Orla Cavanagh, Finance Expert in Dublin, Ireland
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Orla Cavanagh

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Dublin, Ireland
Toptal Member Since
September 7, 2021

Orla is a chartered accountant, MBA holder with extensive experience partnering and advising at the C-suite level in major global retail organizations like Primark and Tesco. She is keen on business performance analysis, leading budgeting processes, and modeling strategic initiatives. In 2020, she led FP&A processes that reduced operating costs and cash outflows for a global fashion retailer. Orla joined Toptal to work on challenging financial and strategic projects with a diverse client base.

Financial ModelingBudgetingFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)AccountingDerivativesInvestment ManagerHuman Resources (HR)Investment AnalysisStartup ConsultingInternal ControlAccounts ReceivableBusiness Plan ConsultingCorporate FinanceFinancial ManagementRevenue & Expense ProjectionsCommercial Finance ConsultingManagement Accounting

Career Highlights

Internal Strategy Consultant
Primark
Head of Finance Business Partnering and Commercial Finance
Primark
Commercial Finance Manager
Primark

Education Highlights

Master's Degree
Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
Bachelor's Degree with First-class Honors
Newcastle University

Certification Highlights

Associated Chartered Accountant (ACA)
Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland

Case Studies

Work Experience

Business Model Consultant

2021 - 2021
Bowsy
  • Consulted with a startup graduate recruitment platform to advise on a more sustainable business model.
  • Distilled the current business model into key business model levers and decisions to help the client understand their own model in depth.
  • Performed market research to understand the impact of each choice within each business model lever.
Focus areas: Business Modeling, Business Strategy, Strategy, Business Models, Consulting, Startup Consulting, Analysis

Internal Strategy Consultant

2020 - 2021
Primark
  • Served as a key member of the project team and delivered the digital strategy master plan. Acted as the main presenter on the pitch team and was responsible for obtaining investment sign-off from the parent company for the strategic initiative.
  • Owned and developed this investment's business case and financial modeling, working closely with cross-functional business representatives to strategically and commercially interrogate assumptions and proposals to produce the highest quality output.
  • Carefully managed conflicting stakeholder groups through the project to ensure all parties were satisfied with the final proposal.
Focus areas: Digital Transformation, Strategy, Digital Marketing, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analytics, Pitch Decks, Financial Modeling, Strategic Initiatives, Board Presentations, Data Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Finance, Financial Management, Business Strategy, Cash Flow Management, Dashboard Design, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Digital, Digital Marketing Strategy, Business to Business (B2B), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Business Plan Consulting, Online Sales, Pricing, Pricing Models, eCommerce, Fashion & Beauty

Head of Finance Business Partnering and Commercial Finance

2019 - 2020
Primark
  • Led the company's global budget and forecasting process 2020 under highly unpredictable circumstances and was central in the ongoing planning and modeling of immediate sales, profitability, and cash projections through the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Played a critical role during the pandemic in supporting business owners with decisions and actions to minimize cash outflows through store closures. Overall, operating costs were reduced by over 50% and cash outflows by over 80% in six weeks.
  • Transitioned from peer to team leader in a short period of time and mobilized the team to be more effective with a clear and aligned vision under difficult and remote circumstances.
  • Built a strong network of senior relationships across the business, which has improved the team’s brand and has facilitated the team’s ability to influence decisions.
  • Supported the leadership team with numerous formal updates to the parent company board. Prepared and managed the content for these sessions, which reviewed and critically evaluated the company’s reaction to the pandemic.
Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Business Partnerships, Data Analytics, Financial Analysis, Executive Presentations, Team Leadership, Coaching, Decision Support, Financial Modeling, Strategic Planning, Board Presentations, Data Visualization, Budgeting, Data Analysis, Three-statement Modeling, Cash Flow Management, Business Strategy, Finance, Financial Management, Tableau, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Pricing, Pricing Models, Business Plan Consulting, Supply Chain Management (SCM), Fashion & Beauty, Business to Consumer (B2C)

Commercial Finance Manager

2018 - 2019
Primark
  • Established the company’s cost base transparency by preparing and presenting a pack outlining detailed cost trends to the senior leadership. This proposal allowed us to identify areas of opportunity to reduce costs and improve profitability.
  • Sourced and analyzed consistent retail market data across all the countries in which we operate. This analysis allowed the company to critically evaluate performance in each country with a much greater degree of accuracy and confidence.
  • Performed a detailed and objective review of the company’s financial performance and presented key insights to the senior leadership. This review has driven decisions around product and market strategies.
  • Supported numerous high-profile events, including sessions with the parent company and internal corporate conferences, by writing scripts and preparing presentation materials for the leadership team.
Focus areas: Commercial Finance, Business Partnerships, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Executive Presentations, Reporting, Board Presentations, Data Visualization, Budgeting, Three-statement Modeling, Data Analysis, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Dashboard Design, Forecasting, Revenue & Expense Projections, Fashion & Beauty, Business to Consumer (B2C), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Pricing, Pricing Models

Property and Capital Finance Manager

2017 - 2018
Tesco
  • Played a pivotal part in persuading the parent company to approve capital spending for a store refresh program by working numerous scenarios and building a refresh schedule that met required ROI and payback targets.
  • Conducted a review of Tesco Ireland’s retail staff productivity metrics to provide complete clarity to the leadership team on its use and appropriateness for the Irish business.
  • Created a new business case template that was significantly easier for business owners to use and understand.
Focus areas: Property Finance, Business Cases, Financial Modeling, Executive Presentations, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting

eCommerce Finance Business Partner

2016 - 2017
Tesco
  • Influenced the head of eCommerce to make profit-enhancing changes to the business–new slot pricing strategy, minimum spend implementation, and opening and closing of key profit-making and profit diluting slots.
  • Created a new review process for sales, payroll, and profitability at a store level for the senior retail management—this drove transparency and understanding of costs across the business.
  • Supported the head of eCommerce and the head of distribution within all areas of financial support.
Focus areas: Decision Support, Financial Modeling, Financial Analysis, Business Partnerships, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Financial Accounting, Budgeting, Capital Budgeting, Digital, Digital Strategy

Senior Financial Accountant

2014 - 2016
Tesco Ireland
  • Made significant period-end process improvements, reducing journal postings and ensuring 100% of on-time period-end closings.
  • Delivered 20 sets of statutory accounts (on time and accurately) for this large grocery retailer with circa $3 billion in revenue.
  • Led new key financial control process for the company, working cross-functionally to deliver full internal controls audit to the group with an exceptionally high standard.
Focus areas: Accounting, Process Improvement, Financial Controls & Processes, Finance Process Improvement, Journal Entries, Group Reporting, Statutory Reporting, Audits, Auditing, Internal Audits, Internal Control, IFRS Consolidation, Period-end Closings, Balance Sheets

Financial Analyst

2012 - 2014
Bombardier
  • Acted as key finance point of contact on a number of large aircraft contracts, ensuring accurate reporting of revenue and costs and advising the procurement team as such.
  • Partnered with auditors to ensure a smooth year-end audit process and supported the company's statutory requirements delivery.
  • Provided several period-end process improvements, which drove time savings and efficiency for the company.
Focus areas: Accounting, Auditing, Management Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Statutory Reporting, UK GAAP, Financial Analysis, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Annual Budgets, Capital Budgeting, Forecasting, P&L Forecasting, P&L Analysis, Revenue Modeling, Process Improvement, Finance Process Improvement

Audit Associate

2010 - 2012
EY
  • Led and delivered high-quality audits for a range of audit clients.
  • Coached junior team members on the audit process and ensured they were appropriately trained.
  • Represented the company professionally and efficiently during all audit engagements.
Focus areas: Auditing, Accounting, Financial Analysis, Financials, P&L Analysis, Financial Consolidation
2019 - 2021

Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) — Scholarship Recipient (GPA: 3.82)

Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School - Dublin, Ireland

2007 - 2010

Bachelor's Degree with First-class Honors in Accounting and Finance

Newcastle University - Newcastle, UK

MARCH 2014 - PRESENT

Associated Chartered Accountant (ACA)

Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland

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