Siniša Balent
Professional (CGMA, MBA)
Zagreb
Summary
Committed, insightful and a value-driven finance professional with strong business acumen and vast experience in finance and controlling. Proven record of achievements in budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, management reporting, cost control and financial analysis. Skilled in successful business strategy development and long-range planning.
Reliable team player with focus on collaboration and adaptability to changing business needs.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
Finance Manager Croatia
D.Trading
02.2025 - Current
- Streamlined month-end close process, reducing time spent on manual tasks and improving data accuracy.
- Coordinated with external auditors to ensure smooth and compliant audit process each fiscal year.
- Prepared quarterly reconciliation of suppliers' accounts and took corrective actions on deviations.
- Increased financial efficiency by streamlining and automating financial reporting processes.
- Streamlined internal audit process, enhancing efficiency and reducing discrepancies.
Head of Finance & Controlling
Framos
07.2019 - Current
- Leads and manages Finance and Controlling functions at the Group level (Europe and North America)
- Provides support to the Top Management regarding the development of Long-Range plans and business strategies
- Reviews, designs and implements finance systems, policies and procedures
- Responsible for management reporting at global level and ensures that all variances are documented and explained
Business Development & Controlling Director / Board Member
Croatian Railways Passenger Transport
04.2013 - 06.2019
- Responsible for managing the Controlling function and all commercial activities (3 direct reports and more than 30 indirect)
- Improved the process of budgeting, business planning, cost control and reporting by introducing standards based on previous work experience in multinational companies
- Managed the process of creating the restructuring plan for the company that includes complete reorganization of legal, ownership, operational, or other structures for the purpose of making the company more profitable and better organized for its present needs. The plan was fully accepted by the European Commission in October 2016
- Supervised the project that established a completely new sales information system and introduced new sales channels (internet, smartphones, ticket machines on stations, mobile terminals etc.)
Head of Controlling & Planning Manager
Heineken
08.2012 - 03.2013
- Managing the division (4 direct reports) in accordance with the legal, ethical and Heineken standards
- Responsible for financial planning – defining, directing and coordinating the gathering of data for the development of 3-year plan (Budget) and various business and investment plans
- Analyzing, reporting and explaining trends related to profit, costs, volume, prices and other business indicators and making suggestions regarding the correctional activities on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis
Financial Controller CES (Central Europe South)
Philip Morris International
08.2009 - 07.2012
- Coordinating the acquisition of financial, competitive and market information for Budgets, Forecasts, and Long-Range Plans
- Analyzing monthly reports (actuals, budgets, forecast) and coordinating the accurate and timely submission to headquarters
- Performing transfer pricing testing in order to ensure full compliance with local requirements and laws
- Performing complex market analysis per ad-hoc request for Top Management and other departments with recommendations
Senior Business Development & Planning Analyst CES
Philip Morris International
10.2005 - 07.2009
- Responsible for analysis of retail prices, trade margins, and profitability for the company and competition taking into account multitude factors, such as taxation, cost bases, exchange rate developments, etc.
- Providing support to Top Management in preparation of the Long-Range Plan, Strategic Reviews and annual budget cycles for Central Europe South region
- Performing profitability analyses of competitors’ business strategies (investment, pricing, and brand portfolio as well as SWOT analysis of our main competitors)
- Providing necessary analysis and support in developing the alternative taxes proposals to ensure the gradual alignment of EU taxation requirements
- Collecting, coordinating and analyzing business data and market information in order to assist other departments in the preparation of proposals and feasibility studies, ensuring that the content is accurate and relevant
Senior Financial Analyst Adriatic
Reckitt Benckiser
05.2005 - 09.2005
- Responsible for internal reporting and forecasting, internal profit analysis by country and brand, preparing Profit and Loss statement for Budget and Forecasts
- Fixed costs reviews and net working capital planning
- Providing monthly finance pack with commentaries explaining variances to directors and managers
Management Accountant SEE (South East Europe)
British American Tobacco
06.2003 - 05.2005
- Coordination and consolidation of all financial information for the Company Plan: producing a budgeted Profit and Loss account, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow forecast
- Monitoring that all factory costs and department Opex (actual and estimates) are accurate and within the agreed budgets explaining all variances
- Responsible for the preparation of accurate data to be used in the process of supplying senior management with internal reports
Cost Analyst
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc
08.2002 - 12.2002
- Analyzed local telephone service costs and coordinated efforts to leverage better pricing with local carriers
- Assisted in analyzing and consolidating the expenses for telephone services with several carriers that provided over $30,000 in savings
Economic Analyst
Croatian Chamber of Economy
04.1999 - 08.2000
- Researched, analyzed, and forecasted changes in monetary aggregates
- Published several articles in the quarterly official publication for distribution to domestic and international government officials reporting departmental activity
Education
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
05.2002
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics
01.1998
Skills
Budgeting
Forecasting
Financial Analysis
Variance Analysis
Management Reporting
Cost Control
Business Strategy Development
Long-Range Planning
Certification
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), London, UK
Affiliations
- 2017-01 Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
- 2001-09 Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)
Conferences
2. International Controlling Conference for Public Sector (2016-05)
Training
- Successful Team-Based Execution of Business Strategies
- IFRS for Controllers
- Change Management
- Project Management
- Personal Presence and Power
- Managing People
- Effective Business Communication
- Negotiation Skills
- Presentation Skills
- Business Writing Skills
Interests
Music, Sport
Software
Microsoft Office
SAP
Navision
Timeline
Finance Manager Croatia
D.Trading
02.2025 - Current
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), London, UK
10-2022
Head of Finance & Controlling
Framos
07.2019 - Current
Controller’s Diploma, CA Controller Akademie AG, Wörthsee, Germany
09-2016
Business Development & Controlling Director / Board Member
Croatian Railways Passenger Transport
04.2013 - 06.2019
Head of Controlling & Planning Manager
Heineken
08.2012 - 03.2013
Financial Controller CES (Central Europe South)
Philip Morris International
08.2009 - 07.2012
Certified Financial Manager (CFM), Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Montvale, NJ, USA
05-2007
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), Montvale, NJ, USA
04-2007
Senior Business Development & Planning Analyst CES
Philip Morris International
10.2005 - 07.2009
Senior Financial Analyst Adriatic
Reckitt Benckiser
05.2005 - 09.2005
Management Accountant SEE (South East Europe)
British American Tobacco
06.2003 - 05.2005
Cost Analyst
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc
08.2002 - 12.2002
Economic Analyst
Croatian Chamber of Economy
04.1999 - 08.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Clarion University of Pennsylvania