Damir Jakirlic, CFA, Finance Expert in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
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Damir 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

Financial Analyst
Rocket Internet

Education Highlights

Bachelor's Degree
University of Mannheim

Certification Highlights

Case Studies

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
2011 - 2014

Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics and Economics

University of Mannheim - Mannheim, Germany

MAY 2019 - PRESENT

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

CFA Institute

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