merged with Belgian green cleaning giant Ecover, and together became the world’s largest green cleaning company, forming the Group People Against Dirty. The two brands are committed to inspiring generations of happy, healthy homes by making non-toxic products that work for people and the planet.
  
   Achieved the transition of the finance function from Belgium to the UK within the expected timeframe set by the US parent company (4 months)
   Streamlined processes & controls (month-end closing reduced from 25 days to 5 days, DSO reduced by 12 days, invoices backlog reduced by 90%, I/C reconciliation, automated revaluation)
   Implemented clear guidelines and developed trainings to other departments (P2P, HR, SAP) to develop more accuracy in financial transactions
  
  MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Providing vision and strategic leadership to a team of 8 (UK and Belgium) with 2 direct reports
  • Consolidating 14 European entities (within UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland) with production of the monthly management accounts & executive reporting pack to the US head office
  • Providing monthly reporting to all heads of department and manufacturing costs analysis
  • Responsible for the audit and the compliance of the European entities
  • Loans management & hedging, including monitoring of working capital
  • Accountable for the VAT audit (Germany, Belgium) and the Intrastat audit (France)

• Garrard / Stephen Webster - Finance Director

  2014 - 2016 - Direct all aspects of the Finance function, ensuring the appropriate leadership and development of the finance team
  - Act as a senior business partner across the organization (CEO, Sales and Marketing departments, operations, logistics, IT)
  - Provide analysis and insightful commentary to monthly management packs, identifying risks and opportunities
  - Contribute to the strategic decisions of the Senior Management Team and make clear recommendations
  - Provide and maintain dedicated business intelligence tools (KPI scorecard and metrics dashboard) to help monitor the business
  - Oversee Budgets, Reforecasts, long-term business planning for 2 brands globally
  - Ensure corporate budgeting timetables are met; challenging assumptions and negotiating with stakeholders/business
  - Monitor performance against long-term strategic and short-term operational plans and assist the partners formulate the necessary actions to be taken to achieve agreed financial targets
  - Lead and drive the implementation of tools to improve productivity and minimise risks (store promotions and Marketing/Digital operations ROIs, PR and PO automation)
  - Oversee expenditure control, cash flow forecasting, year-end closings and annual statutory accounts
  - Ensure compliance with company’s policies, procedures, accounting standards and that company financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future growth
  
  Brand development
  • Worked in collaboration with management and Board of Directors to :
  * deliver ambitious yet realistic budgets and long term strategic plans for developing the Brand
  * drive short to long term margin improvement (+12% Gross Margin improvement in 1 year)
  • Supported production and merchandising teams on NPD, product costing and RPP
  • Products portfolio and wholesale partners rationalization, leading to reduced stock obsolescence
  • Responsible for developing and monitoring Brand KPIs, internal controls and ensured compliance to corporate policies

• Gemfields - Group Finance Manager

  2013 - 2014 Gemfields is the world’s leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones. They specialize in the mining, processing and sale of high-quality coloured stones. The Group also acquired the global brand Fabergé in January 2013 with a view to creating a globally recognised coloured gemstone champion.
  
  • Established consolidated management accounts on a monthly basis (BS, P&L, Cash Flow) of the 20 entities of the Group
  • Managed the monthly IFRS Reporting (BS, P&L, Cash Flow), providing Management Reporting to key stakeholder
  • Implemented new stock controls and procedures (across Europe, US, India and Africa) including VAT dashboard to highlight different VAT treatments globally
  • Ensured optimisation and control of Cash Flow of the Group

• Faberge Services Ltd (Londres), Groupe Faberge Ltd - Finance Manager

  2008 - 2013 The Fabergé Group was set up in 2007 in order to restore Fabergé as an exclusive luxury goods brand. The Group is now made up of 6 entities, comprising of 3 flagship stores, 2 concessions (Harrods in London and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong), 1 online platform and is currently developing numerous wholesale agreements (Middle East, Australia, ...)
  
  KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
  - Successfully deputised as Finance Director twice (5 month-period)
  - Accompanied a growing business by implementing procedures, developing business solutions/tools and providing guidance in stores/concessions/e-commerce platfom set up internationally
  - Set up the finance and accounting department of the Group (6 entities, 6 staff) and elaboration of the first budget and first 5 year-plan
  - Established tax efficient procedures for stock customs clearance (50% savings on the shipping budget)
  - Improved cash flow by applying appropriate customs procedures
  
  Responsibilities
  • Enabled the practice group to achieve its objectives, make decisions and plan appropriately through the effective understanding and use of financial analysis
  • Changed year-end twice, managed the transition budget and adjusted reporting
  • Established consolidated management accounts on a monthly basis (BS, P&L, Cash Flow)
  • Analysis of sales and profitability by product line, store and channel (retail, wholesale, e-commerce)
  • Prepared monthly reporting and monitored actual performance to the plan, identified significant gaps upfront and communicated them to the management team promptly
  • Action plan proposals for costs optimisation (marketing, operations, logistics, travel expenses)
  • Implemented processes with workstreams (finance and non-financial audiences, senior management) for effective forecasting
  • Managed key relationships such as those with Banks, Statutory auditors and Insurers
  • Conception and implementation of the stock control and shipping procedures & training for all staff (Finance/Non-Finance)
  
  
  REPORTING
  • Etablissement du premier budget du Groupe et du plan à 5 ans en collaboration avec le Directeur Général et le Comité de Direction
  • Etablissement du reporting mensuel et analyse des écarts par rapport au budget
  
  COMPTES STATUTAIRES CONSOLIDES
  • Etablissement des comptes consolidés de la holding en IFRS
  • Etablissement des comptes statutaires de la filiale anglaise en UK GAAP
  • Mise en place de la nouvelle structure financière du Groupe (création d’une holding au Luxembourg et d’une filiale en Suisse) en liaison avec Ernst & Young et BDO (prix de transfert, considérations fiscales)
  • Gestion du risque de change (contrats de change futurs, call, put)
  • Préparation et participation aux comités de direction mensuels
  • Préparation de l’agenda des conseils d’administration et établissement des PV
  
  CONTROLE INTERNE
  • Etablissement des procédures financières du Groupe (achats, ventes, stock, ressources humaines)
  • Responsable des transferts de stock (haute joaillerie) à l’étranger (Europe, Etats-Unis, Asie) et établissement des procédures de dédouanement et détaxe
  • Projets ad hoc (achat d’actions par les employés, implémentation du système comptable)

• Ernst & Young Londres - Auditeur senior

  2005 - 2007 Supervised audit teams of 3 to 4 staff, assisted the manager in the budget preparation, coached junior team members, reporting findings to the manager and the partner of the job, managed the daily relationship with the client and interaction between partners and other E&Y specialists.
  
  Key achievements: Achieved external audit requirements under tight deadlines

• Arthur Andersen / Ernst & Young - Consultant

  St. Charles 2002 - 2005 Apres avoir integre le departement Outsourcing au sein de Arthur Andersen a Paris, j'ai continue ma carriere au sein de ce meme departement sous le nom Ernst & Young.
  Mes missions furent les suivantes: etablissement des reporting, comptes annuels, liasse fiscale et déclarations fiscales de nos clients. Mission d'assistance et d'encadrement des équipes comptables dans le cadre du passage aux normes IFRS et calcul des principaux retraitements IFRS.

Formations

• Ordre Des Experts Comptables

  Paris 2011 - 2012 Diplome d'expertise comptable

• Université Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

  Paris 1998 - 2000

• Université Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

  Paris 1996 - 1998

Réseau

• Audrey MORAND

• David DOGIMONT

• Emmanuel FLATTET

• Gilles COHEN

• Hervé MARCHAND

• Isabelle AZRA

• Joël Marc POINAS

• Thibault LARDENOIS