Zeynep Kuru
Finance Director
Istanbul
Summary
Strategic finance leader with robust experience in corporate financial management and strategic planning. Strong focus on team collaboration, driving financial performance, and adapting to changing business needs. Expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, risk management, and compliance. Known for reliability and achieving significant results through effective leadership and strategic decision-making.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
CFO
Schindler Türkeli Asansör San. A.Ş.
07.2023 - 02.2025
- Responsible for the organization’s overall financial plans and policies along with its accounting practices and the conduct of its relationship with lending institutions, stakeholders, and the financial community.
- Member of the Management Team and oversee the responsibilities for Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, Logistics and Warehousing >> Total team of 35 people with 6 direct reports; Controlling & Reporting Manager Accounting Manager Purchasing Manager Warehouse Manager Import & Export Manager NWC Manager
Head of Finance
Stryker Tıbbi Cihazları San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.
08.2021 - 07.2023
- Responsible for the entire financial function of the company encompassing strategic direction
- Owner of the budget setting and forecasting, reporting, financial modelling processes, giving advice and guidance as a partner to all stakeholders
- Targetting profit maximization, asset control, cash flow management, opex efficiency
- Governing the controlling environment & developing the processes for operational excellence
- Strategic partner of Commercial Leaders & Expert in transformation & turn-around projects
- Member of the Management team and handling all needed financial and operational needs
Head of Finance
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
06.2016 - 10.2020
- Owner of the R to R cycle - accounting and reporting under UsGaap (iScala, HFM / Hyperion)
- Leading financial planning & analysis cycles; Outlook and Forecasting
- Playing key role as startegic partner of GM and all Business Leaders
- Managing the risk exposure
- Leading the Commercial Functions for credit control & contract management
- Responsible for the cash flow management & treasury activities & TWC
- Acting as the expert for compliance and internal controlling topics
- Being the initiative owner for various process improvement activities
- Acting as a first contact of all Audit teams
Deputy Sales Director / Building Automation Systems
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
11.2014 - 06.2016
- Leading the Controls Business unit through creating the growth strategies
- Owning the P&L and TWC targets
- Responsible for the performance management of the team
- Examining alternative sales channels to enlarge the sales capacity
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
11.2012 - 06.2016
- Leading monthly financial closing activities, coordinating all Finance, Business and other support teams
- Preparing forecasts, budgets, rolling forecasts, different scenarios in accordance with Regional and Corporate requirements
- Being responsible for project accounting to be inline with revenue recognition principles
- Following Sales&GP of all major projects, new orders and backlog to check the margin improvements, cost overruns
- Establising internal policies (inline with Corporate and Legal policies/rules), following them up, making random auidits to ensure the sustainability
- Supporting internal and external audit teams and other consultants during and after the audit periods
- Responsible for TWC analysis, controlling periodically and taking necessary actions
- Responsible for PL analysis, SGA reviews, preparing and presenting Business Unit and Regional PLs
- Dealing with other general subjects with respect to overall accounting, finance, credit control, risk management
- Increasing the effective usage of the financial reporting tools and systems/sharepoint
Senior Financial Analyst
Merck Sharp & Dohme Animal Health
11.2012 - 10.2014
- Handling month end financial reporting activities (internal and regional)
- Increasing the effective usage of the financial reporting tools and systems
- Being the responsible of Company SOPs (preparing/renewing/publishing)
- Being the owner of various management and administrative reporting
- Organizing random internal audit activities to control the processes if they are compliant with accepted policies
- Supporting internal audit teams and having an active role in remidiation processes
- Preparing budgets and forecasts and performing budget/actual comparisons periodically
- Resposible for the sales analysis and reporting
- Analysis of price developments and deviations from plan
- Responsible for the Sales Force Effectiveness computations and bonus transactions
- Controlling accounting and tax issues via working closely with Accounting/Finance Team
Financial Controller
Siemens Financial Services Turkey
08.2008 - 11.2012
- Preperation of the financial statements and disclosures according to the required standards
- Being responsible of Forecast/budget/business plans
- Dealing with the improvement and implementation of Company policies and procedures
- Being liable for the internal and external audit issues, organising minor/random audits and planning remidiation procedures
- To contribute to the efforts of standardization, automation and continuous development of the overall reporting and analysis function to establish aligned processes and streamlined reporting activities
Experienced Assistant
KPMG
09.2006 - 08.2008
- Conducting field audits in various clients in various sectors in accordance with ISA - International Standards of Auditing and company's own accounting manuals
- Ensuring the appropriateness of the financial statements of the client companies and preparing audit reports with required opinions
- Generating audit plans, coordinating all fieldwork as well as delegating assignments to team members
- Making test of details and substantive analytical processes as part of audit work
Part – time employee (@Sales and Marketing Department)
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S.
08.2005 - 03.2006
Trainee (@Tax Department)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
06.2005 - 08.2005
Education
Business Administration - in English
Istanbul University
01.2002 - 01.2006
Atatürk Anatolian High School - undefined
Atatürk Anatolian High School
01.1995 - 01.2002
Skills
Effective management of working capital
Corporate governance expertise
Financial strategy development
ERP system deployment
Streamlining financial processes
Cash flow oversight
Change management proficiency
Risk management expertise
Cross-functional team management
Cost optimization methods
Business strategy consulting
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 01/18/84
Timeline
CFO
Schindler Türkeli Asansör San. A.Ş.
07.2023 - 02.2025
Head of Finance
Stryker Tıbbi Cihazları San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.
08.2021 - 07.2023
Head of Finance
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
06.2016 - 10.2020
Deputy Sales Director / Building Automation Systems
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
11.2014 - 06.2016
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager
Johnson Controls - Klima ve Sogutma, Servis San. ve Tic. A.S.
11.2012 - 06.2016
Senior Financial Analyst
Merck Sharp & Dohme Animal Health
11.2012 - 10.2014
Financial Controller
Siemens Financial Services Turkey
08.2008 - 11.2012
Experienced Assistant
KPMG
09.2006 - 08.2008
Part – time employee (@Sales and Marketing Department)
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S.
08.2005 - 03.2006
Trainee (@Tax Department)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
06.2005 - 08.2005
Business Administration - in English
Istanbul University
01.2002 - 01.2006
Atatürk Anatolian High School - undefined
Atatürk Anatolian High School
01.1995 - 01.2002