Jana Rackova

Company Overview: IPH is an international intellectual property (IP) service group listed on ASX since 2014. A network of member firms working throughout ten IP jurisdictions, with clients in more than 25 countries.

Reporting directly to the CFO of IPH Limited, I am currently leading 20+ finance professionals across Asia Pacific region.

I am part of APAC finance leadership team responsible for implementation of business improvement initiatives, robust controls framework, and tax and compliance with rules and regulations across Asia region.

Key Strengths and Achievements:

• Played a key role in setting up a new operating entity in the Philippines with challenging business environment.
• Restructuring of Asia finance team by moving roles from Singapore to lower cost countries.
• Played a key finance role in case management system database merge.
• Significantly improved month end closing process, management reporting and key controls framework.
• Building capabilities of my team in Asia by job rotation, backup training and giving opportunities to lead or participate various finance projects.

Company Overview: Spruson & Ferguson is a leading provider of intellectual property (IP) services across the Asia-Pacific region. Spruson & Ferguson is a member firm of IPH Limited.

Reporting directly to the CFO of IPH Limited and Managing Director of Spruson & Ferguson (Asia), I led the Asia finance team to achieve strategic goals and drive team success. I played a key role in the Asia leadership team, contribution to the overall growth and success of the company.

Key Strengths and Achievements:

• Business partnering with MD and key stakeholders in the organisation which included providing sound financial support and insights enabling the Executive Leadership team to make critical business decisions.
• Significant improvement in quality of management reports by including critical business data (visual and written) to tell the story of MTD and YTD business performance.
• Led the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics ERP in Asia region (6 countries).
• Developed strong relationships with external partners, including banks, auditors, tax advisors, company secretaries and regulatory agencies across Asia region to ensure smooth financial operations.
• Cross cultural team building across the region.

Company Overview: Dyson is a global technology enterprise founded by Sir James Dyson. A leader in electrical/electronic manufacturing.

Reporting directly to the Head of Commercial Finance, I:

• Played a pivotal role in financial and business due diligence leading to Dyson’s global manufacturing expansion to the Philippines. This included creating viable financial business model, scenarios mapping, forecasting operation and capital expenditures, and advising business leaders as well as the Board of Directors on the outcome of the analysis.
• Led business negotiations with Dyson’s Contract Manufacturers, assessed their risk profile and run product allocation process.
• Led strategically important project which resulted in simplification of claims process with Dyson’s Contract Manufacturers and significant reduction in claims over a period of time.
• Provided financial support to the Commercial, Supply Chain and Global Manufacturing teams with various data analysis and scenario mappings.
• Dyson is a global technology enterprise founded by Sir James Dyson. A leader in electrical/electronic manufacturing.

Company Overview: The Chandler Corporation is a private investment organisation founded by New Zealander Mr. Richard Chandler.

Reporting directly to the CFO of the Chandler Corporation, I

• Led financial due diligence and financial analysis in the Healthcare sector. This included advising the business on financial health of each potential ‘target’ company, and making sound recommendations for each investment and/or divestment.
• Led the management reporting function for Singapore HQ and Viva Healthcare subsidiary companies in South East Asia and Africa. In addition, I was temporarily assigned to act as the CFO of Viva Medika (one of the Viva Healthcare subsidiaries) based in Indonesia in 2013.
• Partnered with Business Leaders to shape and drive strategic and tactical goals in the Healthcare sector.
• Led a financial system setup (MS Dynamics GP), cash flow projections and held Viva Healthcare businesses accountable for their sales and achieving KPM targets.
• The Chandler Corporation is a private investment organisation founded by New Zealander Mr. Richard Chandler.

Company Overview: UGL is global leader in outsourced engineering, asset management and property services operating in 45 countries worldwide. UGL is a listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Reporting directly to the CFO of UGL Limited, I:

• Led the Finance and Human Resources division for UGL Rail Services Ltd. (Hong Kong branch) with an annual turnover of US$10m and 100 employees (out of which 4 direct reports). This included working capital management, cash flow forecast, annual budget preparation and monthly forecast updates, accounts payable, payroll, project accounting, financial and management reporting, performance and human resources management.
• Brought about US$1.3m savings (7% of total forecasted cost) on a major refurbishment project by recommending replacement of the key labour service provider with internal recruitment and by identifying avoidable cost.
• Played a leading project management role in the successful implementation of the SAP system in the Hong Kong branch. This included planning, user testing, implementation and post go-live resolution of issues.
• Led and implemented a robust cash flow management process resulting in accurate monthly cash flow forecasting, the ability to repay intercompany loans (US$6m), a reduction of retention money kept by a customer (US$3m) and improved cash collection.
• UGL is global leader in outsourced engineering, asset management and property services operating in 45 countries worldwide. UGL is a listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Company Overview: Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services operating in 140 countries worldwide.

As a Senior Manager in Assurance Services, I:

• Led and executed audit engagements in the Hedge Funds division as a project (from start to finish) in compliance with EY policies, including responsibilities in the cash collection process.
• Solved complex audit issues in liaison with the audit engagement partner, e.g. classification of shares as equity or financial liabilities, recognition and measurement of fair value of derivative contracts, financial risk disclosure – IFRS 7.
• Led and motivated audit teams of up to 15 direct and indirect staff.
• Substantial reduction in Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) on my audit clients, from 110 days to 65 days.
• Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services operating in 140 countries worldwide.

Company Overview: Capral is Australia’s largest extruder and distributor of aluminium products. Capral is a listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Reporting directly to the CFO of Capral Limited, I:

• Led Finance and Commercial division for Building Systems Group (‘BSG’) and Distribution Services (‘DS’) business units of Capral Limited with an annual turnover of US$120m. This included business modelling and planning activities, working capital management, financial evaluations, capital investment applications, pricing and margin management and managing a financial team.
• Led one of Capral’s three key continuous process improvement projects which resulted in fundamental simplification of pricing and improvement of margin management.
• Led the Key Performance Indicators (‘KPI’) project which brought consistency in the key performance measures across the business, linking them to company’s financial and/or strategic outcomes. This included identification, definition, benchmarking, system development, testing and implementation of KPIs.
• Led the planning and forecasting process for Capral’s BSG and DS business units.
• Led Risk and Internal Audit division from December 2005 to July 2007. Reported directly to the Audit Committee on the outcome of audit examinations and the key risks identified, inclusive of management plans how to minimise identified risks.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in establishing the company’s risk management framework and in impacting business with recommendations made during audit reviews that included making people accountable for implementation of action plans.
• Built excellent rapport with people at all levels (from the CEO to shop floor staff).
• Capral is Australia’s largest extruder and distributor of aluminium products. Capral is a listed company on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Company Overview: Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services operating in 140 countries worldwide.

• Joined Arthur Andersen as a graduate in 1999 in Prague, the Czech Republic. I was promoted to Senior Accountant after two years. Arthur Andersen merged with Ernst & Young and created a combined entity in the Czech Republic in July 2002. I was assigned to Cayman Islands hedge funds practice in 2003 and became a Manager after first year. I relocated to Sydney, Australia in November 2004 and was a Manager in hedge funds practice.
• Managed and executed audits of a wide variety of clients, both publicly and privately held, across various industry sectors. Provided internal audit services to a number of global clients.
• Became a member of the hedge funds management team, leading audits and advising clients falling under International Financial Reporting Standards, US GAAP and other reporting requirements (Irish Stock Exchange, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Cayman Islands Monetary Authority and Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) in 2004.
• Engaged in due diligence of leading banks in the Czech Republic including bank assets valuation.
• Became a team leader in the review of the loan portfolio transferred from IPB Bank (part of Nomura Group under forced administration in the Czech Republic in 2002) to CSOB Bank within the period of 2 months since the beginning of engagement. This was as a result of the thorough review, simplification of the review process and resolving some difficult loan valuation cases.
• Actively involved in Ernst & Young’s mentoring and coaching program.
• Managed teams of up to 25 direct and indirect reports.