Matas A/S

Finance transformations look great in PowerPoint. In reality, they are messy, political, and full of trade-offs!!! Two years ago, we began planning the transformation of Group Finance at Matas A/S - building a shared service center, integrating KICKS Finance, and redesigning systems and processes across the Group. In October 2025, we reached our first major milestone - taking control of KICKS Finance and fully integrating it into Group Finance in Allerød. ✔️ Are we done? Not yet. The transformation is ongoing, with a clear roadmap and steady execution. Our focus remains on three key areas: #OrganizationAndPeople We have reorganized the finance function to strengthen governance and ensure the right split of roles and responsibilities. At the same time, we’ve established a “Finance Projects & Systems” function to support ongoing development initiatives. And in a short period, we’ve added approximately 15 new colleagues to Group Finance. #ModernSystems A redesign of the Group ERP is underway, introducing modern systems and applications. We are already seeing benefits from our new AP workflow solution. #ProcessAlignment Perhaps the biggest challenge. While country-specific requirements are unavoidable when operating across borders, aligning working processes is a key challenge. After all, most roads in a business eventually lead to Finance (…and BI). #Workinprogress . Key learnings: - Early planning is critical - but so is the ability to replan. Priorities will shift. Stay flexible and be ready to #KillYourDarlings - someone once told me. - During major transformations, things will fall between the cracks. Expect setbacks - they are part of the process. Be ready to pick up, learn and redo. - Never lose sight of finance operations. The business still needs accurate financials every single month. Balancing change and daily finance operation is essential but also the biggest risk. On that note we have managed to close the books every month, with some setbacks yes – but we’re improving every day. #Transformation is not about having the perfect roadmap. It’s about moving forward when things are unclear - having the right people around you and adjusting fast when reality disagrees… What stands out most is the organization’s ability to stay focused, motivated, and engaged throughout. In Group Finance, we have worked with EASI profiles (similar to Insights Discovery) to better understand how individuals approach change. While there’s no direct bottom-line impact, our latest internal survey shows only a small drop in satisfaction during a period of significant change. Something to be proud of. A big thank you to Anna Holm Carlsen , Kia Wagner , Berit Obel and Tine Skov and your respective teams - for flexibility and effort. But also, a huge shout-out to our IT colleagues at Matas and our external partners supporting this transformation. #winthenordic