Леся

Lesya Kurylko
2, Borys Hmyri St., Apt. 28
02140, Kyiv, Ukraine
Mobile: [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section)
WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, Signal, Facebook, LinkedIn
E-mail [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section)
LinkedIn: [open contact info](look above in the "contact info" section)
883b625/

ABOUT ✓ Inspirational, experienced and top-performing CFO || Finance Director || Director Shared Service
Center
✓ #4 CFO in Ukraine in 2024 || #3 CFO in Ukraine in 2018 || #5 CFO in Ukraine in 2017
✓ 20+ years of finance experience (BS/PL/CF, strategy, financial planning and analysis, accounting
(IFRS/USGAAP), taxes, treasury, cost & margin control, reporting, ERP implementation, IT, legal,
procurement, etc.) in multinational (Mondelez; Oriflame) and Ukrainian companies
✓ FMCG || Distribution || Agriculture || Car manufacturing / automotive || Food production
(confectionary, salted snacks, coffee, meat, cannery, etc.) || Direct selling || Cosmetics || Shared
Service Centers || NGO
✓ Delivering business results via building business processes (finance, procurement, HR, logistics,
administrations, legal, sales) from the scratch, (re-)designing, change management, optimization,
automatization, robotization (RPA), etc.
✓ M&A, start-ups, spin-offs, voluntary liquidation, restructuring, opening new legal entities, etc.
✓ Compliance, internal controls, audit, due diligence, risk management, insurance, special
investigations, etc.
✓ 20+ years of people management
✓ 15+ countries of operations

EDUCATION • 2008 ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), Great Britain
• 2000 Kyiv National T. Shevchenko University. Economics, finance
• 1995 Kyiv National T. Shevchenko University. Philology, Ukrainian language and literature

PROFESSIONAL 09/2022 – to present – Veres Group – Chief Financial Officer
EXPERIENCE Veres is a vertically integrated FMCG business specializing in the production of ready meals and is a leader in the
production of canned vegetables, sauces, and jams. On the market, the Company’s products are known under the
most recognizable brand Veres. The agro sector has 7 k ha (Cherkasy and Mykolaiv regions) and specialize in the
cultivation of specialty (peas, sweet corn, zucchini) and non-special crops (sunflower, wheat, corn, soya)

Responsibilities:
Full scope of finance support for 6 legal entities (VG Production, VG Agro, VG Trade, VG Farming, LTD Ponomar,
LTD Agrofirma Ponomar) including financial planning and analysis, controlling and reporting, accounting, tax
planning, treasury, compliance, internal control, etc.

Achievements:
• Ensured business processes during extreme conditions of war, destruction and damage of assets in the
Mykolaiv and Cherkasy regions. Ensured continuity of production facilities during a blackout.
• Cash rich position is achieved in 2024 without any external borrowings. 2024 year-end CF – UAH 185 M. Pay-
out of OTP Bank loan UAH 20 M. Moving from cash flow forecast with a horizon of 1 week to forecast with a
horizon of 1 year with very high accuracy.
• Launched a cost improvement project. Review of the calculation of the cost of manufactured products. Change
in methodology. Cost improvement in 2023 by UAH 17,000 per ton. Quarterly and monthly revision of the cost
price has been implemented.
• Ensuring the stability of business processes and timely payment of salaries, subject to sanctions imposed by
the NSDC (РНБО) against the shareholder (seizure of corporate rights and real estate, blocking of bank
accounts, refusal of loans and insurance, refusal to participate in tenders, etc).
• Successful implementation of a new salary project within 2 weeks under sanctions.
• Prompt launch of the production process of a daily rations for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
• Review and simplification of the management reporting system. All reporting is transferred to Power BI
• Successful inventory and assessment of property destroyed and damaged during the occupation for a claim to
the European Court of Human Rights
• Support, maintenance, and successful motivation of employees in the conditions of war and sanctions

01/2021 – 04/2022 – PJSC “MHP” – Director Shared Service Center
MHP – is the largest producer and exporter of chicken in Ukraine. The company specializes in the production of
chicken, in cultivation of cereals, as well as other agricultural activities (manufacture of meat and sausage products
and ready-to-eat meat products). Annual revenue – USD 2 bln.

• Development (strategy, roadmap, governance model) and general management of the multifunctional MHP Shared
Service Center (service for up to 100 legal entities, staff of the SSC – 350+ employees, number of contractors under
the service - 28 thousand, number of MHP employees under the service - 26 thousand)
1
• Preparation, centralization and joining of service functions (accounting and tax accounting, finance, payment factory,
logistics, procurement, sales, HR, administration, IT, etc.)
• Diagnosis of business processes of all companies for further optimization, automatization, robotization (RPA) and
reengineering. Development of a unified methodology for the holding's business processes
• Development and adjustment of internal controls for the holding's business processes. Risk management.
• Client service implementation. Development of SLA / OLA service agreements. Communication policy. Development
of chat-bots and IT client platform for processing tickets/requests
• Evaluation of effectiveness. Labor rationing. KPIs development from scratch and ongoing support
• Implementation of electronic document flow, development of electronic archive
• Conducting a financial analysis of the Service Center activities
• Preparation and joining all new / acquired businesses and legal entities to the Service Center
• Participation in transformation projects of MHP holding (implementation of SAP (S/4 HANA))

02/2020 – 06/2020 (project job) – LLC “Novyy Product Plus” – distribution of the own produced food brands
(dumplings, ice cream, semi-finished products, dairy products, etc.) "Hercules", "Dobrynya", "Glechik", etc. as well as
distribution of food products of other manufacturers. Short-term project position – Chief Finance Officer.

What was done:
• an audit of all current business processes was performed, main issues are identified and reported.
• new business model of future distribution company is designed and proposed for execution. Financials and benefits
of future company are recalculated and presented to the shareholder.
• the functional responsibilities of all employees of finance department (172 employees) were analysed (in FTE and
UAH) and redesigned due to new business model. Expected optimization/cut – 103 employees. Expected financial
benefit – UAH 14.5 M per annum
• all business processes (sales, logistics, marketing, reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, etc.) were
redesigned in accordance with the new business model and new ERP system to be implemented
• action plan for new ERP system implementation and organizational chart reorganization are developed and
presented to the shareholder

12/2018 – 5/2019 – LLC “Quadro International” (production and distribution of unique SHERP all-terrain vehicles
https://sherpglobal.com/en/ (Kyiv, Ukraine) – Group Finance Director (short-term assignment within EBRD project)

Responsibilities:
• Full scope of finance support for 5 legal entities in Ukraine (manufacturing plant), Canada (world-wide distributor),
Russia (manufacturing plant), Cyprus and UAE including strategy, financial planning and analysis, controlling and
reporting, accounting, tax planning, treasury, compliance, internal control, etc.
• Responsibility for legal, administrative and HR departments in Ukraine and Canada

Achievements:
• Establishment of full range of finance reporting from scratch (P&L, Cash Flow, Balance Sheet, AR/AP ageing
reports, inventory reports, etc.) for all entities
• Improved financial results of UA and Canadian entities. UA: profitable PL, Balance sheet improvement form negative
capital to positive; Canada – from loss making company to profitable one, successful tax optimization
• Full preparation of UA entity for bank loan and investments (EBRD, local investment funds, bank)
• Started leasing of plant equipment for UA entity in order to improve working capital

03/2015 – 09/2018 – LLC “Oriflame Ukraine”, social selling beauty company present in over 60 countries around
the world https://corporate.oriflame.com/ – Finance Director

Responsibilities:
• Full scope of finance support including financial planning and analysis, controlling and reporting, accounting, taxes,
treasury, compliance, internal control, cost and margin control, etc.
• Risk management and insurance
• Responsibility for legal department
• Responsibility for administrative department

Achievements:
• Successful total business restructuring of the company: transferred business to new created company including
change of the shareholder, sale of corporate rights (shares) for EUR 9.5 M, additional investment to Ukraine (EUR 3
M) and intercompany loan (EUR 3 M).
• Successful voluntary liquidation of old Subsidiary Company “Oriflame Cosmetics Ukraine” and 6 branches within 9
months only. Acting as an official liquidator of Oriflame Cosmetics Ukraine.
• Successful movement to new warehouse including finished goods stock movement and packing line re-
assembling/assembling without business interruption.
• Successful voluntary tax audit: tax claim of UAH 72 M is cancelled. Successful liquidation tax audit with no charges.
• Settle of the debt to parent company at the amount of EUR 35 M via different schemes.
• Balance sheet clean up. Cutting off historical risks (tax, regulatory, etc.). Cash rich position achieved.
• Both SC “Oriflame Cosmetics Ukraine” and LLC “Oriflame Ukraine” became profitable: from the loss of UAH 650 M
to the profit of UAH 62 M in LLC as of Dec-2017 and UAH 22 M in SC as of Dec-2016 (liquidated in Jun-2017).
• Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) decreased (2017 vs. 2014) by 18 days via working capital optimization: accounts
receivable decrease from EUR 4.7 M to EUR 1.4 M, inventory decrease from EUR 6.6.M to EUR 2.2 M.

2
• Successful termination of unbreakable warehouse lease contract taking out any future potential costs and risks with
net financial benefit of EUR 3.2 M.
• Successful court cases. Successful close of 2 criminal proceedings against the company.
• Successful sale of assets (office buildings) in Lviv and Donetsk.
• Successful change of supply chain scheme for fragrance products – from abroad to local production facilities to
avoid FOREX exposure.
• Successful clients bonus release automation in in-house Orisales ERP system.
• Implementation of new ERP system (IFS) to replace 1C Accounting (1C Бухгалтерія).
• Outsourcing of accounting department to the third-party provider. Review and adjustment of all related processes.
• Managing finance organization during turbulence periods and improve working environment.

12/2013 – 12/2014 – Mondelez Ukraine former Kraft Foods Ukraine – Manager Business Development, New
Markets Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Projects:
• Coffee business separation and Coffee new company integration. Functional Lead for New Markets countries.
• Launch of new product category in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan.
• Switch of the biggest retail Key Account client in Belarus to direct delivery scheme.
• Development and implementation of strategic partnership program with new markets distributors.
• Product quality improvement projects.
• Launch of manufacturing co-packing products for new markets.

12/2010 – 12/2013 – Kraft Foods (Mondelez) Ukraine – Finance Manager, New Markets Eastern Europe and
Central Asia

Responsibilities:
• Finance (controlling, internal control, planning & forecasting, treasury) support for 11 countries with the total
revenue of USD 260 M (Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia), 3 Kraft Foods legal entities (Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan), 5 Cadbury and
Kraft Foods representative offices (Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan).
• Development of new markets strategies (objectives, actions, team, etc.).
• Responsible for opening legal entities, establishing business processes and internal controls standards.
• Manage treasury and bank related activities in Belarus, Georgia and Kazakhstan: cooperation with banks, cash
management, cash flow forecasting, credit terms, credit limits.
• Performing internal reviews of all business processes at Kraft/Cadbury legal entities and representative offices.
• Support distributors in working capital management, resolving finance related questions/issues (bad debts, bank
guarantees, P&L, BS, cash flow, etc.).
• Support commercial functions on a key business projects, evaluate financial impacts / risks / benefits.

Achievements:
• Opened legal entities of Kraft Foods in Georgia and Belarus. Main business processes successfully established
(shipments, accounting, treasury, purchasing, marketing, trade marketing, HR, etc.).
• Central Asia hub with export shipments to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan with all related business processes is created
on the basis of Kraft Foods Kazakhstan.
• Successful distributors consolidation in Georgia, Armenia and Kazakhstan after integration with Cadbury.
• Improved new markets 2012 accounts receivable by USD 6 M in comparison to plan.
• Internal reviews in all legal entities: sales, accounts payable, purchasing, marketing, revenue, etc.
• Provided comprehensive support for distributors in Belarus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Kazakhstan in managing
cash flow, P&L. Support during financial crisis in Belarus.
• New markets Credit Control Policy is developed and successfully implemented.
• New merchandising scheme for POS materials is developed and implemented in Kazakhstan and Georgia.
• Green revenue and trade deals audit achieved in Kraft Foods Kazakhstan in 2013.
• Distributor finance model is developed to forecast and analyze distributors’ profitability, working capital needs, cash
financial position and other financial KPI’s.
• Scheme of direct payment to key accounts chains is developed and implemented in Georgia and Belarus.
• Overheads expenses are optimized to keep at planned level of USD 17 M despite of growing business and HC.

11/2007 – 12/2010 – Kraft Foods Ukraine – Treasury Manager

Responsibilities:
• Managing company’s assets (cash, receivables, inventory, fixed assets). Working capital optimization.
• Forecast, organize and execute the day-today cash management of the operation.
• Managing all financial risks which are mainly in the area of foreign exchange, credit control, interest rates for funding
or depositing of funds.
• Ensure sufficient liquidity by arranging and managing the appropriate amount of available funds or bank loans.
• Cash Flow and Balance Sheet projections.
• Preparing the company’s Annual Financial Policy. Organizing sufficient credit lines with the banks.
• Risk management. Secure all company assets by appropriate insurance coverage.
• Dealing with distributors (credit control, credit terms, credit limits, financial performance, support in working capital
management, help with bank financing).

3
 Achievements:
• Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is decreased from 49 to 31 days via working capital optimization.
• Successful management of Cash Flow during 2008-2009 crises. Cash Flow overachieved by USD 5 M in 2009
without borrowings. Cash positive financial position.
• Obtained financing for distributors and agro farmers (partners) with international banks.
• Successful salary project with UniCredit Bank. Implemented Corporate Card project with Citibank.
• Opened Kraft Foods representative office in Belarus (licence of National Bank of Ukraine obtained, bank accounts
opened, budgeting and controls overs expenses introduced).
• Full compliance with internal control standards. 2 Green corporate audits achieved: Revenue and Treasury.
• Finance program and factoring implemented for suppliers with Citibank and Credit Agricole
• Treasury processes established in Kraft Foods Kazakhstan.

7/2004 – 11/2007 – Kraft Foods Ukraine – Internal Control Manager
• Assessing, measuring and identifying potential control risks and losses. Helping management to neutralize and limit
risks while still achieving business goals.
• Coordinating and supervising Internal Controls function (confectionery and salty snacks factories, office in Kyiv).
• Green Audit reports achieved for all corporate audits (manufacturing, revenue, marketing, FG inventory,
warehousing, traffic & fright, treasury, financial reporting, procurement, payables, etc.). In total – 19 “green” audits for
16 years in the company
• Developing and implementing internal policies and procedures for all business processes for all countries.
• Assuring compliance with USA Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Section 404.

11/2002 – 7/2004 – Kraft Foods Ukraine – Customer Service Manager
Supervising Customer Service Department work at confectionery and salty snacks factories (10 subordinates).

2001-2002 – Kraft Foods Ukraine – ERP Project Manager
Leading the successful ERP system MFG/PRO implementation with all corresponding activities (budget, system
modification and adaptation to local needs, project team and end-user trainings, documentation (manuals, flow charts,
procedures, back-ups), etc. Managing the project team (10 subordinates).

1999-2001 – Kraft Foods Ukraine – Internal Control Specialist

PROFESSIONAL Languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian;
SKILLS & Result oriented, quick learner with active life philosophy;
QUALIFICATIONS Solid interpersonal skills and working with cross functional teams;
Analytical, communication and problem solving skills;
Strong negotiation and decision making skills;
Self-directed and motivated;
Well-developed organization skills to manage multiple projects and priorities;
Commercial orientation, interpersonally credible.

SOCIAL Promotion of compliance and transparent business in Ukraine. Ex-member of UNIC Executive Committee (Ukrainian
ACTIVITIES Network of Integrity and Compliance) initiated by Business Ombudsmen and supported by EBRD and OECD
http://unic.org.ua/en/
Speaker at various finance forums and TV programs (EBA, ACC, CFO Club, OECD, EBRD, etc.).
Volunteer activities (help to Ukrainian Armed Forces, children, refugees, etc.)

PERSONAL Married, daughter 22 years old, son 18 years old
Dogs lover – owner of 2 dogs: Beagle Susie and Shar-Pei Moth.

4