Marcus Wege
Summary
Results-driven finance executive with a continuous process improvement mindset and proven track record of successfully building and leading high-performing finance functions. An effective collaborator and communicator, able to motivate and lead others in any matrix of organization. Strong combination of business and corporate finance experience across multiple industries ranging from less than a million in EBITDA to over one trillion in assets.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Executive Director Finance
Ascent Global Logistics
08.2021 - 03.2024
- Leveraging experience and hands-on expertise, I established a comprehensive financial planning, analysis, and reporting framework from the ground up.
- Spearheaded the establishment of a comprehensive financial planning and analysis (FP&A) department, implementing robust budgeting and forecasting processes to enhance organizational decision-making.
- Orchestrated the development of a data-driven financial reporting and analytics platform, providing key stakeholders with real-time insights into business performance.
- Launched a robust financial modeling and scenario analysis initiative, enabling sales and operational leaders to assess the impact of various financial strategies.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and standardize key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring consistency across reports.
- Implemented a rolling forecasting approach and created Monthly Operating Reviews to drive understanding of financial results
- Closely partnered with Accounting to create new and improved processes for accurate month-end reporting.
- Recruited, hired, and trained employees on operations and performance expectations.
Senior Manager Planning & Reporting
XPO / GXO Logistics
06.2020 - 08.2021
- Redesigned and standardized the monthly reporting process, introducing streamlined workflows that significantly reduced the effort to complete, ensuring timely delivery of accurate financial information to senior leadership.
- Coordinate and drive the budget process, connecting the end-to-end process for a seamless transition of data, clear responsibilities, and an efficient process.
- Creating standard monthly reports in Power-BI for faster and easier access to the data.
- Transitioned manual data sources into ERP with improved governance, eliminating need for manual data sources and inconsistency in reported numbers.
Senior Manager Enterprise Planning
TIAA
03.2013 - 06.2020
- Created a collaborative environment through strong business partnering and efficient communications to set expectations, understanding and established a platform for solving emerging issues as it related to the end to end enterprise planning cadences.
- Lead Greenbelt project that shortened the end-to-end enterprise planning process by 20% while improving satisfaction by 40% across the planning teams and business partners.
- Coordinated review across 3 major business lines, 20+ product lines, and all major functions (e.g., Actuarial Services, Marketing, HR, Risk), with direct interaction of C-suite leaders.
- Manage enterprise revenue ($10B +) and expense ($5B +) targets set by Board of Directors.
- Implemented self-service tool (Tableau dashboard) to provide target transparency to business and support areas.
- Mediate changes negotiated between parties while still delivering on overall enterprise targets.
- Developed Financial Planning Playbook for the planning community.
- This significantly improved cross-team alignment on critical deliverables, timing, and expectations.
- This detailed SOP, used by over 60 key stakeholders, spans planning areas such as revenue, headcount, capital expenses, actuarial processes, and corporate consolidations.
Manager Strategic Planning and Reporting
TIAA
- Authored the Capital and Productivity Investment policies to drive consistency in funding allocations across the enterprise.
- Managed the end-to-end business case process, including submissions, review, evaluation, and tracking funding decisions of approved business cases.
- Assisted the newly created centralized EPMO team to drive standardization and best practices across the enterprise.
Finance & Accounting Manager
Aptuit
11.2010 - 08.2012
- Responsible for monthly close, reporting, forecasts, and budget for all SG&A expenses across the US and Europe.
- Standardized and improved the monthly variance reporting, significantly reduced time and effort to complete by focusing on key drivers.
- Lead an initiative to refocus sales incentives to align with strategy and profitability, and improved processes to calculate incentive payouts faster and more accurate.
- Worked alongside the senior executive team to evaluate potential acquisitions and assisted with company divestiture.
Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
Odyssey Logistics
03.2006 - 11.2010
- Responsible for annual budget and monthly forecasts, encouraged direct input from business leaders driving increased involvement and ownership of their financial results
- Created and implemented streamlined processes related to all internal and external financial reporting cadences
- Implemented a new CPM system for reporting and planning, including product research, evaluation, and price negotiations.
- Assisted with M&A activities, company valuation and transfer pricing between USA and EMEA.
Accounting Manager
Odyssey Logistics
- Managed a team of 5 Accounts Payable and Receivables specialists managing a high quantity of unique transactions.
- Implemented daily and weekly goals and metrics to track progress.
- Reconciled and reviewed operations databases and accounting system records to calculate and determine accurate monthly revenues and expense accrual entries.
- Transitioned additional AP/AR functions from a satellite office to headquarters.
- Assisted with year-end financial audits.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance And Accounting
Stellenbosch University
Certification
Greenbelt certified / Lean Six Sigma
Timeline
Executive Director Finance
Ascent Global Logistics
08.2021 - 03.2024
Senior Manager Planning & Reporting
XPO / GXO Logistics
06.2020 - 08.2021
Senior Manager Enterprise Planning
TIAA
03.2013 - 06.2020
Finance & Accounting Manager
Aptuit
11.2010 - 08.2012
Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis
Odyssey Logistics
03.2006 - 11.2010
Manager Strategic Planning and Reporting
TIAA
Accounting Manager
Odyssey Logistics
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance And Accounting
Stellenbosch University
References
References available upon request.