Success story · March 2026
Acting CFO, driving financial professionalisation and change management at a leading industrial plant in Portugal.
An 11-month project to ensure local control, lead the transition to group-based processes and overcome resistance to change in an international environment.
Client and Sector: Our client, a leading international company in the industrial sector specialising in packaging solutions and the circular economy, needed to immediately strengthen the structure of its production plant in Portugal. Against a backdrop of strong growth and the standardisation of global processes, the organisation needed a finance professional capable of acting as a bridge between local operations and the group’s guidelines.
The Situation / Need (The Pain): The organisation faced a critical challenge: the need to professionalise its local financial management to bring it into line with the parent company’s international standards. The challenge was not only technical but also cultural: executive leadership was required that could define processes from scratch, ensure regulatory compliance and, above all, manage the local team’s resistance to change in order to achieve full ‘buy-in’ to the new working methodology.
The EPUNTO Approach and Solution (The Methodology):
Thanks to our international partnership, the Valtus Alliance, EPUNTO coordinated a cross-border solution in less than two weeks. We deployed a high-level interim manager specialising in international financial management to take up the position of interim CFO on-site.
Under the supervision of Juan Manuel Gil de Escobar, Partner at EPUNTO, the project focused on implementing a monthly group reporting system, optimising working capital and establishing a robust internal control framework. The Interim Manager not only managed day-to-day operations but also acted as a catalyst for change, integrating into the local management team to ensure that the transition was seamless and sustainable.
Frequently asked questions
What was the main challenge in this project?
The challenge was to professionalise the finance function at an industrial plant in a constantly changing environment. An executive was needed who could implement international control and reporting processes whilst managing the local culture to overcome internal resistance, ensuring immediate solutions without a learning curve.
Why was an interim manager chosen rather than a traditional consultancy firm?
Speed and specialisation were critical. The client required a ‘plug-and-play’ candidate with experience in international environments and the ability to make an immediate impact. Opting for interim management meant securing an overqualified executive within a few days, guaranteeing measurable results throughout the 11-month assignment.
What was the most significant impact during the first 90 days?
In the first quarter, our Interim Manager succeeded in stabilising monthly reporting to the group and laying the foundations for local budget control. This enabled corporate management to gain full visibility over the plant’s KPIs, thereby improving the process for making strategic decisions.
How did EPUNTO ensure the transfer of knowledge at the end of the mission?
Our methodology includes a structured exit plan. The interim manager documented all the new local administrative and financial processes and mentored the in-house team to ensure that the improvements implemented were sustainable and that the transition to the permanent structure was seamless.
What unique feature did EPUNTO bring to this solution?
The international response capacity provided by the Valtus Alliance and the precision in selecting the right candidate. We provided a CFO who not only had a thorough understanding of financial regulations but also possessed the soft skills required to lead change in a specific geographical location (Portugal), aligning local interests with the group’s global objectives.
