SAMANTHA STOKES

Procurement Manager 2019-02- 2022-03

Main responsibility to set up a centralized Procurement department, to manage the Indirect expenses across the Fashion, Beauty and Shared Services verticals. (UAE & KSA, 400 retail stores, 4 warehouses 6 offices).

Key Achievements
• Successfully lead the procurement transformation pilot, to built a consolidated spend analysis baseline, identify and execute spend savings initiatives across the group companies.
• Categories addressed Logistics, Insurances, Banking, Telecoms, Facilities Management, Business Travel, Marketing, Capex & Tech.
• Establish spend committees including C-level management for key areas, governance and RACI matrix defined and launched to GM and Budget owners.
• Change management - Procurement policy defined, processes mapped, workshops for GM’s & budget owners held to adopt new centralized procurement function and processes.
• Project managed the implementation of Sievo Spend Analytics program, building category taxonomy, training end users and roll out.
• Co-Project managed the selection process of Source to Pay platform, resulting in implementation of SAP Ariba.


Key Responsibilities
• Onboard key stakeholders and Managers of the business to participate in task multi force teams, to support the procurement initiatives identified. Vendor management, spend consolidation, RFQ tenders, direct negotiation.
• Deliver target savings and efficiencies of the POC to fund the investment required to establish centralized department overheads.
• Onboard new team members - Spend Analyst, Category Managers for Tech, & Facilities.

My main responsibility as FC was to lead the financial integration of Coty with Procter & Gamble (HFC Prestige). The new entity has a combined turnover of USD450m in the Middle East.

Key achievements:
• Key role in incorporating a new legal entity within JAFZA, to house the Regional SVP's appointed, including banking and legal stakeholder coordination.
• Finance lead for in sourcing the accounting services of Coty ME and Coty Emirates, previously
performed by the JV partner.
• Carried out end user training for new SAP Finance and Procurement modules to the business.
• Rolled out Concur, the Coty global expense claiming system, integrated with SAP, trained end users.
• Appointed lead buyer for ME, Indirect Procurement initiative, Capex and Opex for Advertising and Promotional spend.

Key Responsibilities - Financial Controller:
• Roll out new business model of the combined BU, with full month end close responsibility.
• Key role in incorporating a new legal entity within JAFZA, to house the Regional SVP's appointed, including banking and legal stakeholder coordination.
• Appointed as local Risk Manager to oversee SOX controls are in place or mitigating controls for the new business unit

Key Responsibilities - Man Management:
• Incubating the Department (all aspects of recruitment, staff management and staff retention).
• Responsible for ensuring all aspects of succession planning (training needs analysis, mentoring of staff).
• Conducting appraisals and guiding/mentoring staff as needed.

Reporting directly to the Regional CFO, with direct responsibility for a team of 3, responsible to increase the ROIC and profitability of the brands through analyzing financial information, providing reports and advising the brands of P&L management.
Key Responsibilities:
•Responsible for the rolling 12 month forecast of P&L, with reconciliation to divisional plans, advising brands of any risks or opportunities and necessary action plans.
•Lead the process for preparation, review and management of the brands, channels and regions Annual Budget Package.
•Reparation and presentation of the 3 year Strategy & Long Range Planning packages to Sr. Management including all supporting schedules.
•Prepare gross margin analytics, working with the brands and channels to develop effective decision driving analytics around category mix, channel mix and trade margin management.
•Preparation of all financial sales, P&L, and fixed asset reporting, monthly estimate reporting reflecting any variance from plan.
•Analyze and lead cost of goods analysis and provide recommendations for continued improvement in gross margin.
•Partner with Brand teams on effectiveness of A&P investments. Assist in developing A&P spend by account and channel and analyzing results delivering feedback to marketing and brand GM.
•Evaluate actuals vs.plan/prior year, analyze variances and initiate appropriate corrective actions with regional and affiliate brand, global marketing, demand planning and finance organizations
•Responsible for developing new product volume estimates /forecasts and all associated reports and documentation.
•Prepare new product volume forecasts
•Prepare, analyze and issue all new product tracking reports
•Maintain forecast proposals and final recaps
•Prepare and analyze state of the business reporting-mix of business
•Prepare materials for support of the SIOP process

Skelmore Retail and Fashion
Reporting to the Group CFO, and leading a team of 2, responsible for finance related matters of the Group.
•Key Responsibilities:

•Preparation and presentation of annual Budgets and KPI’s for retail outlets of the franchised brands; and Annual Operational Cash Flows of retail outlets
•Financial analysis of proposed expansion plans
•Conducting feasibility studies.
•Formulate SOP's for the Retail stores opening, including start of day and end of day.
•Document and implement Finance and Operational processes and procedures for

main responsibility was to lead the financial integration

Roll out new business model of the combined BU, with full month end close responsibility.
Key role in incorporating a new legal entity within