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Foresight instead of growing pains: How structured financial management supports the success of TRIGA-S

Background: New challenges due to growth

Sabine Radiske is the founder and managing director of TRIGA-S. The company offers contract research services. When she started in 1998, as a mother of four children, she was looking for an opportunity to work flexibly from home – and wanted to give other mothers the same opportunity.

Over the course of 15 years, she continuously expanded her company. In 2017, TRIGA-S grew to 60 employees – including many part-time employees – and sales continued to rise. But with the rapid growth came new challenges: the processes could not keep pace with the rapid development. In addition, although financial planning was partially established, controlling was not comprehensive enough to implement financial management and control to the desired extent.

The Turning Point: New Perspectives through Financial Governance

In 2023, Sabine Radiske decided that she needed support to better meet the challenges of her company It was clear to her that business metrics were important for a solid financial foundation.

Hiring a full-time commercial CFO to develop these metrics for TRIGA-S and structure the finances was not economical for the company at the time. In her search for a flexible alternative, she came across the CFO Centre and decided to work with an independent part-time CFO, Sibylle Pessall.

The solution: structure and planning for more stability

With the support of the commercial CFO, Sabine Radiske analysed the important monthly key figures for her company and developed a clear business plan. The available resources in the departments were examined in detail – so the entrepreneur can quickly see which adjustments need to be made. For example, her CFO, Sibylle Pessall, also reviewed the average productivity per department and improved regular revenue planning.

As CFO, Sibylle Pessall took on tasks on a part-time basis that Sabine Radiske previously did herself, and regularly confronts her client with questions that provide clarity. Financial reserves and a solid financial basis give the TRIGA-S founder security from unforeseen challenges: „It just gives me a good feeling. I can now invest strategically and still have an overview of my financial plan and liquidity.“

The result: control, security and entrepreneurial freedom

The cooperation with the CFO Centre brought lasting changes for TRIGA-S.

In addition, the order situation and corporate profitability for TRIGA-S have improved significantly. Sabine Radiske makes informed decisions with the help of the monthly reporting that the CFO has established on a part-time basis and has more security and control over her company’s financial planning through meaningful KPIs. „I learned a lot. I still make gut decisions today, but they are backed up with well-founded figures and arguments.“

The founder herself is able to withdraw more and more from day-to-day operations thanks to the optimized processes and sound financial planning: „I have much more time for entrepreneurial tasks and can calmly think about how we want to develop as a company.“ 

Growth with vision

In cooperation with the CFO Centre, Sabine Radiske and her team have stabilised the growth of TRIGA-S and ensured it in the long term.

„My tip is that every entrepreneur should be open to change. Decisions that used to work have to be questioned at some point. The company continues to develop – and I with it. An external perspective, such as that brought in by Ms. Pessall, is very helpful.“

A stable foundation

Sabine Radiske sums up how her company has developed over the last few years: „By 2022, our team had grown to around 120 employees. At the same time, our sales volume has more than doubled from 3.8 million euros in 2017 to 9.2 million euros today. When I founded the company 25 years ago, I would not have foreseen this development. Now TRIGA-S is stable, on a sound foundation and we as a team in the management can work together more closely and successfully than ever before.“

A special thanks to our CFO

In addition to financial stability, Sabine Radiske has gained another valuable insight: Working with a CFO on a part-time basis from the CFO Center is much more than just analyzing numbers.

„Our CFO, Ms. Pessall, comes from a family-run company herself. She understands exactly what challenges I face. It is structured, analytical – but also compassionate. I appreciate that very much.“