Erna Kauck

Charlotte, NC ***** ad12pu@r.postjobfree.com

704-***-**** https://www.linkedin.com/in/erna-kauck

Director of Finance and Operations

Innovative Business & Financial Controller with 25+ years’ international experience.

Seasoned executive-level business and finance management professional with proven success spanning project management, program management, transformation strategies, financial control and management, personnel management, fiscal analysis and audits, budgetary control and business operations including operational change management. International professional background covers the manufacturing industry, marketing and media, hospitality and information technologies. Strengths include sound decision-making during fast-paced and high-stress situations, on-the-fly adaptability, high-energy work ethic, self-motivation and the ability to motivate co-workers, and a passion for advancing corporate goals and business growth focused on organic business strategy.

Highlights of Expertise

Build High Performing Teams

Project & Program Management

Financial Reporting & Audits

Drive Transformative Solutions

Financial Accounting & Analysis

Written & Oral Communication

Client Relations & Negotiations

Corporate Finance Management

Problem Assessment & Resolution

Budgetary & Financial Controls

Managing Changing Environments

Business Process Optimization

Professional Experience

Compass Group USA

Director of Innovation – Accounting – 11/2021 to current

Manage a Project team of RPA developers and coders for data automation and a team of QC Audit accountants.

NTT America Solutions, Inc. (Formerly Dimension Data North America)

VP Finance / Optimization & Transformation Manager / Corporate Controller – 09/2018 to 05/2021

Leadership of business optimization for a Global billion-dollar enterprise for the America’s Region while in close collaboration with international counterparts in multi-national countries in Europe and Asia. Full accountability over accounting policies and procedures. Numerous high-valued project and program management endeavors. SAP FICO integrations of hardware, software, SaaS and Services. Financial and accounting subject-matter expert, Oracle to SAP migration, Master Data, ERP User accepted testing. Promoted from Corporate Controller in 2019.

Launch-to-Close Project Manager successfully mitigating multi-million-dollar issues between Cisco and NTT stemming from a change in Cisco’s treatment of unreturned assets, and designing a tracking platform

Project Business Lead for development of SAP ERP Integration of automation of goods receipting and vendor invoice verification for all Client Direct ship orders plus or minus $600M in annual vendor invoices involving B2B submission of EDI from Wells Fargo Bank

As Financial Corporate Controller prior to 2020, held sole discretion over review and approval of client quotes, proposals and commercial bids valued above $5M and successfully managed a team of 93 staff – FP&A, Accounting, ERP Master Data, Risk and Compliance, Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable

Exceeded expectations as an integral lead in vital finance transformation and optimization projects, programs and system integrations including process re-engineering and SAP Migrations and integrations.

NTT Group South Africa (Formerly Dimension Data Global Head Office)

Senior Group Financial Manager – 02/2012 to 08/2018

Drove the efforts of the Group Management Accounting and Reporting Team, held responsibility over the onboarding of new group acquisitions M&A, controlled the budgetary allotments, and was solely accountable for the integrity and accuracy of all financial reports. Accepted leadership and management over special projects requested directly by CFO and CEO. Promoted from Senior Financial Manager of Cost Centers in 2014.

Administrator and director over NTT’s Transformation Budget of $100M designated for strategic development projects, services development, and growth resourcing implemented across 47 countries.

Upon accepting promotion and advancing from this position, NTT found it required the employment of three individuals to adequately perform the same job duties and fill the vacuum that was left. Promoted to Financial Corporate Controller for the USA and accepted an international transfer.

Dimension Data SA (Pty) Ltd – MEA Region

Senior Financial Manager - Operations Management – 06/2007 to 01/2012

Sole responsibility and ownership of complete financial management over Line of Business – Operations Management (Networking). Critical thinker directly accountable for all financial and business reporting, variance analytics, forecasting, budgets, cost savings, operational effectiveness and service contract renewals. Promoted to Senior Financial Manager for the Dimension Data Group Head Office in 2012.

Drove efforts resulting in Staff Performance Bonuses and Stretch Bonuses for four consecutive years.

Upon accepting promotion and advancing from this position, Dimension Data found it required the employment of two individuals to adequately perform the same job duties and fill the vacuum that was left.

Earlier Pertinent Experience in Marketing, Media and Manufacturing–

Senior Financial Manager for Black Khaki Group (Pty) Ltd

Senior Financial Manager for The Event Production Company (Pty) Ltd

Senior Financial Manager for Inroads Multimedia (Pty) Ltd

Senior Financial Manager for Kandu Communications (Pty) Ltd

Financial Accountant TBWA Durban for TBWA Hunt Lascaris (Pty) Ltd

Credit Controller for Morganite Thermal Ceramics (Pty) Ltd

Credit Controller for Morganite Industrial Carbon (Pty) Ltd

Education

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Current Studies April 2024

European Business School – (ENEB) U.S.

Masters in Big Data and Business Intelligence – April 2024

Masters in Project Management – Dec 2024

Bachelor of Arts, 2013 with Honors

Open University United Kingdom – Buckinghamshire, U.K.

Business Management

Course Completion,

University of South Africa, Financial Management

Chartered Secretaries of Southern Africa, Accounting CPA

Awards, Memberships & Accolades

Dimension Data Group Head Office Pinnacle Award – 2014

Dimension Data Leadership Forum and Key Talent (MEA) – 2009 to 2011

Dimension Data/NTT Global Leadership Institute – 2012 to Present

Group Recognition Award nomination – 2017

The Chartered Institute of Business Management – Designatory Level, Associate (A C I B M)

Key Skills

Executive Team~ Leadership~ Logistics & Supply Chain~ GAAP~ Cash Management~ Working Capital~ Financial Statements~ FP&A~ Public & Progressive Accounting~ Strong Detail & Analytical Interpretation~ Results Driven~ Expert Communicator~ High energy Solutionary~ Critical Thinking~ Process re-engineering~ Transformation Strategy

Technical Proficiencies

Microsoft Office 365 advanced + Teams (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint) ~ Excel Solver ~ Oracle ~

SAP (14 years as FICO user including 4 years integrations) ~ Signavio ~ QuickBooks

GEAC and COGNOS (Monthly Reporting Systems) ~ BPC (Business Process Consolidation SAP Business Based) ~ Salesforce ~ Microsoft Power BI & Power Pivot ~ Spira Test ~ Jira ~ Workday~ Agile~ PMO~ Lean Six Sigma

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