Sylvain Deslandes, Finance Expert in Singapore, Singapore
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Sylvain Deslandes

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
Singapore, Singapore
Toptal Member Since
November 2, 2020

Sylvain is a seasoned finance leader with extensive experience helping C-level executives and entrepreneurs on M&A, fundraising, post-merger integrations, and change management. He leverages his problem solving and financial modeling skills to provide analytical tools and strategic insights supporting decision making and driving performance. Sylvain enjoys freelancing to get exposed to a wide range of industries and to reinforce his experience in venture capital, M&A, and change management.

Business Plan ConsultingMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Financial ModelingRevenue & Expense ProjectionsDue DiligenceCorporate FinanceFinancial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)FundraisingValuationComparable Company AnalysisCFOStartup ConsultingFractional CFOInterim CFOAccounting

Career Highlights

Strategic Investment and Funding Advisor
Stark Group (Fintech Incubator)
CFO
NEP Broadcast Solutions
Corporate Development Director
Broadcast Solutions

Education Highlights

Master's Degree
Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers

Case Studies

Work Experience

Strategic Investment and Funding Advisor

2018 - PRESENT
Stark Group (Fintech Incubator)
  • Reviewed and advised on the pitch deck for a pre-seed funding for My Insurer (an insuretech mobile app).
  • Assisted with drafting the financial model for projections supporting valuation discussions for My Insurer (an insuretech mobile app).
  • Reviewed the pitch deck and help rehearse the pitch presentation for No Deposit, an insurance scheme to protect rent deposits and dispute resolution tool for tenants and landlords.
Focus areas: Startups, Angel Investing, Pitch Presentations, Pitch Decks, Startup Consulting, High-tech Startups, Startup Funding, Due Diligence, M&A (Sell-side), M&A (Buy-side), Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Development, Fundraising

CFO

2016 - 2020
NEP Broadcast Solutions
  • Oversaw the integration into the NEP group with the implementation of a new accounting system, the transfer to a new banking platform across three countries with improvement in treasury management, and the FP&A function's development from scratch.
  • Grew and developed a team of five whose scope was limited to bookkeeping and statutory filings to nine team members performing monthly reporting, consolidation, FP&A, treasury management, and process improvements.
  • Reduced the average DSO (days sales outstanding) by 30% in 12 months by setting up a new billing and collection approach in conjunction with the sales and operations team.
  • Significantly improved finance process efficiency with the setup of automated forex revaluations, GST reports, intercompany balances reconciliation, and project & OPEX dashboards.
  • Set up an Excel-based consolidation model for six entities across four countries to analyze, review, and report monthly results.
Focus areas: Finance, Three-statement Modeling, CAPEX, CFO, Capital Investment Appraisals, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), People Development, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Change Management

Corporate Development Director

2011 - 2016
Broadcast Solutions
  • Led an auction process for private equity investors which eventually led to a full exit to a strategic investor—and industry's leader—and achieved a valuation at the top end of the industry multiples upon sale.
  • Built the 5-year financial projections—a 3-statement operating model—supporting the strategy roadmap and highlighting working capital and CAPEX requirements across the period. These were used to present the business plan to potential investors.
  • Managed the legal and tax planning to open new operations in India, designed the structure to ensure liquidity and cost optimization in conjunction with tax advisors, and set up and maintained transfer pricing policies in subsequent years.
  • Revised the pricing mechanism for the submission of a tender to our largest client which allowed us to win a major contract (three years, over $25 million revenue), and subsequent renewal for another five years.
  • Oversaw contracts from a financial, legal, and tax perspective to manage and mitigate tax (GST, WHT, and PE risks) and default risks for projects across Europe and the Asia Pacific.
Focus areas: Finance, Three-statement Modeling, CAPEX, Consolidation, Internal Control, Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

M&A Manager

2009 - 2011
KPMG
  • Built the financial projections model supporting the valuation of a multi-billion healthcare service provider (over S$4 billion) which led to the successful completion of a major equity investment.
  • Developed a client relationship that led to an engagement within three months of joining the firm.
  • Advised a Singapore-based plastic wrap manufacturer on a development capital by a private equity fund (US$5 million).
Focus areas: Finance, Three-statement Modeling, Financial Modeling, Valuation, Private Equity, Fundraising, M&A (Buy-side), M&A (Sell-side)

Freelance Consultant

2009 - 2009
Freelance
  • Assisted Singapore's largest real estate portal on a strategic review. The consulting project included a valuation analysis based on comparable listed companies and comparable transactions. The conclusion of the report were presented to the board.
  • Assisted an online travel business operating in South East Asia to raise seed funding and get selected to incubate with a leading corporate VC in Singapore. Drafted the business plan, pitch deck, and built the financial projections supporting them.
  • Helped an early-stage startup in the OOH media space be selected for a fundraising event to pitch in front of a panel of investors. Drafted the teaser that got selected and subsequently prepared the pitch for the founder.
Focus areas: Startup Funding, Early-stage Funding, Startups, Venture Capital, Financial Modeling, Comparable Company Analysis, Pitch Decks

M&A Executive

2007 - 2008
EY
  • Advised on acquisitions, disposals, and equity/debt financing for businesses ranging from £10 million to £500 million.
  • Earned a team value award for project management, financial modeling, and leadership for a sell-side engagement (£60-million deal value).
  • Advised a mortgage lender on an equity financing (€12 million) and warehouse funding facility (€200 million); built the detailed financial model supporting the business plan to reflect the anticipated financing through warehouse debt and securitization.
Focus areas: Finance, Three-statement Modeling, Valuation, Financial Modeling, Distressed Assets, Fundraising, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
2003 - 2004

Master's Degree in Business Administration

IAE Aix en Provence - Aix-Marseille, France

2000 - 2003

Master's Degree in Engineering

Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Arts et Metiers - Paris, France

JUNE 2015 - PRESENT

Advanced Diploma

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)

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