Bernard HECHT
Corporate Controller, LFB
I am a Finance professional with over ten years experience.
I have held Business Controller; Financial Controller and Financial Director positions with large international companies (International Paper; Valeo; L'Oreal).
I have also worked in many different sectors, mainly for the industry : paper manufacturing; cosmetics; automotive part supplier; pharmaceutical.
I started my career in an audit firm (Coopers&Lybrand). I also worked a couple of years as an internal auditor.
I hold a degree from the Solvay Business School in Brussels (Belgium)
State-owned pharmaceutical laboratory specialised in therapeutic proteins derived from human plasma – two production plants (Lille and Paris)
Sales worth 300 M€ - mainly to French hospitals - 1200 employees
- Preparation of business cases and profitability studies : industrial partnership; acquisitions; sales, product and clinical development
- Calculation of return on investment as part of a large capital expenditure program (production facility revamping and capacity expansion – average yearly budget of 15 Mln€)
- Implementation of financial reporting software to improve reliability and efficiency
- Implementation of company ERP (Qualiac) – Finance (analytical accounting) and Costing (standard cost calculation) modules
- Performance indicators, Quarterly Reporting, Five Years Plan and Budget processes.
- Calculation of standard and actual industrial costs (inventory valuation)
Management of a team consisting of eight Business Analysts. Located at the Paris and Lille plants.
2001 - 2002Luxury Product Division – Active Cosmetic Dept. – La Roche Posay (France - Poitou) production plant - intra-company sales of 30 MEuro and 130 employees
- Installation of the Financial and Administrative Director position : development of economic awareness of factory management and line personnel; review and implementation of internal controls and procedures ; improvement of financial data reliability and relevancy
- Yearly Budget preparation and calculation of standard transfer prices
- Monthly reporting including profit forecast and an analysis of deviations from standard costs
- Interface with External Auditors, Internal Audit and Legal
- General accounting in local GAAP; production of legal accounting books and tax declaration
- Information System (production and finance)
- Receiving and shipping operations of raw materials; packaging and finished goods; warehousing; arrangement for outbound freight and physical stock-take.
Management of a team consisting of a Senior Controller, three IS persons including a Manager, five Accountants including the Chief Accountant, two Warehouse Supervisors and eight forklift truck drivers.
1999 - 2001Equipment for the Automotive industry - VALEO Electronic Branch – Division Switches and Sensor Europe - Ste Savine production plant (France – Aube)
Sales worth 50 MEuro and 420 employees - production of plastic switches for top column modules
- Controlling of the industrial activity – plastic injection and assembly
- Implementation of R&D controlling in order to keep expenses under control and improve the follow-up of project financing by the car manufacturers
- Assessment of R&D projects future profitability, capital expenditure authorisation and project follow-up until start of industrial production.
- Monthly reporting and twice-yearly budget
- Compliance with procedures and internal controls implementation (PWC Chekhov self-audit tool)
- General accounting including regular review of suppliers and customer balances, interco balances and fixed assets (physical inventory); preparation of legal books
- Treasury function : daily monitoring of cash-flow ; reporting and forecasts; contact with bankers; customers’ overdue collection.
Management of a team consisting of three Financial Analysts, five Accountants; a Treasurer and three IT people.
I have introduced the « personnel implication » tools (daily and monthly meetings, etc.) and practised them with the members of my team.
1995 - 1999Maresquel Paper Mill (France – Pas de Calais)
Sales of 90 MEuro and 350 employees - production of white and colour paper for printing and writing
- Controlling of the industrial activity; Key Performance indicators and calculation of standard costs
- Monthly reporting, income forecast and yearly Budget
- Deployment of SAP/R3 (FI/CO/AM) on site in co-ordination with Group project team
- Information system Year 2000 transition Plan : systems inventory, remediation and testing.
Management of two Financial Analysts and two IT persons.
1992 - 1995- Operational and financial audits of European subsidiaries (production sites and distribution centres)
- Two « due diligence » audits for the purpose of an acquisition
1992 - 1995- Operational and financial audits of European subsidiaries (production sites and distribution centres)
- Two « due diligence » audits for the purpose of an acquisition
1988 - 1992- Certification of annual financial statements
- Participation to audits of large companies (Unilever, Smith Kline Beecham, Union Minière) as a member of the audit team
