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Arnaud Soupa, CFA, Finance Expert in Toronto, ON, Canada
Arnaud Soupa, CFA

Finance Expert in Toronto, ON, Canada

Member since January 20, 2022
Arnaud is a part-time CFO and advisor in corporate financial management. With an international corporate career of 20+ years working at prominent players like Veolia and PwC, he ventured into the startup space as a co-founder and CEO. For the past four years, he has been helping small and medium-sized businesses scale up, adopt more sophisticated practices, and tackle increasing complexity. Arnaud appreciates the opportunity to engage with various visionary, demanding, and talented stakeholders.
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Career Highlights

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Expertise

  • CFO
  • CleanTech
  • Corporate Finance
  • Environmental Services
  • Financial Analysis
  • Financial Modeling
  • Part-time CFO
  • Strategic Planning

Employment

  • Part-time CFO and Corporate Finance Management Advisor

    2017 - PRESENT
    A.Soupa Consulting Inc.
    • Currently supporting a startup to scale up its SaaS space through improved processes, new commercial models, and strategic partnerships in Canada and the USA as a fractional CFO.
    • Currently supporting a Not-For-Profit in improving the FP&A function, including developing a forward-looking financial model.
    • Currently supporting an e-learning company in FP&A and improvement of the finance function (as an Advisor, USA).
    • Currently supporting a Credit Union's scenario analysis, including developing a bottom-up forward-looking financial model (as an Advisor, Canada).
    • Acted as interim, part-time CFO supporting a global PE-owned food production company for its North-American operations, focusing on budgeting, cash flow, profitability, and growth projects.
    • Designed and led the implementation of a strategic plan for a Canadian environmental services space following an acquisition as fractional president.
    • Supported a Canadian startup to secure equity and debt for its first commercial project in the cleantech space as a fractional CFO.
    • Built a financial model and conducted an impairment and onerous contract analysis as an advisor for a company in the automotive sector in Canada.
    • Led the creation of an edtech startup as a co-founder and CEO.
    • Provided advice during an M&A process in France as an advisor.
    Focus areas: Startup Consulting, Strategic Planning, Strategic Partnerships, Startup Funding, Entrepreneurship, CleanTech, Environmental Services, CFO, Virtual CFO, Fractional CFO, Financial Modeling, Project Finance, Part-time CFO, Startup CFO, Corporate Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Budgeting, Cash Management, Cash Flow, Business Advisory, SaaS, Renewables, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financing, Fundraising, Business Models, Revenue & Expense Projections, Startups, Angel/Seed Funding, Early-stage Startups, Controllership, Sales Growth, Seed Fundraising, Accounting

  • VP of Strategy and Business Development – Veolia North America

    2015 - 2017
    Veolia
    • Served as a business development conduit to structure and submit offers and explore partnership opportunities for the entire environmental services portfolio across North America.
    • Partnered with business development and operational teams to craft offers, submit bids and proposals backed by intense financial analysis, financial modeling, contract review, and risk analysis for 37 projects.
    • Performed research and development of strategic growth plans to measure the impact of major strategic projects and growth initiatives.
    • Steered risk review procedure development, tightening the process to submit project opportunities to management.
    Focus areas: Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, Project Finance, PPP Projects, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, CleanTech, Environmental Services, Renewables, Corporate Governance, Cash Flow, Business Models, Sales Growth

  • Chief Financial Officer – Dalkia Canada

    2012 - 2014
    Veolia
    • Designated to the newly created position with a mandate to lead the development and execution of strategic plans and develop all back-office functions in finance, legal, HR, IT, and risk management.
    • Scaled back-office infrastructure for growth. Aligned finance functions to group standards for transparency with accurate reporting and forecasting. Deployed group initiatives at the subsidiary level.
    • Helmed a 7-year strategic plan for Canadian operations with varied business models and market opportunities.
    • Supported business development efforts from a finance perspective, providing financial analysis, financial modeling, risk analysis and mitigation, contractual analysis, and deal structure.
    • Tasked to plan and lead divestment of a non-core and loss-making business unit deemed non-strategic.
    Focus areas: CFO, CleanTech, Environmental Services, Financial Modeling, Project Finance, Corporate Governance, Strategic Partnerships, PPP Projects, Budgeting, Cash Management, Renewables, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Financial Analysis, Internal Control, Policies & Procedures Compliance, Reporting, Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financing, Revenue & Expense Projections, Controllership, Accounting

  • Finance Director – Dalkia UK

    2009 - 2011
    Veolia
    • Managed geographically disparate teams across the UK in charge of a portfolio of business units.
    • Mandated to boost profit and cash flow of a mature business unit.
    • Ensured finance systems and processes were in place to cope with challenges as the company decided to aggressively expand in the retail facilities management sector.
    • Successfully led off-balance sheet arrangements—projects financing and refinancing—and major commercial settlements.
    Focus areas: Operational Finance, Working Capital Management, Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting, Project Finance, Service-level Agreements (SLA), CleanTech, Environmental Services, Management Accounting, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Reporting, Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financing, Revenue & Expense Projections, Controllership, Controller, Accounting

  • Financial Controller – Dalkia UK

    2006 - 2009
    Veolia
    • Focused on the tracking and maximization of cash flow, EBITDA, and profitability, with active involvement in commercial matters and risk management.
    • Implemented cash optimization measures like costs savings and working capital management.
    • Supported the growth of the project's business development cycle.
    Focus areas: Operational Finance, CleanTech, Environmental Services, Budgeting, Management Accounting, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Working Capital Management, Reporting, Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Controllership, Controller, Accounting

  • Internal Audit and Risks Analyst – Dalkia UK

    2005 - 2006
    Veolia
    • Led various internal audit assignments in compliance and performance.
    • Led the 2006 Sarbanes-Oxley campaign to assess a new set of internal controls as part of a global group policy.
    • Raised business awareness while managing the group insurance program.
    Focus areas: Internal Control, Internal Audits, Risk Management, CleanTech, Environmental Services, Policies & Procedures Compliance

  • Management Accountant — Dalkia Headquarters

    2002 - 2005
    Veolia
    • Contributed to the central management accounting team, reporting to its director.
    • Modeled, analyzed, and presented the group's strategic plan to the CFO.
    • Monitored the headquarters' costs working closely with the CFO while owning the responsibility for the management accounts.
    Focus areas: Budgeting, Strategic Planning, CleanTech, Environmental Services, Operational Finance, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Controllership, Controller

  • Senior Consultant in Management Accounting

    1999 - 2002
    PwC
    • Defined and implemented processes and procedures across a variety of clients in the public sector, telecommunication, and more.
    • Implemented a management accounting system with activity-based costing.
    • Developed and delivered training programs to accelerate the adoption of new procedures and systems.
    Focus areas: Policies & Procedures Compliance, Management Accounting, Operational Finance

  • Branch Financial Controller

    1997 - 1998
    Geoservices
    • Implemented financial processes, procedures, and management accounts.
    • Focused on the collection of receivables, bringing the accounts receivable's age profile back to normal.
    • Carried out various assignments for several Mediterranean and Middle-East branches to implement best practices.
    Focus areas: Reporting, Cash Management, Operational Finance, Budgeting, Business Planning, Microsoft Excel, Cash Flow, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Revenue & Expense Projections, Controllership, Controller

  • Intern – Corporate Banking Analyst, Banque de Gestion Privee

    1995 - 1996
    Groupe Credit Agricole
    • Delivered financial and risk analysis on working capital, LBO arrangements, and more.
    • Processed day-to-day transactions for corporate clients.
    • Monitored profitability of corporate banking activities.
    Focus areas: Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Microsoft Excel, Financing, Revenue & Expense Projections

Education

  • Bachelor and Master's Degree in Finance
    1994 - 1997
    Grenoble School of Management - Grenoble, France
  • Bachelor and Master's Degree in Public Services
    1991 - 1994
    Institute of Political Studies - Grenoble, France

Certifications

  • Advanced Financial Modeler
    DECEMBER 2021 - PRESENT
    Financial Modeling Institute
  • FI Accelerator Program for Startups
    SEPTEMBER 2020 - PRESENT
    Founder Institute
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
    SEPTEMBER 2019 - PRESENT
    CFA institute

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