Success Story // Financial excellence after the acquisition – optimization and post-merger integration

Management Summary

Following the acquisition of a traditional German family business by an international media group, the finance department was faced with considerable challenges. The reporting system was outdated, there was a lack of transparency and management-relevant structures, and the operational and strategic management of the company was only possible to a limited extent. Thanks to the targeted deployment of an interim manager from GOiNTERIM, the finance department was optimized and put in a strong position within a very short space of time. At the same time, the post-merger integration was successfully implemented, trust was restored among management and the parent company and the finance department was established as a strategic partner for management and the Managing Director.

Description of the customer

The client is a long-established family business in Germany that was recently acquired by an international media group. As an established player in its industry, the company was characterized by grown structures and a strongly past-oriented financial organization. The acquisition took place in a context in which rapid adjustments and integration into the global structure of the parent company were necessary. The challenge was to modernize the existing structures efficiently without interrupting operations.

Initial situation

Before the interim manager was deployed, the company’s finance department was only able to act to a limited extent. There was a lack of up-to-date reporting systems and transparent data for making well-founded decisions. Strategic management tools did not exist and the organization was not prepared to meet the requirements of an international group structure. This led to uncertainties within the management and at the parent company, particularly with regard to the company’s management capability and financial integrity.

Goals/tasks

The central objectives of the interim management were to modernize and optimize the finance department and to establish the department as a strategic partner for the management in the long term. The aim was to ensure operational efficiency, create transparency and provide a basis for decision-making. Another objective was to successfully implement the post-merger integration so that the company could be smoothly integrated into the structures of the international media group. In addition, it was crucial to restore trust among management and the parent company and to position the finance department as a competent advisor for strategic decisions in the long term.

Measures and implementation steps

The interim manager began with a comprehensive analysis of the existing finance department, identified weaknesses in processes, reporting and control instruments and developed a clear action plan. All financial processes were reviewed, optimized and standardized in order to increase both efficiency and transparency. At the same time, post-merger integration was implemented: Processes and structures of the acquired company were harmonized, reporting systems were adapted to the requirements of the parent company and interfaces with other divisions were optimized. New decision-making processes were established, which enabled the management to make well-founded strategic decisions. The interim manager worked closely with the management to establish the finance department as a reliable partner and strategic advisor.

Successes and results

Thanks to the interim manager’s efforts, the finance department was optimized and put in a strong position within a very short space of time. The post-merger integration was successfully implemented and the organization was now able to provide transparent reports and a sound basis for decision-making. Trust and acceptance by management and the parent company were restored and the finance department developed into a strategic partner for the company and the Managing Director. The newly established structures now enable sustainable management and decision-making that meets the requirements of the international group structure and creates long-term value.