Michael Cardwell
NSW
Summary
Proven leader in financial management and strategic planning, with a track record of optimising profitability and enhancing decision-making at Nespresso Australia. Adept at fostering team collaboration, I have significantly contributed to financial forecasting and internal control management, driving results through innovative solutions and stakeholder engagement.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
B2C Controller
Nespresso Australia
04.2023 - Current
- Ensured stewardship and governance as custodian of internal controls and financial policies
- Led the Monthly Business Planning (MBP) process, organising Monthly Gap Review (MGR) meetings and coordinating annual Operational Planning (OP)
- Prepared monthly Dynamic Forecasts (DF) and Operational Plans (OP), including Net Net Sales (NNS) forecasts and staffing forecasts
- Review and simplification of business forecasting cycle to improve ways of working within the business
- Analysed commercial activation and product portfolios to identify cost optimisation opportunities and maximise ROI
- Provided financial support and insights for promotional evaluations and new product launches, including business case development
- Evaluated retail network performance to eliminate value detractors and maintain healthy Retail Operation Cost (ROC)
- Supported business cases for new BTQ openings and reviewed existing store formats
- Managed costs and enhanced B2C performance by understanding cost structures and business drivers
- Promoted KPI benchmarking for improved performance visibility and accountability
- Fostered cost transparency and established accountabilities for achieving targets
- Conducted periodic reviews and collaborated with partners for corrective actions, balancing short-term and long-term decision-making
- Challenged resource allocation planning to align with DF and OP and monitored investments with financial justifications
- Ensured effective execution of pricing strategies and adherence to margin targets
- Mentored and developed finance team members, fostering professional growth
- Coordinated with external auditors during financial audits, providing necessary documentation
B2B Controller
Nespresso Australia
01.2023 - 04.2023
- Prepared and presented accurate financial reports, including profit and loss statements and cash flow analyses, to support strategic decision-making
- Developed and managed budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment with business objectives
- Analysed cost structures to identify optimisation opportunities and enhance profitability
- Ensured compliance with revenue recognition policies and accurate reporting of sales and service revenues
- Conducted financial analysis to evaluate performance and provide actionable insights to management
- Collaborated with sales and marketing teams to support pricing strategies and contract negotiations
- Oversaw account reconciliations for accounts receivable and payable to maintain accurate financial records
- Implemented and monitored internal controls
- Communicated financial performance to stakeholders, facilitating understanding of key metrics
- Identified and implemented process improvements for efficient financial reporting
Marketing Controller
Nespresso Australia
04.2021 - 01.2023
- Delivered precise forecasting and high-quality reporting to support informed business decision-making and strategic initiatives
- Provided financial analysis and insights to aid business co-piloting and achieve strategic objectives
- Assisted the Financial Controller in leading the Australian Controlling team to meet business goals
- Ensured the integrity and reliability of financial information and compliance with Nestlé and Nespresso guidelines
- Optimised investments by monitoring expenditures and ensuring alignment with financial targets
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams on financial simulations and modelling for projects, ensuring clear ROI
- Monitored monthly costs and coordinated with department managers to adhere to budgets
- Developed tracking systems to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and address deviations
- Managed financial forecasting for Nespresso HQ and Nestlé Oceania, including marketing investments and business case submissions
- Engaged with stakeholders to ensure thorough financial modelling before forecast inclusion
- Participated in business planning cycles and reviews to support strategic alignment
Junior Controller
Nespresso Australia
11.2018 - 03.2021
- Provided financial co-piloting through effective reporting, forecasting, and budget monitoring, including PFME, TTS, CAPEX, and ROC for BTQ
- Managed pre- and post-evaluations for commercial expenditures to enhance financial performance
- Executed month-end processes, conducting variance analysis and collaborating with budget owners for insightful financial commentary
- Contributed to the monthly DF cycle and annual OP
- Developed financial models for marketing and trade promotions to assess ROI and support strategic initiatives
- Served as a SAP HANA Superuser, aiding in the creation and publication of financial reports
- Utilised Power BI to transform Excel scorecards into dynamic visual reports, improving data accessibility and analysis
Accounting Officer
Nespresso Australia
08.2016 - 11.2018
- Acted as liaison for AP & AR queries between Nespresso and offshore partners in Ukraine
- Assisted in auditing expense reports via Concur and implemented process improvements, including transitioning from physical to email reminders
- Prepared month-end journals and supported month-end closing activities, including account reconciliations, fixed assets, and tax submissions to Nestlé
- Managed the PO process, providing training for new staff and annual training for year-end close
- Performed month-end duties such as accruals, payroll journals, intergroup reconciliations, and GL postings
- Served as a Guest Auditor for a one-month mission at Nestlé, auditing the confectionery business
- Organised team-building and social events for the Finance Team
Digital Service Specialist
Nespresso Australia
11.2014 - 08.2016
- Delivered premium customer service across multiple media, ensuring first contact resolution and adherence to quality and productivity standards
- Engaged with customers through social media, utilising strong written communication skills
- Proposed solutions for customer issues, including technical machine problems, and effectively managed complaints and escalated cases
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail in financial reporting
- Thrived under pressure, meeting tight deadlines while managing multiple priorities
- Volunteered as a Coffee Champion, supporting the HR Learning and Development Team by creating training programs and providing coffee knowledge support
- Completed NIDA training in Storytelling
Student Advisor
Macquarie University
01.2013 - 01.2014
Pharmacy Panel Assistant
Nielsen Company
01.2012 - 01.2014
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Professional Accounting
Macquarie University
01.2015
CPA -
CPA Australia
01.2019
Skills
- Advanced Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Power BI skills
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Time management and multitasking
- Familiarity with ERP systems
- Curious and growth-oriented mindset
- Team collaboration
- Team mentoring and coaching
- Corporate strategic planning
- Pricing and costing
- Management accounting
- Internal control management
- Month-end and year-end closings
- Executive leadership advisement
- Internal controls
- Strategic planning
- Financial forecasting
Professional Development
- RMIT University, Data Story Telling, 2023
- Australian Institute of Management (AIM), Managing People Effectively, 2023
- University of Sydney, Project management Course: Fundamentals, 2023
Websites
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
B2C Controller
Nespresso Australia
04.2023 - Current
B2B Controller
Nespresso Australia
01.2023 - 04.2023
Marketing Controller
Nespresso Australia
04.2021 - 01.2023
Junior Controller
Nespresso Australia
11.2018 - 03.2021
Accounting Officer
Nespresso Australia
08.2016 - 11.2018
Digital Service Specialist
Nespresso Australia
11.2014 - 08.2016
Student Advisor
Macquarie University
01.2013 - 01.2014
Pharmacy Panel Assistant
Nielsen Company
01.2012 - 01.2014
Bachelor of Commerce - Professional Accounting
Macquarie University
CPA -
CPA Australia
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