Damir is available for hire
Hire DamirDamir Jakirlic, CFA
Verified Expert in Finance
Finance Expert
Location
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
Toptal Member Since
November 3, 2021
Damir is a CFA charter holder with extensive experience advising startups such as Delivery Hero and HelloFresh on their way to becoming multi-billion dollar companies and well-known private equity funds such as HIG and Triton on their deals. He's built his operational skills as a founder, the head of finance for unicorn Forto, and CFO of a German Hidden Champion. Damir joined Toptal to pursue his passion for people and numbers and maximize his contribution to a broad client base.
Career Highlights
Founder I Interim CFO
DJ Ventures
Head of Finance
Forto
Financial Analyst
Rocket Internet
Education Highlights
Bachelor's Degree
University of Mannheim
Certification Highlights
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute
Case Studies
Expertise
Work Experience
Founder I Interim CFO
2020 - PRESENT
DJ Ventures
- Streamlined the finance infrastructure of a venture studio that served as a scalable template for its ventures and created a group consolidation for fundraising preparations.
- Prepared a regional leader in construction and real estate services for mid-capitalization private equity in anticipation of a liquidity event, acting as an interim CFO.
- Built an operating model to streamline the reporting framework and systemize the sale process arrangements.
- Served as an interim CFO for a hidden champion by reducing 50% of its product portfolio that showed negative gross margin, tied significant resources, and led it through a procurement crisis to manage inventory to avoid material revenue loss.
- Led a manufacturing leader through a critical liquidity phase and secured a €2 million credit financing as an interim CFO.
- Built a planning model for an industry leader in mechanical engineering electronics that served as the key underlying decision to visualize sweet spots for future strategy.
- Calculated the business case for a well-known publisher's spin-off of a digital business model.
- Prepared a small-cap US-based yacht charter in anticipation of a sale/exit.
- Structured finance and operations documentary and ensured its presentability towards external interests.
- Conceptualized the ESOP/VSOP dynamics to ensure employee and shareholder satisfaction for a climate startup.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Performance Improvement, Process Optimization, Cash Flow Management, Business Administration, Business Models, Investor Presentations, Financing, CFO, Budgeting, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Interim CFO
Private Equity Consultant
2018 - 2020
Alvarez & Marsal
- Performed the buy-side due diligence for HIG's acquisition of a DAX 30 company's carve-out with €230 million in revenues.
- Enabled the double-digit million refinancing of the German Hidden Champion ABL Technic.
- Performed the buy-side due diligence for Deutsche Private Equity's acquisition of Valantic with €110 million in revenue.
Focus areas: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Due Diligence, Private Equity, Business Models, Portfolio Management, Investor Presentations, Financing, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)
Co-founder
2017 - 2018
Fyve7
- Built the eCommerce office design brand called "fyve7" from scratch.
- Sold the brand successfully in a five-digit asset sale.
- Launched a product on diverse platforms with a listing in Etsy's Lookbook 2018.
- Managed several departments, including finance, business development, and operations.
Focus areas: Business Administration, Cash Flow Management, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Investor Presentations, Performance Improvement, Process Optimization, Financing, CFO, Financial Forecasting, Budgeting, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Interim CFO
Head of Finance
2017 - 2017
Forto
- Hired and led the finance team. Established a scalable finance infrastructure with proper controlling processes and cash flow planning tools.
- Led the series A fundraising preparation resulting in a $20 million financing.
- Saved more than €100,000 at an early stage in cash due to incomplete accounting.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Fundraising, Cash Flow Management, Performance Improvement, Process Optimization, Business Administration, Startups, Business Models, Investor Presentations, Venture Capital, CFO, Financial Forecasting, Budgeting, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME), Due Diligence, Interim CFO
Financial Analyst
2015 - 2016
Rocket Internet
- Advised on Delivery Hero's and HelloFresh's IPO preparation with a specific focus on valuation-related topics.
- Led the qualitative and quantitative valuation of the portfolio companies and guided the audit process.
- Assisted senior management in capital markets and investor relations.
Focus areas: Financial Modeling, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Valuation, Portfolio Management, Fundraising, Startups, Business Models, Venture Capital, Investor Presentations, Financial Forecasting, Budgeting, Financial Reporting
Education
2011 - 2014
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Economics
University of Mannheim - Mannheim, Germany
Certifications
MAY 2019 - PRESENT
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
CFA Institute
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