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# Katalyst Places Accountant, U of C MBA Grad, and Busy Mom of Four in Mutually-fit Role
When University of Chicago MBA grad and hands-on mom of four began thinking about re-entering the workforce after spending time at home with her children, academic and professional high achiever Helen knew exactly who could support her next endeavor. With a relationship spanning nearly 10 years, Katalyst Group already appreciated the non-negotiables for this seasoned accountant and project manager – an amazing work culture with ongoing opportunity to contribute and grow.
With a can-do, go-getter approach complemented by a relationship-oriented management style, it’s no surprise Helen believes job satisfaction is rooted in a positive work culture supported by strong leadership. Prioritizing Helen’s career goals and the right work environment, Katalyst Group thoroughly vetted roles before presenting the Manager opportunity.
## The Client’s Challenges and Goals
Prior to Helen’s arrival, a privately held investor was in the process of acquiring the publicly held wholesale distributor. Even though positions were not eliminated, employees proactively pursued and accepted outside jobs as the acquisition was in progress. Post-acquisition, rebuilding and filling the Business Accounting function was a priority, including filling Helen’s current leadership role. Being aware of these challenges, Helen knew her role would offer the opportunity to make a difference.
The Deerfield, Illinois-based wholesale distributor has multiple national accounts, each with a set of requirements ranging from order-to-cash processes to billing to managing of rebates. The handling of national accounts requires expertise performing detailed financial analytics, ability to work cross-functionally as a colleague and supervisor, and managing daily maintenance and rebates.
## Skill Set, Personalities, Job Description Align for Great Fit
Opportunity to add value in a role that utilizes accounting, finance, operations management, and leadership skills while embracing continuous learning was, and always will be, paramount to Helen. Likewise, the wholesale distributor seeks to fill its warehouse with more than just products, but also its offices—both remote and onsite—with a talented team who believes in their own contributions and embraces being in a work culture consisting of strong leadership, vision and work-life balance. “I’m enjoying working across the organization and being recognized as a go-to resource for problem solving,” says Helen.
## Contributions in New Role
Serving in a leadership manager role and garnering the reputation of ‘I wish I had a Helen,’ re-entering the workforce full-time in a positive work culture is just where Helen wants to be. “Working with and for someone you enjoy is important along with the opportunity to grow and have exposure at different levels,” says Helen.
In her leadership role, Helen manages rebates and order-to-cash processes; reviews national accounts; supervises staff responsible for daily balancing; ensures legacy and SAP systems remain in sync; serves as a finance liaison; manages daily maintenance of projects; and will oversee a billing modernization project.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to be with an organization that allows me to use my diverse skillset to succeed in multiple areas, but that they also value my role as a parent and provide the flexibility for me to be there for my family,” says Helen.
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# Strategic Finance Consultant Proves Value, Transitions Full-time as M&A Growth Leader
Demonstrating his leadership skills as a strategic finance consultant for a Global Logistics company, Mayur Bawa established what is now a long-term relationship with the client in his new role as VP Corporate Development. Katalyst Group guided Mayur from day one, matching skills and interests with the client’s needs. Knowing that there would be a learning curve, Katalyst Group served as a liaison, aligning feedback and sharing with both Mayur and client the expectations to progress from consultant to full-time M&A growth leader.
## The Katalyst Group Approach
> “Katalyst doesn’t just focus on one-to-one skills matching, but rather on what a consultant can do for the client, which sets Katalyst apart from other staffing agencies.” – Mayur Bawa
Gaining trust and credibility as a consultant was a key consideration for the client to invest in Mayur to take on the new challenge of building out the client’s M&A capabilities and processes to accelerate execution of its inorganic growth strategy.
## COVID-19 Shutdown Timeframe Embraced as Transformation Opportunity
Due to macroeconomic uncertainty in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdowns in the Spring of 2020, the client indefinitely halted its M&A initiatives, resulting in a reduction of Mayur’s consulting hours. Consistent with its agile organizational culture and commitment to innovate, the Global Logistics Company embraced the pandemic-rooted disruption, pivoting to utilize and train existing resources in support of process efficiency and cost optimization projects.
Recognizing Mayur’s demonstrated acumen and prior experience, the client redirected his talents away from leading its M&A activities towards spearheading a global labor cost study. With this new mandate, Mayur supported the client’s objective to increase efficiency by 50% in 50% of its tasks, benefiting the company by establishing a path forward on workflow automation and offshoring.
More specifically, Mayur made an impact by:
* Developing an activity-based methodology to create transparency on current labor costs efficiency across finance & accounting (F&A) and operational support processes.
* Managing, in partnership with a 3rd party advisory firm, a global Managed Services RFS to contract process with a series of rapid delivery phases, including discovery, process design, vendor selection, and negotiating/contracting.
* Liaising, as Global Program Manager, with the selected offshore Managed Services partner to develop and implement an aggressive transition plan for F&A.
Currently in Go-Live phase, the first phase of the Company’s Transform Finance program will be fully transitioned by end July 2021.
## M&A Activity Heats Up Again
Strong industry tailwinds by late 2020 signaled to the client that the timing was ideal to resume its inorganic growth strategy. Bolstered by this positive trend, Mayur set out to rebuild the company’s M&A pipeline while formulating a refreshed M&A strategy. The company’s pipeline is now larger than ever, and Mayur is leading the way as the company embarks on simultaneously pursuing multiple growth opportunities.
As the client’s corporate development leader enabling accelerated growth, Mayur joined the Global Logistics Company full-time as of April 1st 2021, positioning its corporate development function to execute an M&A strategy critical to achieving the company’s year 2021 and future goals.
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