Pioneers don’t just keep up. They set the pace. That is exactly what we do at Haltermann Carless. That is exactly what our new brand identity shows: Pioneers in hydrocarbons. We want to bring this attitude to life and make it visible. That is why we conducted an interview on the topic of pioneering spirit with all six members of the Executive Board. They shed light on the topic of pioneering spirit in their respective areas of the company – authentically, approachably and inspiringly. Today with CFO Fabian Werner.
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Fabian Werner – Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Fabian Werner has been with the company for eight years and, as CFO, is now responsible for all financial matters at the Haltermann Carless Group. His responsibilities include ensuring liquidity and providing relevant financial information internally and externally, for example for monthly reports, annual financial statements and audits. What fascinates him about his role is the holistic view of the company: making informed decisions requires a deep understanding of value creation, processes and interdependencies. Fabian Werner sees the finance department as a central information hub that supports other departments in their planning and decision-making. |
To me, pioneering spirit means breaking new ground – but in a calculated way. So, for me, a pioneer is someone who dares to tread new paths. But unlike a gambler, they don't rely on chance or luck, but on careful preparation, knowledge and experience. They are willing to take risks, but these are well thought out and calculated. If we look back at history, we see that the great explorers were not risk-takers. They were people with a clear goal in mind.
I think, for example, of Ferdinand Magellan, who completed the first circumnavigation of the globe. He achieved this through his pioneering spirit, but also by meticulously gathering information about world maps, ocean currents and wind conditions beforehand.
In the financial sector, we work in a highly regulated environment. We have clear goals and targets. Nevertheless, the question arises as to how we can work more efficiently, more intelligently and better, and how we can challenge the status quo. Digitalisation plays a crucial role for us here – for example, in processing incoming invoices and accounting for travel expenses.
Another example: for some time now, we have been creating presentations for our business unit and site managers using a digital tool that presents information quickly and clearly – without overwhelming them with too much information. Instead of 70 slides, we now provide ten slides with financial key figures, and that is absolutely sufficient for our colleagues. Pioneering spirit can also mean not doing things anymore.
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As a finance manager, I know that ‘Value x2’ does not mean double the work or double the effort – it means smart decisions, intelligent control and targeted initiatives. For example, if we increase sales by 20 per cent, this can already lead to doubling the value.
The reason is leverage effects, for example when fixed costs are spread over more sales, unit costs are reduced through economies of scale, or products with higher margins are sold – this means that profits increase more than sales.
However, our role in the finance department is also to provide information to our colleagues, support decisions – and sometimes push them through – and measure success afterwards. We have a clear gatekeeper function: We create transparency and ensure that the entrepreneurial pioneering spirit can continue to grow on a solid financial foundation.
In finance, the focus is naturally very much on the past. We analyse figures, prepare reports and draw conclusions from past periods – that is important and necessary. My ambition for my team and myself is to look more to the future – without losing sight of the past, but with more room for the present and the future. We can achieve this by further automating routine tasks – supported by digitalisation and artificial intelligence. This will free up time for questions that are truly crucial for the future: What developments are coming our way? What information do decision-makers need to be well prepared for the future? I want us to provide our colleagues with even more targeted information that they need to make tomorrow's decisions.
Stay tuned: In our series of interviews, all six members of the Haltermann Carless Executive Board have their say. It becomes clear that pioneering spirit has many faces. Every perspective is different - and it is precisely this diversity in the management team that makes our pioneering spirit possible.
Do you have any questions? We look forward to hearing from you.