Iris Oetter

1. With over 20 years of experience in the finance management and alignment of international corporations coupled with 20 years of leadership expertise, I am striving to expand my area of responsibility allowing me to significantly develop long-term corporate and finance structures and processes and to achieve sustainable success by following a participatory leadership approach. In this context, I highly value a dynamic and innovative working environment, in which I will create synergies in goal-oriented cooperation with dedicated project teams and define and implement innovative strategies and solutions. My integrative leadership concept – supported by my competences as a coach, mediator, and digital transformation manager – and a holistic view of complex projects linked with analytical, conceptual, and communicative strength are essential aspects of my work. 

Warner Bros. Entertainment GmbH, Hamburg 

Head of Finance / CFO Warner Bros Discovery GSA

• Key member of Germany & German-speaking senior management team and EMEA Finance Organization
• Integral finance and commercial resource in assessing strategic business decisions, including initiatives for profitable growth, new business opportunities amid the changing complexion of both Warner Bros Discovery International and the broader Media industry
• Be the “right hand” and sounding board for the local CEO
• Senior leadership role (Managing Director) overseeing Finance, Planning & Analysis for WarnerMedia business across Germany, Austria and Switzerland for all legacies (Theatrical & Original Production, Retail & Home Entertainment, TV Distribution, Networks and Discovery businesses)
• Guiding the financial performance across all parts of the business to objective set, meet and exceed its targets
• Liaison with the Global Business Services organization, focused on statutory accounting, P2P, R2R and ITC and Corporate Tax teams.
• Developing financial as well as commercial strategies and business development
• Due Diligence and M&A
• Analyze performance of company & business unit level and provide decision support to local management
• Provide strategic direction and input as a member of the country’s executive committee
• Contribute financial expertise to decision making process
• Support Decision Support & Reporting groups with liaison with external and internal auditors
• Participate as a part of EMEA Finance organization in evaluation of all processes and systems 
• Identify and evaluate efficiency opportunities, particularly as previously disparate systems/processes are aligned 
• Ensure compliance with SOX standards, financial policies, and control procedures
• Oversee International Local Productions Participations Reporting Centre of Excellence – evaluate opportunities to expand the remit of the team to service the broader organization
• Preparing financial statements according to US GAAP and Local GAAP
• Acting as a direct contact for shareholders, tax consultants, auditors and banks
• Managing and coordinating all financial reporting and corporate finance functions as well as the timely and correct preparation of US-GAAP reporting
• Leadership responsibility in treasury, liquidity planning, working capital, and cash flow management 
• In charge for Sourcing and Facility management (GAS)
• Management representation in the economic committee and dealing with the workers council
• Ensure team is adequately structured, organized and motivated to provide the best service to the business
• Assess redundancies/efficiencies implementing streamlined procedures/requirements where applicable
• Focus on talent management, succession planning as well as team development needs are addressed – including performance management, ensuring department goals and objectives are met on a timely basis
• Disciplinary, professional, and organizational personnel responsibility for a 25-member team, 3 direct reports and cross-departmental 10 employees
• Responsible for internal and external coaching and training of executives, colleagues and employees as a certified business coach, mediator, and trainer

05/2001 – 09/2007                     InBev Germany GmbH, Brewery Beck & Co., Bremen

Head of Group Consolidation, Financial Reporting & Internal Control

• Preparing consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS for 4 subsidiaries and for InBev Deutschland Holding GmbH with approx. 60 companies
• Acting as a direct contact for the management, tax consultants and auditors as well as the Belgian parent company
• Responsible for working capital and cash flow management
• Supervising and coaching all subsidiaries of the InBev Germany Group as well as in the Western Europe Zone
• Preparing monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements of the group and reporting to the holding company
• Holding the interface function for Controlling, Taxes, General Ledger, Treasury and Business Shared Service Center Western Europe
• IFRS Competence Center InBev Western Europe
• Conducting internal training in accordance with IFRS and SOX
• Planning and performing internal control audits according to SOX
• Supporting the preparation of annual reports of InBev in Belgium
• Participating in due diligence projects
• Leading the division Group Accounting and Internal Control InBev Germany
• Directly reporting to the Finance Director Germany and Western Europe
• Assuming the disciplinary and organizational personnel responsibility for 5 employees
• Acting as the Deputy Head of Finance / Control with up to 30 employees

09/1998 – 04/2001                     KAEFER Isoliertechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Bremen

Finance Expert Tax, Balance Sheets & Consolidation | Senior Financial Analyst

01/1996 – 08/1998                      PKF SCHLAGE OHG, Wirtschaftsprüfungs- und Steuerberatungsgesellschaft, Hamburg

Senior Auditor

08/992 – 12/1995                         Focke & Co (GmbH & Co.) KG, Verden

Controller | Financial Analyst

Education

10/1992 – 09/1996                   AKAD University of Applied Sciences, Rendsburg

Master of Business Economist (German Diploma)

• Majors: Finance, Tax & Revision

08/1989 – 07/1992                  Focke & Co (GmbH & Co.) KG, Verden

Apprenticeship as Industrial Management Assistant certified by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce

08/1982 – 07/1989                  Secondary School ‘Domgymnasium’, Verden

General Qualification for University Entrance

Continuing Training

continuously                          Management, strategy & leadership seminars, coaching and communication training

2022/23                                          Sustainability Manager, Haufe AKADEMIE

2021                                                Digital Transformation Manager, Haufe AKADEMIE

2017                                        Certified Business Coach & Trainer, V.I.E.L Coaching & Training

continuously                          English Training with native speakers

2004                                       Certified International Accountant (CINA), Akademie für Internationale Rechnungslegung, Stuttgart

1998 - 2000                            Preparation for the Tax Consutlant Exam, Fachinstitut für Steuerrecht e.V., Hamburg

1992 - 1993                             Instructors’ License according to AEVO, IHK Stade