A Single Centralised Structure to Support Business Development and Profitability

November 22, 2023 | |
Views: 54

The Mainland Europe Finance team organisation was announced in July.  The construction of the European finance team is finalised with the centralised organisation of the accounting departments led by Pierre Grosbois and the business analysis control led by François Mareau.

Following the transfer of the financial activities of Colart Northern Europe, Colart Benelux and Colart Sweden from London to Le Mans and the staff movements of the last few months, I am pleased to present the single financial service for European business entities, organised as follows around four areas of expertise:

Accounting, Taxation and Reporting

Under the direction of Pierre Grosbois,  this team is responsible for the reliability of the accounts and tax returns specific to each country within Europe. It covers general accounting and banking, accounts payable and expense reports, taxes and duties, tax returns and annual accounts. Valérie Dubert, Accounting Manager, Kevin Eon, Financial Accountant and Yoann Bran Jonneau, Accounts Payable Accountant, report directly to Pierre.

European Business Analysis Control

Under the direction of François Mareau, this team is responsible for the analysis of customer and brand profitability, the establishment and monitoring of budgets and forecasts and the monitoring of promotional operations and related costs. Angélique Cheritat, a newly recruited Finance Business Assistant, reports directly to François . As a key business partner, this division will work closely with the Accounting division on the one hand and the marketing, sales and SOP departments on the other.

European Credit Management

Under my direct supervision, this team is in charge of managing customer risk and debt collection, from the creation of the customer account to its closure, including order validation, collection, follow-up of customers in difficulty, credit limits and the optimisation of payment methods and deadlines. Cyrille Ambert, Credit Controller Italy and Northern Europe and market survey referent, Aurélie Carreau, Credit Controller France /Belgium and M3 referent and procedures, Isabelle Herisson, Credit Controller UK and AMAZON coordinator, and Alexis Marc, Credit Controller Iberia  and International and COFACE referent and financial analysis, report directly to me.

Legal

The legal part of the perimeter will be under my direct responsibility. 

The three core divisions mange  France, Iberia, Italy, Sweden and Northern Europe commercial entities, and also the Charbonnel boutique and the brands Lefranc Bourgeois, Conté A Paris and Charbonnel; including the websites attached to Colart France that are Winsor & Newton (Rest of World), Charbonnel and Lefranc Bourgeois.

In addition:

  • The Accounting, Tax and Reporting division also covers the Colart Creative International entity, in close collaboration with the Finance Business controller James Wheelan, based in London.
  • The Credit Management division also covers the client portfolio of the Colart UK entity in close collaboration with the finance team of Colart UK, based in London under the responsibility of Sophie Cooper Pozsonyi.

After the handover of files and training over the past few months, the team is now complete and operational as of November 1st, 2023.

I would like to add that all this would not have been possible without the support and involvement over the last 3 years of Sarah Larbiose, Finance Business Analyst Controller Southern Europe, who worked on the construction of this structure.  As a result,  she was promoted in mid-October to tERP Finance Specialist in the IT department,  reporting to Lorris Loger. We will therefore continue to work closely with Sarah to develop and improve the analysis and support tools for operational teams.

On a personal note, I warmly thank Sarah for her contribution, expertise and skills that have contributed to this achievement and that she will undoubtedly continue to develop with talent in her new role.

Below you will find the organisational chart of the team in place.

Thank you for joining me in wishing everyone every success and fulfillment in their role and in the same direction to support the development of the new perimeter led by Jake Kersey.

Patricia Le Mauff
Europe Finance Director and Group Credit Management

 

Mainland Europe Finance Organisation Structure