ASSA ABLOY ensures financial compliance with international interim CFO in Norway
When ASSA ABLOY's industrial segment in Norway urgently needed a new CFO with demanding global expertise, the solution was an interim recruitment via International Desk. Regional Director Andreas Frisk explains why Per-Ola, an internationally experienced Norwegian consultant, was the decisive factor in securing the company's financial compliance and drive cultural change.
As a globally listed company, ASSA ABLOY sets extremely high standards for the quality of its financial reporting. A sudden change in personnel risked compromising this quality and the company's process compliance.
”If we don't follow processes, we can't maintain the necessary quality in reporting.” notes Andreas Frisk, Regional Director for the industrial segment at ASSA ABLOY.
In the time-pressured situation, Andreas to act quickly with an interim solution. ”It was important to quickly get someone in place to maintain the quality of reporting.” he explains.
The choice fell on Per-Ola, a Norwegian interim consultant who was matched through Interim Search's International Desk. The combination of his Norwegian background and very strong international profile was decisive.
”The global experience was important. We work in a global matrix organization, and it’s very different if you haven’t done it before. Otherwise, the starting stretch becomes too long.” says Andreas.
Per-Ola's previous experience from assignments in local sales companies around the world (in contexts such as Norway, Dubai, and Russia) was a perfect match. This proven track record—along with his local knowledge—ensured that he was able to deliver a half-year financial statement and other critical information with an impressively short lead time of just four to five weeks.
Andreas emphasizes that international experience is also key to stress resilience and operational capability in a global context.
”If you have experience working in a global matrix, you are used to having not just one, but several stakeholders chasing you. The value of having a CFO who is accustomed to matrix organizations and international financial governance is absolutely crucial in our context.” he states.
Per-Ola not only succeeded in stabilizing reporting, but also in driving a desired cultural change. The goal now is to continue raising the bar and further increasing requirements, which is measured through five monthly key performance indicators.
For other Nordic managers facing complex recruitment challenges with a need for specific global and operational expertise, Andreas has a clear message about the value of the International Desk:
”It's very fast. The unique value was that we got a Swedish advisor who understood our global challenges and could deliver an international consultant as quickly as if it were a Swedish candidate.”
See more successful international customer cases and solutions here.
