Christoph Mertens

I have more than 15 years experience in Middle Eastern corporate (SOEs) and government entities covering mainly strategic financial planning, business (case) analysis and feasibility studies, entity wide budgeting, financial control and disaggregated operational management reporting and over 21 years international investment banking (company analysis/business case valuations/IPO ...).

Skill set:

(A) Feasibility Studies & Business Analysis & Modelling

• business case appraisals & feasibility studies (modelling & reviews)

• general company analysis, valuations (e.g. IPO & ventures); development of investor focused presentations (“equity stories”)

• cash flow & other detailed financial modelling and forecasting (e.g.: DCF, EV, CAPM, WACC, multiples) and optimisation of ROE (capital structuring)

• debt related liquidity analysis and estimation of debt specific metrics (debt coverage based on EBIT(A), operating cash flow, interest & capital repayment coverages, etc.)

(B) Budgeting & Management Reporting

• structured preparation, review and management of annual strategically orientated budgets and group overhead costs and revenues (incl. process dev., strategic alignment, reviewing budget submissions, structural segmentation & consolidation, variance analysis, segment reporting, C-Level presentations, ad-hoc reports, etc.)

• budget controlling through regular financial reports, budget checks etc. (full budget-to-payments cycle)

The capture of critical business drivers, be they start-ups, established businesses or projects, within financial models enables me to focus on value-adding positive operational and financial outcomes and to bridge the gap between finance and operations.

The exposure to multiple industries (e.g.: real estate development, construction, leisure & tourism, retail, housing, facilities management outsourcing, paper & packaging, oil & gas logistics, utilities, IT, shipping, airports & logistics, etc.) allows me to be highly flexible and adaptable.