VINCENT BIENES

National food manufacturer of savouries and sweets. The second biggest in the industry within Australia with an estimated annual turnover of $200m. The company manufactures and supplied the food brands Mrs Mac's, Pie Face and Balfours.

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

• Managed Finance, Payroll and IT Departments
• Conducted M&A activities (business studies, due diligence, etc.) to potential companies to be acquired in line with strategy to be the number 1 in the industry through acquisitions.
• Managed M&A business integration more specifically the recent acquisition of Balfours Bakery of South Australia (circa $65m turnover).
• Oversaw the financial requirements (budgeting, accounting, reporting and analysis) and tax administration of the 5 companies within the Aus Pie Group, 5 companies within the Pie Face Group and 1 overseas company based in New Zealand.
• Advised other members of the management team on strategies and intelligence to form relationships, understand current performance and set agenda for execution.
• Tracked cash flow and financial planning to analyze company's financial strengths and weaknesses and propose strategic directions.
• Worked closely with external audit and tax consultants to hedge against or mitigate operational risks.
• Analysed operational issues affecting labour efficiencies, production line productivity and product yields and implemented corrective action to optimise profits.
• Ensured product costing and pricing models are in line with strategy to only retain businesses with profitable revenue. This includes setting up price rise mechanism across the product range on offer.
• Closely managed availability of funds to ensure cash sufficiency for operations and for investment purposes. This is achieved through a robust forecasting system,
• Ensured healthy relationship with CEO and key staff at principal offices at Melbourne.

National food manufacturer of smallgoods with factories in Perth and Melbourne. The third largest in the industry within Australia with annual turnover of $300m.

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

• Managed Finance, Administration and IT Departments.
• Provided strong financial leadership and is instrumental in the company's continued growth from a turnover of $200m in 2019 to $300m in 2023.
• Organised a "war chest" of available funds during the height of Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the company's liquidity and survival in the midst of global economic uncertainty.
• Secured significant Federal and State Government Grants and Tax Incentives to help fund expansion projects and critical investments in automation and R&D.
• Provided the management team with necessary tools, mechanisms and insights to optimise the returns of the $70m green field expansion at Melbourne through consistent line productivity, increased labour efficiency and improved product yields.
• Instrumental in organising, funding and implementing Project Get Fit, a $15m initiative of capital expenditures which promote production line automation, improved factory efficiency, increased production capacity, improved work place safety and reduced overall manufacturing costs.
• Implemented relevant costing and pricing models which optimise competitive advantage without sacrificing target margins per product, per customer group. This includes organising price increases across products and market channels.
• Ensured that the company adheres to good corporate governance. Kept the business up to date with changes to relevant laws, relevant taxation issues, regulations and standards.
• Ensured timely month-end and year-end closing and provides executives and the board with accurate financial information.
• Provided financial modellings, rolling forecasts, business cases and ad-hoc financial analyses, as required.
• Managed operational and strategic risks and ensures sufficient insurance coverage for all insurable risks.
• Implemented automation & digitalisation in transactional accounting and board reporting processes cutting on transactional costs and improving efficiency and business controls.
• Provided guidance to the IT Department to be able to rapidly adapt in the fast moving technology space by ensuring that the Company's IT infrastructure, Systems and Cybersecurity posture are up to standards/benchmarks and relevant to the business operating model and that of our strategic business partners
• Ensured a healthy relationship with the CEO, Chairman and the Board and actively participating in the development and formulation of operational and strategic initiatives.
• Organised monthly Board Information Package, collaborate with the Chairman in organising board meetings and AGM for shareholders.
• Performed corporate secretarial services including maintenance and updates of company records, lodgement of annual accounts, and dividends administration.

• Provided financial guidance and analysis to the executive team and company board to assist in the decision making process. The role also takes charge in the costing process of the manufacturing operations, product pricing, customer profitability and financial modelling across its facilities and business units.
• Disposed the function of commercial manager and organise business tenders including costings, pricing and other required analyses.
• Actively assisted the MD, CFO and the board through the build up of required financial modelling in the company's $70 million green field expansion project in Victoria. Supported the MD and CFO in coordinating with banks to fund the expansion project.
• Set up the cost structures of all work centres and products in the new factory in Victoria.
• Collaborated with Management Accountant and ensured timely month-end closing, preparation accurate financial reports, proper tax administration, explanation of variances and required GL and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Organised the R&D Tax Incentive claims initiative in collaboration with external consultants and the GM for Technical Services.
• Acting as CFO when CFO is on leave and became de facto CFO several months before the incumbent decided to retire.

The primary responsibility was to provide the executive team with the required financial guidance in its decision making. This includes product pricing, product contribution analysis, profit and loss by state and by market channel and all financial analysis, cost benefit analysis and ad-hoc financial modellings.

Managed the business controls and processes requirements for subsidiary companies in Hong Kong, mainland China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Provided support and guidance to CEO's and CFO's of the subsidiary companies in the areas of financial policies, business processes controls and costing structures in the manufacturing operations.

Provided technical consultancy to the manufacturing and selling operations to the subsidiary company based in Indonesia. Pt Delta Djakarta is wholly owned by San Miguel Corporation and is Indonesia's 2nd biggest player in the beer industry.

Managed the Finance Department of the Brewery and provided expert technical financial guidance to the Plant Director and the Management Team.

Critical part of the role was also to provide financial guidance to the whole supply chain as the Brewery supplies products to several regional trading operations across the Philippines.

Disposed the responsibilities of a Financial Controller of the regional selling operations. Provide financial leadership in the trading operations.

Integral part of the role was to ensure a viable business, compliance with statutory requirements, maintaining healthy business controls and provide guidance in the overall regional operations.

Conducted audits and provided consultancy services to companies from a diverse range of industries covering steel manufacturing, cement production and gas and oil.