Frank Baars Email & Phone Number

Zeist

Responsible for the oversight of the Accounting & Reporting department for Netherlands, Belgium and Germany region of the HJ Heinz Company

Ashland Services is part of a US based diversified chemical company. Employed as a regional lead for Southern Europe, controlling a staff complement of 15, with full responsibility for the local and US reporting for the region.• Addressed the financial backlog and resolved the accounting problems• Increased the staffs knowledge and understanding of the financial results• Reviewed the Annual Financial Statements in local GAAP for all legal entities in the region• Reviewed the SOX checklists for compliance

Heidelberg is part of an international printing machine manufacturer and servicing company. The local operation has turnover in excess of Euro 25 million and employees in excess of 100 staff.Employed as Financial Director, controlling a staff complement of 14, with full responsibility for the financials of the local operation. • Successfully implemented SAP@Asia template• Implemented the new Heidelberg Corporate reporting package • Increased the companies free cash flow• Addressed the financial backlog and resolved the accounting problems• Assisted in directing the operations into more profitable areas• Converted the AFS to IFRS for local and international reporting

Joined ABI as Regional Financial Manager on a three-month contact to assist with budgets and monthly reporting.

Pharmacia is part of an International Pharmaceutical company operating in all major Countries. The local operation has turnover in excess of R300 million and has products in a number of Therapeutic Areas (Main one being pain and inflammation).Employed as the Financial Director, controlling a staff complement of 11, with full responsibility for the financials of the local operation.• Successfully produced all financial results within tight deadlines set by local and international management. This included annual and quarterly budgets, monthly management packs and sign off of internal controls • Lead the 3 year growth project that resulted in the company exceeding the market growth by 2% and elevating the company’s market share ranking by 2 positions. The project looked at product life cycles, advertising spend, product positioning and market shares.• Assisted in achieving sales growths in excess of the industry average• Reduced the debtors days to 38 days which is significantly below the industry average of 46 days with less that 0.1% bad debt write off

Sappi Timber Industries is part of the Sappi group. The division’s turnover is in excess of R730 million and has 6 local manufacturing operations.Employed as the Financial Manager for the division for the first 18 months and then the IT project manager responsible for the feasibility study, customization and implementation of the fully integrated ERP system.• Designed, evaluated and implemented a fully integrated ERP system for 70 concurrent users. Go live milestone achieved on target• As Financial Manager supervised a staff complement of 12 both at head office and at the operations.• Reduced admin costs for the division through a 20% headcount reduction following increased productivity, motivation and training

Financial Director responsible for the full financial function• Managed the NASDAQ listing process. First SA Gold mine to achieve a listing• Converted the Annual Financial Statement to comply with US GAAP. One of the first mining companies to change its accounting policies to comply with US GAAP• Achieved an unqualified audit report in the first year of taking the position• Supervised a staff complement of 40• Implemented procedures to facilitate Black empowerment small business units

(Held various positions in the group and in PDC) UPD – Group Financial Manager Jan 1995 – Oct 1995UPD Lea Glen Division – Financial Manager Dec 1993 – Dec 1994PDC – Regional Financial Manager Sept 1991 – Nov 1993(PDC merger with MCC to form UPD) • Spearheaded a number of commercial projects that addressed items like route rationalization, stock holding reduction, claims processing etc resulting in significant cost savings• Controlled rationalization and restructuring exercise which has lead to better financial controls and maximization of the groups tax assessed loss• Addressed and obtained securities for the bond loan debtors. (Company financed the pharmacists to open pharmacies)• Jointly with HR, handled the closer of 5 PDC branches when the operations were merged with MCC• Designed and implemented accounting systems and controls for the newly merged operation

Head Accountant before being placed with UPD a subsidiary of the group

One and half year contract with E&Y UK. Based in London

Medium size auditing company based in Johannesburg South Africa. Completed my 4 years articles and passed the board exam

B.Acc, Accounting

Activities and Societies: Member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

B.Comm, Accounting