Project example - Operative intervention as a consultant

I came into business consultancy because I found it boring to produce Excel files and reports for financial controlling. I wanted to have some action.

After nearly 10 years in business consulting – and four years with ZLU – I have discovered that I actually enjoy logistics controlling. Of course the setting has changed since the start of my career.

Currently I am working as interim manager with a team of 4 client employees and 5 consultants. I am in charge of a sub-department in the logistics subsidiary of one of the largest German companies, with the responsibility for ensuring that reports are produced on time for the senior management, subsidiaries and group reporting, and of course for the accounts manager, and that they contain the information needed for the operations. And in addition we coordinate the entire corporate planning process.

I can’t complain about any lack of action, because the deadlines for every monthly summary are extremely tight, and my section has to be perfectly organised and function with almost military precision. Of course, in addition to the operative challenges I also have to organise the specific processes with the colleagues – in demanding and complex surroundings. The company was only recently established with the support of ZLU by merging group segments. We were short of qualified personnel left, right and centre. But despite that, the demands on the financial controlling from Day 1 were at least as high as in all other parts of the group.

New tasks are also being added. Our remit is to realise potential tracking in the segment within the framework of the improvement of the logistic processes. The life on a knife’s edge continues.