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Therese Cilliers

Fractional CFO Abu Dhabi

Therese Cilliers is a commercially astute Chartered Accountant and former Big 4 Partner with over 20 years of international experience driving strategic transformation and financial control.  Based in Abu Dhabi, she specialises in digital automation, cash flow optimisation, and leading cross-border teams to enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
Therese Cilliers

Track record highlights

  • Boosted EBITA by 6% at a leading African hospitality software provider and Oracle partner by renegotiating group-allocated charges and pinpointing an additional 5% upside via customer profitability deep-dives
  • Reduced monthly financial close times by 50%, successfully implementing a disciplined Day 4 reporting framework to accelerate executive decision-making
  • Halved warehouse inventory count times through the strategic execution of a new digital warehouse management system
  • Accelerated cash flow by reducing debtor days from 85 to 63 at a FTSE250 equipment leasing division while mitigating thin capitalisation tax risks
  • Increased company operating profit by 7% during a 14% market contraction by championing and embedding rigorous "Revenue Leakage" KPIs
  • Restructured a 21-member finance team for a multi-entity infrastructure group operating across Africa and the Middle East, executing a comprehensive data clean-up to achieve audit readiness

Sector Experience

  • Technology & Software: Hospitality Software & Hardware Solutions, Post-Acquisition Accounting Integration, and Enterprise System Implementation (ERP/WMS)
  • Construction & Infrastructure: Power Infrastructure Engineering Services, Multi-Entity Project Accounting, and Heavy Equipment Leasing/Rental Operations
  • Professional Services & Consulting: Fractional CFO Services for Mid-Tier Businesses, Big Four Management Consulting, Strategic Change Management, and Corporate Risk Governance
  • Diversified Conglomerates & Corporate Holdings: Cross-Border Headcount Reporting, Intercompany Charge Optimization, and Subsidiary Tax Compliance within Listed (FTSE250) Environments

Therese's specialist skills

Profit Improvement

Achieved a 6% increase in EBITA at a major hospitality software supplier by renegotiating group allocated charges and identified additional initiatives to increase profits through improved customer management

M&A Specialist

Successfully led the post-acquisition accounting integration of Micros South Africa into Adapt IT, automating processes to ensure seamless compliance with group policies

Systems and Controls

Halved monthly close times to consistently hit a Day 4 reporting deadline and implemented an online risk assessment tool that reduced credit loss provisions

Treasury

Significantly enhanced cash flow management and operational liquidity by optimising cash forecasting systems and reducing debtor days from 85 down to 63

Technology Evangelist

Drove digital transformation by implementing a new digital warehouse management system that halved inventory count times, alongside executing strategic ISP migrations to lower corporate connectivity costs

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