Chief Financial Officer

Darren Cooper (CAANZ, CA (SA)) - Group Chief Financial Officer

Weehawken, New Jersey +1-201-***-**** ***********@*****.*** Profile / Summary

Global / Group Chief Financial Officer (Chartered Accountant), with 18+ years expertise in transforming financial operations, optimizing processes and implementing cutting-edge ERP systems to drive efficiencies, maintain compliance and enable scalability for listed and high-growth companies. Recognized for accelerating month-end close cycles, enhancing reporting accuracy and granularity, by fostering cross-functional collaboration to deliver sustainable business performance while maximizing shareholder value. Renowned for operating as Key Strategic Leader to spearhead financial, operational, system and process transformations to unlock data-driven, scalable and sustainable growth. Highly skilled in delivering actionable insights via robust financial planning and analysis specifically designed to enable Executives to achieve world-class forecasting, budgeting, and performance analytics, while remaining fully aligned to wider organizational goals. Known for driving profitability, operational excellence, and long-term value creation to quickly position companies as market or sector leaders. Areas of expertise include:

Financial Strategy & Leadership

Business Transformations

Financial Planning and Analytics

Mergers and Acquisitions

Post Acquisition Alignment

Sustainable and Scalable Growth

ERP Selection and Implementation

System Integration Projects

Digital Transition Projects

Performance Analytics

Risk Management & Compliance

Liquidity & Cashflow

Strategic Collaboration

C-Suite Collaboration & Insight

Business Stability & Insight

Career Highlights

Reveal Group needed to replace legacy systems for rapid growth period. As CFO, transitioned business to integrated digital solutions. Selected / implemented NetSuite <4-months; consolidated accounting process, reporting and insight; drove group restructure; and led staff training for seamless adoption. Succeeded in supporting tripling of revenues / FTE headcount, whilst being audit-ready <10-days of year end, achieving 1st Green audit outcome, and presented world-class financial reporting that transitioned strategy delivery.

Kelly Group was operating on an inefficient bespoke accounting systems. As Group Financial Manager, transitioned to world-class finance systems. Drove Sage X3 selection; led finance implementation, data migration, system configuration, and Finance team training; delivered to schedule / budget; and achieved seamless Group adoption. Succeeded in presenting high standard of audit ready statements < 3-weeks, that continually improved market credibility, and significantly enhanced business strategic decision making.

ADCORP Holdings set strategy to strengthen APAC finances. As APAC CFO, scaled function, focusing on compliance and stability. Optimized cash management, rebuild trust with banking Partners; uncovered measurable cost savings; stabilized operations to enable sustainable growth; innovated rigorous daily liquidity insight; and renegotiated financial agreements. Succeeded in delivering $400k in annual interest savings, that enhanced cash position and financial resilience, to position APAC region for long-term growth. Professional Experience / Career History

Mar 2019 to Present: Reveal Group Holdings Inc, Melbourne Australia / New York: Global CFO Reveal Group Holdings specialize in implementing intelligent automation solutions, with $20m TO, and ~120 staff As Global CFO and Executive Committee member, reporting directly to Global CEO, full accountability for Group finance and reporting functions, by overseeing financial and key operational activities in USA, Canada, Australia / UK. Accountable for selection and implementation of new ERP system, alongside leading budgeting, FP&A, forecasting, and developing Board reports to support enhanced strategic decision-making. Key contributions:

Streamlined consolidated month-end reporting, consistently closing-out process 5-days post-month-end.

Expanded Finance team from 1-person to 3 staff, remaining aligned to Group growth requirements.

Engaged and managed all activities with Auditors for 1st audit in Group’s history, delivering clean audit.

Played critical role in managing sell-side due diligence, culminating in sale of Group to PE owners in 2024.

Established and scaled US operations, achieving $19 million revenue growth over 4-years.

Led 3x global headcount increase, overseeing financial operations in US, Canada, Australia, UK and SA.

Converted accounting basis from cash to accrual basis, and migrated to unified ERP system, spearheaded selection and deployment to deliver on time and to budget.

Established Group consolidation and reporting, aligning to IFRS and US GAAP, securing clean audits.

Directed Group restructure to consolidate entities under single US holding company with minorities.

Implemented and thereafter managed debtors factoring facility while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Fostered collaboration among all stakeholders, including HR, Payroll, and Executives. Nov 2016 to Mar 2019: ADCORP Holdings Ltd, Melbourne AUS: APAC CFO & Global Head of Professional Services Finance

ADCORP Holdings Ltd is a leading workforce solutions company, with $1.17bn TO, and ~3,100 staff Reporting directly to APAC CEO and Board / Audit Committee, with full accountability for finance function across New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and South Africa valued ~$565m turnover, by directing strategic financial management, banking relationships, and audit functions, to ensure operational excellence across all regions. Required to lead matrix-structured team, including 5 Finance Managers, overseeing country-specific financial operations, 4 Financial Controllers managing compliance and regulatory reporting, and 15+ staff across Shared Services teams supporting payroll, IT infrastructure, and transactional finance functions. Key contributions:

Achieved annual cost savings exceeding $400k in interest, by optimizing financial strategies, renegotiating bank covenants, and enhancing banking relationships to significantly increase profitability.

Improved operational efficiencies, reducing month reporting cycles from 3.5 to 1-week post-month-end.

Enabled accurate and timely decision-making, by operating as Key Advisor to Audit and Risk Committee, BoD and Executives, focusing on leveraging financial performance and risk management.

Directed financial and tax strategies across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.

Led system integrations including post-acquisition integrations with minimal disruption.

Played a critical role in all mergers, acquisitions, and disposals. Mar 2015 to Oct 2016: ADCORP Holdings Ltd (Kelly Group Ltd): Group Financial Manager Reporting to Group CFO, responsible for global taxation, special projects, banking, and audit committee reporting, while also managing all sell-side due diligence activities, whilst simultaneously still managing the full finance function of Kelly Group until it was fully migrated within the ADCORP systems Key contributions:

Post sale, transitioned to ADCORP Holdings in March 2015, as 1st team member to join acquiring company as Group Financial Manager based at Head Office, collaborating with 5 Finance Managers

Participated in multiple smaller buy-side due diligence projects.

Aided successful migration of Kelly Group systems onto ADCORP systems, without service disruptions.

Streamlined reporting to allow auditing to be completed ~3 weeks earlier than previously completed.

Involved in initial due diligence process to sell African & Australian operations to international investors. Mar 2012 to Oct 2016: Kelly Group Ltd: Group Financial Manager Reporting to CFO, directly responsible for Group financial operations, tax compliance, special projects and Audit Committee reporting, while leading direct team of ~22 people in a shared services environment, managing monthly reporting, consolidations, tax calculations, and audits. Key contributions:

Implemented Sage X3 accounting system, and thereafter enhanced financial operations to reduce month end reporting deadlines by ~2 weeks, that thereafter enabled release of fully audited accounts, as company 1st time event, and completing 3 weeks earlier than previously achieved on firm’s records.

Completed annual audit ~4 weeks earlier, allowing earlier release of audited financial statements to market, rather than reviewed financial statements, achieving new objective for 1st time Group’s history.

Played central role in sell-side due diligence process, aiding successful sale of Kelly Group to ADCORP.

Deregistered ~30 dormant entities to optimize operations and finances.

Brought all overdue entities up to date for financial and tax purposes, Earlier Career

03/2012 to 10/2016: Kelly Group Ltd, Johannesburg SA: Group Financial Manager 01/2010 to 01/2012: BDO South Africa Inc, Johannesburg SA: Audit Manager 01/2007 to 12/2009: Deloitte & Touche, South Africa: Article Clerk Education / Qualifications

As a Chartered Accountant Education is equivalent to CPA and Masters Degree in Accounting Chartered Accountant Australia & New Zealand / CAANZ, 2017 Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting & Business Management, CIMA, 2014 Chartered Accountant South Africa / CA (SA), South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2010 Bachelors of Commerce Honors Degree in Accounting, University of South Africa, 2007 Bachelors of Commerce Degree in Accounting, University of Johannesburg SA, 2004 Technical Proficiencies: NetSuite, Sage X3, SAP, Xero, QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics AX, MS Office, Bill.com Personal Details

Located: Weehawken, New Jersey

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-cooper-casa-caanz-cpa-cfo/ Recommendations

“I worked with Darren at Reveal Group, and when he joined the organization he immediately set about getting our corporate finances in order, implementing an enterprise-grade ERP while placing tighter procedures around how we contracted our work and reported our financial data, while also completing multiple audits with no negative findings. In working with Darren on day-to-day matters, he always aided our business users perfectly well, and his approach is extremely collaborative, taking time to explain the “why” and “what” factors when passing on instructions and delivering new processes. Our leadership team at Reveal Group really appreciated this approach and it made our business much smoother. I am confident Darren will bring the same level of expertise, dedication, and professionalism to any future firm that hires Darren.” Xavier Hanson, MD, Reveal Group USA Inc.

“Darren joined Kelly Group Limited as 2IC to the Group FM where he built excellent rapport with his colleagues, and soon became promoted to Group FM, following a period of unprecedented growth. Darren is not afraid to tackle challenges whilst still holding his own on the daily activities, and he played an instrumental role in replacing the legacy accounting systems while making significant changes and improvements in other areas of the business. Darren is proficient in IT systems, and as such was the 1st Kelly employee to secure permanent employment with Adcorp after Adcorp recognised his skills and delivery. Within a very short period Darren rose to the top of the new firm, and is now 2IC to the Group Chief Financial Officer. Darren is an asset to any organisation that seeks to hire him.” Lionel Wilson, CFO Kelly Group Ltd.

“Darren has a strong technical finance and accounting expertise, and his capabilities related to income statements, balance management, and tax, are above the skills of most CFOs, and he also has an excellent business understanding, and is quickly able to understand economic leverage points, challenges and risks of a highly diverse business. He crafted appropriate reporting approaches and metrics that reflected the uniqueness of each BU, facilitating easy and productive discussion about the financial health of each BU, while also developing control procedures to reflect the varying nature of clients, technology partners and vendors in for each BU. Given these and his highly collaborative working style, Darren will be an excellent CFO for any mid-sized firm or large business within major corporation.” Jeffrey Brown, Partner, Reveal Group USA Inc.

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