George Kostas

COO | Strategy & Transformation Executive | MBA, CIMA, CPA | C- Suite Global Leadership | Financial Services | FMCG | Change & Stakeholder Management | Process Excellence | Outsourcing | Service Centers

Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Area

About

• Experienced Global Executive with 20+ years of international Management and Project Transformation experience in areas of corporate restructuring, process outsourcing and digital transformation covering Finance, Accounting and Risk management - deep understanding of Operations value chain & vendor’s management. • Global C-Suite functional accountability. Skilled at: Senior stakeholder’s management, evaluating complex issues, identifying and realizing opportunities to improve efficiencies, minimizing risks and reducing ongoing costs. Proven ability to maximize shareholders value and positively contribution to business results. • Excellent negotiation and relations management skills with the ability to inspire cross cultural and cross functional teams to outperform expectations in a stressful, demanding, deadline oriented ecosystem. Employee Consultation and trade unions negotiation exposure in European landscape. • Excellent change management skills, most recently proven in Process Outsourcing / Digital transformation programs and previously evidenced in corporate restructuring initiatives and setting up of service centers.

Experience

  • Vice President | Global | Head Technical Accounting | Transformation & Operations Process Excellence at Swiss Re
    Mar 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Senior Global Director Role based in Frankfurt Germany: • Global Process Owner - Leading the Technical Accounting practice (Commercial Finance, Accounts payable, Accounts receivables, Controls) • Transformation - Define and shape Technical Accounting, Commercial Finance and Business Operations strategy AS IS and TO BE status (target operational model, structure, metrics and process & system landscape) • Chief of Staff agenda - Manage Global functional Center of Excellence and Act as Business partner to Regional and Global Stakeholders • Global 3rd party Outsourcing Vendor Relationship management

  • AIG (Full-time · 14 yrs 3 mos)
    • Vice President | EMEA | Finance | Controlling | EMEA Head - Commercial Finance & Transformation
      Dec 2017 - Dec 2023 · 6 yrs 1 mo

      Vice President Role based in Frankfurt Germany with Regional Functional CFO & COO responsibilities, • Leading EMEA Collection function ensuring meeting capital adequacy requirements in 20 countries • Responsible for Revenue Accounting and Commercial Finance - proper accounting treatment of inbound cash, trade payables and intercompany accounting, budgeting and expense stewardship • Responsible for Functional transformation project towards target operating models – 3rd Party Outsourcing centers, digitals transformation (SAP implementation & Robotics) • Leading a Reporting center of excellence - KPI Statistics Financial, Audit & Regulatory Taxonomy • Representation to Local & Regional Credit and Risk Committees • Reporting Global US based Stakeholder – business partner to Local General Managers • Managing a Team of > 100 employees

    • Finance Center Manager | EMEA | Operations | Cluster Lead East, South Europe, MEA Collection
      Jul 2012 - Nov 2017 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      Cluster Finance Center Manager, Based in Budapest Hungary, with Regional tactical accountabilities, • Responsible for leading East Europe, South Europe, Africa and middle East Collection Portfolio • Responsible for Migration of Greece & Cyprus processes towards Budapest Finance center • Responsible for Project management of setting up Captive centers in East Europe • Responsible for Due diligence and Execution of East Europe Collection A/R portfolio Fairfax group • Reporting to Budapest center Managing Director, Managing a team of >50 employees

    • Financial Controller
      Oct 2009 - Jun 2012 · 2 yrs 9 mos

      Deputy CFO Role - based in Athens Greece, responsible for Financial Reporting, Budgeting Planning, Expense management, Collection, Accounts Payable, Taxation and Transfer Pricing (3 reporting entities) • Representation to regulatory board, reporting to local CFO • Assigned to be the secretary of Credit Committee executive team • Company’s representative to committee of “Greek top executives on credit management” • Key leadership involvement in corporate restructuring initiatives and running off of financial insurance entities

  • Financial Controller at Sara Lee
    Oct 2006 - Sep 2009 · 3 yrs

    Financial Planning and Control Manager, Based in Athens Greece, Responsible for Financial Reporting, Budgeting Planning, Expense management, Accounts Payable, Taxation and Transfer Pricing • Responsible for Manufacturing Accounting on Coffee production site • Member of the local management committee for marketing & sales unit of Coffee & Tea segment • Strong exposure to manufacturing plant accounting

  • Financial Planning & Reporting Manager at Vodafone
    2000 - 2006 · 6 yrs

    Financial Planning & Reporting Manager, Tirana, Albania (03.2002 – 09.2006) • Expatriate assignment, member of initial management team setting up local company • Leading the financial analysis, reporting, variance KPIs analysis and budgeting operations Financial Analyst, Greece (01.2000 – 02.2002) • Financial analysis (profitability per product), reporting, variance KPIs analysis responsibilities

  • Airman First Class (A1C) - Compulsury Military Service at Hellenic Armed Forces - Air Force / 134 Tactical Fighter Squadrom
    Jan 1999 - Dec 2000 · 2 yrs

    2 years compulsory military service: • Command & operation center duties • Secondment to Hellenic Air Force Aviation Academy - Commanding Officer Bureau • Participation on humanitarian aid effort - Athens Earthquake 1999