Serge Legault Email & Phone Number

Business Growth & Expansion: Played a pivotal role as Meridian experienced significant growth in a short period, meeting the mandate set by senior leaders to develop new process to support growth and expansion and sharpen the competitive edge. ☛ Drafted and presented new forecasting and planning process to remove inconsistency, instill forecast cadence and process ownership. - Evaluated and documented current inter-department and process dependencies, and developed timeline… Show more Business Growth & Expansion: Played a pivotal role as Meridian experienced significant growth in a short period, meeting the mandate set by senior leaders to develop new process to support growth and expansion and sharpen the competitive edge. ☛ Drafted and presented new forecasting and planning process to remove inconsistency, instill forecast cadence and process ownership. - Evaluated and documented current inter-department and process dependencies, and developed timeline framework to achieve deadlines backed by communications strategy to ensure accountability. - Boosted process acceptance and reduced rework enabling the business to focus on tactics over submissions to reduce last minute changes and minimize errors. ☛ Scrutinized executive FP&A reports to devise insights on stories as the executive team became inundated with non-value-add information, irrelevance and communications. - Evaluated multiple financial reports for content and audience and redesigned to fortify insight at executive level and enable Meridian to meet targets in a recession. - Decreased per-read material by 33% freeing time for tactical financial discussion☛ Challenged to raise FP&A impact, rated negatively by business partners on internal Net Promotor Scores (NPS). - Analyzed team’s current business partner approach and support, formed strong relationships with senior executives, transitioned team approach from “data dump/pusher” to connecting with business partners monthly and providing information on request. - Strengthened stakeholder relationships to catapult internal net promoter scores by 30% with FP&A team receiving invites to partake in key business discussions. Show less

Functioned as project manager to build a 3K sq. ft. family home, collaborating with various experts including architect and general contractor to design and construct external shell. Planned and managed internal fit out, sourced and selected materials and acted as general contractor for all trades working internally, wrapped up on budget with slight delay due to material shortages.

Led the Financial Merchandise FP&A for Grocery Market / Conventional Division (+$B)Business Growth & Expansion: Liaised between multiple stakeholders to provide insight, opportunities and risk assessment through detailed analytical reporting ensuring adherence to proper accounting procedures. ☛ Charged with updating business structure from legacy to corporate view, realigning 24 categories into 22 departments to sync with corporate reporting structures. - Uncovered financial… Show more Led the Financial Merchandise FP&A for Grocery Market / Conventional Division (+$B)Business Growth & Expansion: Liaised between multiple stakeholders to provide insight, opportunities and risk assessment through detailed analytical reporting ensuring adherence to proper accounting procedures. ☛ Charged with updating business structure from legacy to corporate view, realigning 24 categories into 22 departments to sync with corporate reporting structures. - Uncovered financial gaps, gained agreement for change from business partners, drafted and executed transition plan to revamp departments, reporting and processes. - Streamlined reporting process, eliminated restatements and improved visibility to risk and opportunities while downsizing 8 FTE and boosting sales performance 1% - 2% due to greater visibility. ☛ Revamped forecast processes to increase category accountability and accuracy to achieve plan. - Interviewed 22 category managers, determined paint points and outlined key changes to rectify, increase information sharing, boost information reporting, and craft implementation plan. - Devised process focused on weekly vs monthly reporting as distributing results weekly maximized management’s capacity to uncover risk and provide solace to the President on business direction.Finance | Strategy Executive | Business Partner | FP&A | Forecasting | Budgeting | KPI | Planning | Executive | Financial Reporting | KPI Show less

Led the Financial Merchandise reporting and Special Projects for the Emerging Business (+$B)Business Growth & Expansion: Refreshed and revised numerous processes to optimize productivity. ☛ Drafted and presented financial business cases to bid on liquor licenses as Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC governments opened the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. - Served as finance partner for revenue recognition, payment policies and site selections, designed reporting structure and… Show more Led the Financial Merchandise reporting and Special Projects for the Emerging Business (+$B)Business Growth & Expansion: Refreshed and revised numerous processes to optimize productivity. ☛ Drafted and presented financial business cases to bid on liquor licenses as Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC governments opened the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. - Served as finance partner for revenue recognition, payment policies and site selections, designed reporting structure and category report backed by business case performance. - Secured 15 additional beer and wine licenses in Ontario and 6 wine licences in BC as member of the beer and wine launch team for both provinces, contributing to exceeding forecast revenue by 15%. ☛ Appointed to a high-profile, business crucial project as financial partner during sale of the 200-location gas bar chain generating $1.8B. - Untangled gas bar financials from consolidated results to provide standalone view of gas bar business and determine separation impact. - Prepared the 3-year financials, acted as finance lead for external review and developed overview of impact to consolidated financials. - Drafted financials with 5-year asset roll and acted as prime point-of-contact to answer potential purchaser questions, contributing to concluding sale at 6% above forecast. Analytic | Leadership | Strategy Executive | Business Partner | FP&A | Forecasting | Budgeting | KPI Show less

Led the financial planning, budgeting and analysis function for the $45B+ Loblaw Companies.☛ Handpicked by the Finance leaders to align operational performance and consolidated results, documenting existing consolidation process for 14 divisions to capture key data points. - Developed suite of reports, executed communication approach and devised KPI and insight reporting for CFO, enabling executives to adjust according to business requirements. - Prepared a detailed forecasting… Show more Led the financial planning, budgeting and analysis function for the $45B+ Loblaw Companies.☛ Handpicked by the Finance leaders to align operational performance and consolidated results, documenting existing consolidation process for 14 divisions to capture key data points. - Developed suite of reports, executed communication approach and devised KPI and insight reporting for CFO, enabling executives to adjust according to business requirements. - Prepared a detailed forecasting and budgeting process with 30 handoffs between 14 divisions. ☛ Pivotal lead in integrating key reporting, forecasting and budgeting processes into the Loblaw system after acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart. - Acted as Loblaw’s prime contact with Shoppers team to document current processes, determine budgeting and forecasting gaps, and negotiate new alignment for seamless consolidation and integration. Analytics | Leadership | Strategy Executive | Business Partner | FP&A | Forecasting | Budgeting | KPI Show less

Led the financial planning and analysis function for the $35B+ Loblaw Companies.☛ Developed and managed the forecast process, aligning all the 14+ divisions to insure proper cadence, consistency and fluid handoffs.☛ Created the internal cashflow forecast and reporting enabling the Loblaw to maximize potential cash management benefits ☛ Alignment of internal and external reporting to provide an operational view of external financials. ☛ Development of senior… Show more Led the financial planning and analysis function for the $35B+ Loblaw Companies.☛ Developed and managed the forecast process, aligning all the 14+ divisions to insure proper cadence, consistency and fluid handoffs.☛ Created the internal cashflow forecast and reporting enabling the Loblaw to maximize potential cash management benefits ☛ Alignment of internal and external reporting to provide an operational view of external financials. ☛ Development of senior leadership management KPI reporting, providing key insight on risks and opportunities within the 14+ divisions. Show less

Accelerated Leadership Program, Executive Management

Loblaw's Accelerated Leadership Program is aimed at developing the leadership capabilities of high-performing and high-potential.

Accounting And Finance

Honours, Financial Accounting