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

Verified Expert  in Finance

Bio

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

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

Finance

Financial Modeling, Valuation, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), CFO, Budgeting, Financial Reporting, Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Due Diligence, Private Equity

Industry Expertise

Venture Capital

Other

Financial Mathematics, Startups, Business Models, Financial Forecasting, Interim CFO, Portfolio Management, Business Administration, Cash Flow Management, Performance Improvement, Process Optimization, Investor Presentations, Financing, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SME)

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