(*) As a measure of confidentiality, the identity of the interim manager and the client are changed
1. BACKGROUND
We are in 2015 in a town in the Yvelines.
Since its independence in 1999, this Group has asserted itself as one of the top ten in the French construction sector, particularly in the construction, energy and real estate development sectors. With a turnover of €680 million and around 2,500 employees, it must find a quick solution to deal with the classic consequences of very strong growth that has disorganized its Finance Department.
The General Secretary is in a situation close to burnout and can no longer take charge of all the subjects for which he is responsible, nor carry out the substantive actions necessary for the new size of the company. The management decided by mutual agreement to call on a WAYDEN interim manager in order to temporarily resolve this critical situation.
2. DISPOSITION
The first challenge for the associate director was to choose a very specific interim manager. In addition to having to be able to relieve the Group’s General Secretary, i.e. reorganize part of his scope to make it optimized and transformed, it is also a question of ensuring that this customer does not feel threatened in his position, and therefore that he remains trusting and cooperative.
The associate director voluntarily chose a woman, for her greater ability to listen and deal with this double strategic constraint to manage. Associated with himself, Caroline ERISET, well-known interim manager of WAYDEN Sélection, should take charge of this mission successfully.
Focus on the Manager journey
Caroline ERISET is a finance professional, herself a chartered accountant. With a double degree and regularly on the lookout for courses to train in new standards, she began her career at PGA – ARTHUR ANDERSEN as a consultant before taking the position of Accounting Manager at AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES France to manage annual and forecast accounts and optimize working capital.
She was then appointed Accounting and Tax Director of the FENWICH-LINDE group in France (leader in industrial trucks in Europe) where she was responsible for the two holding companies and a consulting role within the 10 subsidiaries.
In 2009, Caroline ERISET joined PRICE WATERHOUSE COOPERS to take over the Accounting Department and manage the acquisitions, mergers, demergers and liquidations of entities. Two years later, she dedicated herself to interim management where she carried out several successful missions, including a 6-month one at PLASTIC OMNIUM.
3. MISSION
Under the aegis of the Secretary General, Caroline ERISET carries out the missions entrusted to her with a perfect mastery of operational management:
- Took charge of the operations of structuring the function to raise the level of autonomy of the teams, recruitment of 3 directors to organize the subjects under the secretary general.
- Implementation of the improvements to be made to the information system and the reporting tool, monitoring of the vehicle fleet, preparation of the annual closing of the accounts on September 30, 2015, 2016 budget…
- Preparation of two financing files for external growth operations to be presented to the banks for this company which continues to grow.
During the mission, WAYDEN communicates very regularly with the client (reporting on progress, involvement of the decision-maker in the manager’s actions, etc.) to reassure the latter that the mission is running smoothly.
In addition to the direct customer (the secretary general), a close monitoring gateway is set up in parallel with the HR director and the company’s president.
4. ASSESSMENT
This 6-month mission allowed the Secretary General to regain control of his priorities with vision. It was a lifesaver for himself, for his job and for the company. From experience, it is unfortunately rather rare today to carry out a truly positive mission in which the objective is really to support a leader in order to better help him progress.
At the end of the mission, WAYDEN supported the client in identifying and validating the future Accounting Director to be recruited within the new organization.