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Charlene Lee, Finance Expert in Singapore, Singapore
Charlene Lee

Finance Expert in Singapore, Singapore

Member since February 12, 2017
Charlene is a finance expert cum consulting CFO with experience working for US Fortune 500, MNCs, and startups. She's managed $550 million dollar business, carried out successful profitability/business improvement projects, budget & forecasting, financial management, financial modeling, FP&A, and worked in an $850 million M&A engagement.
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Career Highlights

Education

Select Certifications

Case studies

Industry Expertise

  • Energy, Utilities & Waste
  • Finance
  • Banking
  • Food & Beverage
  • eCommerce
  • Financial Modeling
  • Startups

Other Expertise

Employment

  • Consulting CFO

    2016 - PRESENT
    Crown Aegis Global Advisory
    • Developed a five-year business plan for the strategic and management purposes for various clients.
    • Implemented an improvement in the cash flow management process and improved the working capital by 15%.
    • Carried out a profitability analysis and improvement recommendations—contributing to 3% improvement in the operating profit.
    • Developed a financial benchmarking and balance scorecard for an SME client.
    • Carried out cost analysis and cost reduction exercises resulting in an 8% reduction.
    • Made revenue analysis and improvement recommendation which contributed to an improved revenue by 20%.
    • Implemented budgeting, forecasting, and analysis processes.
    Focus areas: Revenue & Expense Projections, Training & Training Content Development, Training, Finance, Strategic Planning, Profitability Analysis, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Modeling, Working Capital Management, Forecasting, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

  • Vice President Finance

    2013 - 2015
    Proserv, Inc.
    • Refined the key performance indicators (KPI) which increased the management focus and improved the working capital by 20%.
    • Carried out expenditure controls and reduced wastage to improve the profitability by 5%.
    • Strengthened the budgeting, forecasting, and reforecasting ability within 2 months; gained recognition from the president for improved business visibility and accuracy.
    • Executed a post-acquisition integration for an acquisition in Australia and completed the process harmonization within 2 months.
    • Acted as the regional lead for due diligence, business plan preparation, and business case presentation for the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of $850 million.
    • Restructured the finance organization with a 20% headcount reduction, coached, and mentored finance team of 11 for an improved performance.
    • Developed a five-year business plan for the growth and strategic direction.
    Focus areas: Leadership, Development, Risk & Compliance, Balance Sheets, Strategic Planning, Business Planning, Profitability Optimization, Profitability Analysis, Debtor & Creditor Management, Working Capital Management, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Reporting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling

  • Finance Director

    2009 - 2013
    Baker Hughes, Inc.
    • Developed US $550 million dollar budgets—involving resource allocation and capital decision making.
    • Developed financial models for multi-million dollar projects and won the key contract with a value of more than US $150 million.
    • Developed a strategic analysis for a new market entry and produced an action plan for execution.
    • Developed a five-year business plan for growth and strategic direction.
    • Improved the cash flow by addressing issues at the root via the process improvement for collection and inventory management.
    • Built a new, high-performing operational finance team from scratch with the ability to play an effective business partnering role.
    • Acted as the Eastern Hemisphere finance trainer— training business managers with financial knowledge to manage the financials of their business units and make business decision with awareness of financial impacts.
    Focus areas: Leadership, Development, Risk & Compliance, Cash Flow Management, Economic Value Added, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Profitability Optimization, Profitability Analysis, Business Process Refinement, Strategic Planning & Execution, Business Planning, Budgeting, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

  • Group Financial Controller

    2007 - 2008
    Planet One Group
    • Resolved cash challenges through effective cash management—renegotiated credit terms, improved AR collections, redefined inventory level, and more.
    • Created and monitored the budgets and forecast—presented the quarterly review to the board of directors with an analysis.
    • Developed the internal audit processes and implemented them diligently—successfully improved the document management, accounting records, and statutory submissions.
    • Built financial models for external fundraising and successfully raised US $10 million funding.
    • Implemented KPIs for management teams to improve the business and financial management.
    Focus areas: Forecasting, Budgeting, Leadership, Development, Cash Flow Management, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Business Planning, Financial Benchmarking, Financial Reporting, Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

  • Group Financial Controller

    2000 - 2006
    QuickNet Com
    • Developed a five-year business plan for external fundraising efforts for the startups and successfully obtained banking facilities of MYR 5million for business operations and project financing of MYR 1.5 million projects.
    • Developed group budgets of MYR 50 million, resource allocation, and capital decision making.
    • Built and established effective accounting and finance processes and controls from scratch.
    • Developed management reports for business managers to management their KPIs.
    • Developed a pricing strategy.
    • Implemented a cost analysis and cost reduction exercises resulting in a 7% improvement in the bottom line.
    Focus areas: System Design, Business Planning, Budgeting, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Modeling

Education

  • Master of Science in Organizational Psychology
    2015 - 2016
    University of London - London, UK
  • Executive MBA in Business Administration
    2014 - 2015
    Kellogg School of Management | Northwestern University & Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - Chicago, IL, USA & Hong Kong
  • ACCA (CPA Equivalent) in Accounting and Finance
    2000 - 2003
    The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants - UK
  • Bachelor's Degree in Economics
    1994 - 1997
    University of London - London, UK

Certifications

  • Certified Corporate FP&A Professionals
    APRIL 2014 - JULY 2020
    Association for Finance Professionals (AFP)
  • Certified Chartered Accountant
    AUGUST 2003 - PRESENT
    ACCA, UK

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