Before DLC

• Limited finance team capacity for strategic initiatives 
• Senior staff tied up with day-to-day operations 
• Legacy system challenges impacting data accessibility 
• Need for temporary expertise without full-time hiring commitment 

After DLC

• Enhanced monthly reporting capabilities 
• Improved forecasting accuracy and process 
• Strengthened cross-functional collaboration 
• Freed up internal resources for strategic projects 

Project Overview

A leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) company in the food and snack category engaged with DLC to provide interim financial planning and analysis (FP&A) support in the midst of an SAP S/4 HANA implementation.  

The client selected DLC due to our prior relationship with their leadership staff and a proven track record of delivering immediate, hands-on support. 

Business Challenge

The CPG client faced several operational challenges that urgently required attention, including interim assistance with day-to-day finance duties, monthly close processes, forecasting, and annual planning for the upcoming year.  

As their current senior manager required more room to focus on a critical SAP S/4 HANA transition project and M&A-related activities, the client sought to fill a much-needed gap without the costs or long-term commitment associated with hiring a full-time employee. 

This situation was further complicated by legacy system limitations, as the company used multiple platforms (Catalyst, Mineral Tree, and Sage) that created data accessibility challenges for the client’s entire finance team. Additionally, further complexity stemmed from system integrations that were required as a result of recent acquisitions.  

Approach

To address the client’s financial and operational needs, DLC developed a comprehensive approach focused on operational support and process improvements. 

Our team worked closely with the client’s Sr. Director and Sr. Manager of FP&A to implement the following solutions: 

• Financial Close and Reporting Enhancement: Led monthly close processes and significantly improved the monthly reporting framework, ensuring more accurate and timely financial information for decision-making. 

• Forecasting Process Improvement: Developed enhanced forecasting processes and built a comprehensive Annual Operating Plan (AOP) model to support strategic planning initiatives. 

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Established regular monthly meetings with key departments including HR, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, IT, R&D, Procurement, and Corporate to improve forecast accuracy and variance analysis. 

• Technology Integration: Utilized Catalyst as the primary reporting tool for both actual analysis and forecast uploads while leveraging Sage and MineralTree for detailed financial analysis and operational insights. 

• Strategic Communication: Presented comprehensive SG&A views to senior leadership including the CFO, CEO, and Board of Directors, ensuring clear visibility into financial and operational performance. 

Results

DLC’s engagement provided the CPG client with operational relief and enhanced financial capabilities during a critical transition period.  

The project delivered measurable improvements across multiple areas: 

• Successfully freed up internal senior management resources to focus on strategic initiatives including the SAP S/4 HANA conversion and ongoing M&A activity. 

• Delivered improved monthly reporting capabilities that provided better visibility into operational performance and financial trends. 

• Implemented more robust forecasting processes and developed a comprehensive AOP model that enhanced strategic planning capabilities. 

• Established regular communication channels across departments, leading to better variance analysis and more accurate financial projections. 

• Provided the company with experienced financial expertise without the long-term commitment of permanent hiring, allowing for operational flexibility during a transition period. 

This engagement demonstrates DLC’s ability to quickly integrate into complex operational environments and deliver immediate value while supporting longer-term strategic objectives.