The Power of Smartbooks: An Interview with Fractional CFO Marcel Vlug on Innovation in Consolidation Systems
In this interview, fractional CFO Marcel Vlug discusses how innovations in consolidation systems, such as automation and data integration, are helping companies improve their financial processes.
Marcel Vlug
Fractional CFO ยท Financial Consultancy
Can you tell us a bit about your background and experience with consolidation systems?
Since 1990, I have specialized in the implementation of consolidation systems for large enterprises. My career began at KPMG Consulting, where I gained experience with systems such as Micro Control, Hyperion Enterprise (secretly my favorite), Hyperion Financial Management, Tagetik, and OneStream. Over the past 30 years, I have assisted approximately 250 large companies with the implementation of these systems, through which I have developed extensive expertise in financial consolidation.
What made Hyperion Enterprise a favorite system for you?
Hyperion Enterprise was particularly valued for its simplicity, compactness, and speed. Adjustments could be implemented quickly, and the system offered an extensive range of functionalities. For large companies using it at the time (such as Akzo Nobel, Rabobank, ING, and Heineken), it was a perfect system for managing complex financial consolidations in a user-friendly manner.
How have consolidation systems evolved since the 1990s?
Since 2015, consolidation systems have undergone a significant evolution. Initially, these systems were primarily focused on large corporations and required extensive technical and specialist knowledge. As systems developed further, they became increasingly complex, particularly due to the added...