Eric Killion
Elmhurst,IL
Summary
Performance-driven finance leader with over 15 years of experience aligning systems, governance and policies with transformative business requirements to drive improving financial results. Passionate about developing leadership and operational excellence across global and local teams while implementing foundational change. Results-oriented individual well-versed in consulting executive leadership and organization on operational and business process to drive results based on business acumen and data focused analytics.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President Finance
HERE Technologies
04.2022 - 01.2024
- Led a cross-functional company initiative/team to ensure improving EBITDA growth over two years (9 percentage points or ~60% CAGR) despite flat to low-single digit percentage declining revenues during transition from traditional content licensed products to more software centric product portfolio.
- Implemented cost-saving measures by conducting thorough financial analysis and implementing zero-based-budgeting (ZBB) to identify areas of inefficiency and de-prioritization within the organization (leading to ~10% reduction of cost base and return to positive Free Cash Flow).
- Reduced cloud storage and usage costs by ~20% within 12 months via implementation of centralized cloud financial governance program.
- Established centrally organized FinOps sub-function under Finance/FP&A to drive predictability and more robust planning of cloud costs during transition from on-prem infrastructure/service delivery to public cloud.
Sr. Director Finance
HERE Technologies
05.2020 - 04.2022
- Managed, identified and executed successful project to mitigate impact of COVID-19 pandemic amidst automotive production halt and supply chain constraints. Over half of revenue impact (30% plan miss) offset by 2020-21 cash effective crisis management measures.
- Implemented and led executive leadership team, Supervisory Board and Shareholder financial crisis management course correction. Successful raise of subordinated shareholder funding in multiple rounds during pandemic and compliance to terms.
- Developed and implemented first weekly direct cash flow reporting to executive leadership team, Supervisory Board and Shareholders as part of expanded financial reporting package post-COVID.
- Led capital market readiness initiative from finance functional perspective as part of company initiative to prepare for reporting and compliance requirements in debt and equity markets.
- Established and drove executive leadership Investment Committee to evaluate investment opportunities, tradeoffs and mix in order to optimize results.
Director Finance
HERE Technologies
08.2019 - 05.2020
- Established first Finance Shared Services sub-function to drive repeatable process improvements and productivity within GTM Finance and Business Finance teams in order to increase internal customer satisfaction (executive leadership team).
- Consolidated operational business planning finance activities organized outside of Finance into one team, driving over 40% cost reduction in support footprint while improving support to stakeholders.
- Established first systematized forecasting and reporting solution for Balance Sheet and Cash Flow (indirect) and merger of six-week direct treasury cash flow projections into one end-to-end forecast process.
- Led financial initiative to leverage labor arbitrage to reduce costs in R&D and G&A leading to significant cost reductions and margin expansion at group level.
Sr. Finance Manager
HERE Technologies
04.2018 - 07.2019
- Led and implemented financial reporting transition from Non-IFRS to IFRS compliance systematically in six months.
- Led and implemented first product level management reporting package in financial systems in parallel to IFRS reporting compliance implementation (PeopleSoft & Hyperion).
- Established and produced new quarterly shareholder reporting package at group and product line level (standardized for IFRS).
- Led financial analytics initiative to increase productivity and cost reductions in engineering via new partnerships with outsourced engineering firms in Eastern Europe leading to cost reductions >20M EUR.
- Enhanced internal controls by implementing IFRS training for non-accountants and semi-automating finance month-end activities.
Business Controller
HERE Technologies
01.2014 - 03.2018
- Enhanced financial performance by streamlining budgeting and forecasting processes for group corporate functions (IT, Finance, Real Estate, HR, Legal & Quality).
- Responsible for group external and internal management management reporting.
- Established standalone group cash flow planning and forecasting process/reporting.
- Led financial divestment activities in tandem with corporate controller and planning/modeling of new standalone company.
Lead Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (Nokia Location & Commerce)
08.2012 - 12.2013
- Streamlined financial reporting processes by implementing automated systems, leading to improved efficiency and reliability.
- Enhanced financial forecasting models for better decision-making, utilizing advanced data analytics techniques.
- Secured cost savings by identifying opportunities for process improvements and negotiating favorable contract terms with vendors.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop budgets and monitor spending, ensuring alignment with corporate goals, objectives and desired KPI outcomes.
Sr. Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (Nokia)
01.2009 - 08.2012
- Increased financial forecast accuracy by conducting in-depth analyses of data and historical financial and operational execution trends.
- Streamlined management reporting processes, resulting in more efficient delivery of critical information to stakeholders and increased bandwidth for business case analysis.
- Enhanced profitability of group by identifying synergies and optimization of resource allocation during business combination of NAVTEQ and Nokia Services into unified location based services business unit (Nokia).
Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (NAVTEQ)
03.2007 - 12.2008
- Forecasting and budgeting lead for subset of corporate functions and financial support
- Achieved significant cost savings in IT and Quality functions by identifying inefficiencies and consolidation of third-party vendor spend.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize budgets, resulting in improved resource allocation.
Credit Analyst
PrivateBank
07.2004 - 06.2006
- Enhanced commercial real estate loan portfolio credit risk profile by conducting thorough loan underwriting and borrower due diligence.
- Delivery of recurring loan credit review approvals to bank Board and Credit Committee.
- Delivery of customer debt solutions enabled by customer relationship management.
Education
Bachelor of Science - FINANCE
Indiana University Bloomington
Bloomington, IN05.2003
Skills
- Group and Business Unit P&L Management
- Investor & Business Relationship Management
- Business and Team Transformation
- Productivity & Automation
- Leadership Development
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Financial Reporting & Analysis
- Controllership, Due Diligence
References
Available upon request
Timeline
Vice President Finance
HERE Technologies
04.2022 - 01.2024
Sr. Director Finance
HERE Technologies
05.2020 - 04.2022
Director Finance
HERE Technologies
08.2019 - 05.2020
Sr. Finance Manager
HERE Technologies
04.2018 - 07.2019
Business Controller
HERE Technologies
01.2014 - 03.2018
Lead Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (Nokia Location & Commerce)
08.2012 - 12.2013
Sr. Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (Nokia)
01.2009 - 08.2012
Financial Analyst
HERE Technologies (NAVTEQ)
03.2007 - 12.2008
Credit Analyst
PrivateBank
07.2004 - 06.2006
Bachelor of Science - FINANCE
Indiana University Bloomington
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