Rachèle Gabelli
International CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER / FINANCE DIRECTOR
Driving License
Luxembourg / France Grand Est
Available soon
Available
15Y + successful Management experience in all phases of Auditing, Controlling and Finance. Recognised as a hands-on and focused Professional, with extensive command of Media and Entertainment industry. Achieved reputation of resourceful and committed problem-solver, assertive negotiator and reliable change driver. Experienced international traveller, in possession of a solid blend of Language and People skills as well as of keen commercial instinct. Thrives in fast-paced and complex organisations across cultural barriers.
EMEA Finance Director & Southern Europe CFO
Discovery Channels
2006
to 2009
Full-time
London (United Kingdom) and Paris (France)
- The EMEA Finance Director position was to provide financial management and strategic business analysis support to the VP of Finance and Senior Management leading operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for this US headquartered entertainment company which has gone public in 2008. The operational Southern-Europe CFO role involved extensive traveling and provides integrity and leadership to 2 financial accounting managers, a finance assistant and 2 external Chartered Accountants to ensure that the group operated effectively and efficiently across Southern-Europe.
Detailed Description
- Managed Accounting compliance and financial reporting for business activities on EMEA / South Europe operations including: monthly/quarterly/annual Management accounts and statutory accounts, ad-hoc reporting on Ad Sales and Affiliate Revenue and Operating expenses activities including Research, and General & Admin expenses.
Assisted the implementation of global, regional, and local accounting policies in compliance with US GAAP, Sox implementation and related Corporate guidelines and local regulations.
Provided guidance to DNE/DCI IT groups on EMEA London and Regional Office Finance operational requirements such as Region take-over (Iberia as of Jan 1, 2007, Southern Europe as of March 2008).
Partnered closely with operations, GM of Southern Europe & B. Planning staff to help implementing data warehouses, identify key-activity KPIs.
provided direct support on independent financial analysis, interpretation/guidance of monthly business results, financial budgeting and forecasting to support multiple business initiatives including channel launches and post-launch assessments.
Oversaw European Internal and External audits, on 5 legal entities – 4 operational markets.
Regularly involved in trademark proceedings and collective rights matters including costing.
Liaised with DCI US Corp Treasury and Tax Department tax reporting compliance, cash flow management and cross-border patterns such as VAT, WHT, CIT and other tax credits. Pioneered the development of transfer pricing design, compliance and audit defense strategies. - Produced within tight deadlines a set of financial reforecast documents and a comprehensive automated dashboard reporting and analyzing monthly performance on sales, costs, viewership monthly trends analysis, reconciling tax and detailing cash flow, KPI’s, Fast Facts and Global Subscriber data for Discovery’s Southern-Europe activities
Lined-up SAP to statutory accounting on SE legal entities systematizing reporting and IC reconciliations.
Enhanced cost monitoring with OCF improvement from 23% to 34 % of net sales (2008 vs 2007).
Completed and improved all transfer pricing documentation, defense files etc, including economic, financial analyses and comparability studies for EMEA regions, tax filing changes
Negotiated blanket Music Agreement on Italian diginet channels, leading to a saving of 1 m USD.
Handled financial and legal aspects of Discovery SE activities, resources reorganization for SE Business Unit.
Company Description
Discovery Channel (formerly The Discovery Channel) is an American satellite and cable TV channel (also delivered via IPTV, terrestrial television and internet television in other parts of the world), founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO, David Zaslav. It provides documentary programming focused primarily on popular science, technology, and history. In the U.S., the programming for the main Discovery network is primarily focused on reality-based television themes, such as speculative investigation (with shows such as MythBusters, Unsolved History, and Best Evidence), automobiles, and occupations (Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch); it also features documentaries specifically aimed at families and younger audiences. A popular annual feature is Shark Week.
Company website
