Simon Betschart Email & Phone Number

Switzerland

Montevideo, Uruguay

I lead a 15-member FTE commercial finance team in a VUCA environment towards achieving optimal performance levels across Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Simultaneously, I deliver financial insights helping to inform decision making and accelerate business performance. Parallel to this, I steer complex initiatives and manage large projects while promoting agile methodologies, change, and continuous improvements. Coordinated and aligned the budget/business plan with strategic goals.  Forged sustainable interactions with external customers and internal functions at local and global levels.  Executed regular price increases and the collection of accounts receivable in a high inflation country (Argentina). Successfully supported establishment of a new affiliate (legal entity) in Paraguay.

Rotkreuz, Switzerland

Throughout this short-term role, I informed strategic decision making by generating financial insights for the EMEA-LATAM leadership team. This entailed consolidating monthly actuals and planning events to provide a big picture view of our financial situation. Co-led the financial budgeting and planning process within the EMEA-LATAM Region (over 50 affiliates). Served as point of contact for affiliates regarding finance-related and strategic topics.  Produced key insights for affiliates by developing dashboards and KPIs.

Rotkreuz, Switzerland

As a go-to-person, I delivered financial analysis and advice centred on driving business with a focus on sales and gross margins. This entailed providing the CEO, CFO, finance leadership team, and investor relations with strategic financial insights.  Underpinned the execution of a USD 1.8B M&A by co-developing a business case.  Implemented automated and efficient process for creating monthly presentation for DIA Leadership Team.  Created transparency and developed actionable tools for sales price erosion, gross margin and cost of goods sold.

Lima, Peru

As senior business partner to the executive committee, I delivered strategic financial advice on overall business PnL, customer profitability, and our product portfolio. In addition, I managed reporting events, facilitating accurate and timely submission to headquarters, including building reporting packages and timelines. Throughout this time, I drove business growth and optimised resource allocation by governing financial operations.  Developed and led a controlling team of 3 FTEs, enhancing their performance and skills.  Informed sales decisions by evaluating customer deals and performing comprehensive customer profitability analysis.

Rotkreuz, Switzerland

I partnered with a few leadership teams within IT Diagnostics to achieve financial goals by aligning our financial objectives with our business strategies. Autonomously, I managed financial accounting and controlling for global IT functions, ensuring compliance and accuracy. Furthermore, I supported decision-making and enhanced IT function performance by administering strategic advice and financial insights.  Maximised financial management by owning the financial planning process and cost monitoring, including preparing for future costs and issues.  Optimised budget process and enhanced cost and headcount transparency.  Co-led a new IT cost allocation model at the global level, coordinating and overseeing significant change management.

Switzerland Zug And Belgium Beerse

Switzerland: I managed the global product spend for external supply integration. Additionally, I conducted financial analysis of external manufacturers for upper management, providing strategic insights Belgium: Here I advised control owners on compliance issues, enhancing internal control processes, whilst leading and executing SOX testing, ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.

Bachelor'S Degree, Controlling & Accounting

Bachelor'S Degree, Controlling & Accounting

ERASMUS Exchange Semester