Anna Axen

Experience

• 

  Ericsson

  Sept 1995 - Sept 1999

  Head of Controlling & Rporting

  My responsibilties included financial reporting for all Ericssons activities in Russia, including the budget and forecast process. I coordinated the reporting from a number of divisions and companies and prepared management reports. I also took lead in developing the financial systems and processes by participating in the Scala implementation. In my work as Controller I interfaced with the management team, finance & accounting department, controllers from other companies, divisions and business units within Ericsson and corporate controller functions. My competence with statutory accounting and US GAAP made me a key person within the company. Show less

• 

  IKEA

  Oct 1999 - Sept 2001

  Finance Manager

  I quickly absorbed the dutch language and culture. With enjoyment, focus and efficiency I delivered increased growth and profit to the store. My role in the IKEA Utrechts management team was to actively challenge and support the business going forward. Together with my team I drove and secured profitable growth, improved customer- and co-worker satisfaction, secured a safe store as well as took responsibility for IT. We delivered all financial reporting, follow ups and planning, to the Management team, the store as well as to the country organization.I worked very close with HR and Store Manager with all retail KPIs to deliver improved results. At this time we also put a lot of focus and energy into making processes and routines, leaner, simpler and quicker. Show less

• 

  None

  Sept 2001 - Sept 2005

  4-year break in my career to care for my young family

  During these years I embraced the culture, people and languages of Greece and Spain. I was actively engaged in my children's school in the last two years before I opened my own company.

• 

  Excelwines.com

  Sept 2005 - Sept 2008

  Owner and founder

  Excelwines.com was based in Bilbao, Spain and I owned 50% of the shares. Excelwines.com sold high quality Spanish wines and olive oils through the internet, mainly to private consumers but also to importers and distributors around Europe.I developed essential business skills such as digital marketing, purchasing, negotiating, logistics -and most crucially- driving sales and growth.My passion for working together with people, combining people and business for optimal results gave me tons of energy. I worked closely with wine producers and distributors as well as our wine loving customers. Show less

• 

  IKEA of Sweden, Supply chain

  Dec 2008 - Sept 2010

  Business Navigation Manager

  Leading, driving and securing the financial steering, reporting, follow up and budget for a portfolio of 15 IKEA global Business IT developing projects.

• 

  Winefinder.se

  Sept 2010 - Dec 2011

  Business Controller

  In close cooperation with the CEO I developed Winefinder from a startup company to a fast growing, #1 online wine company, in Sweden. While fully embracing the entrepreneurship at the company, constantly testing and adjusting, I implemented structure and initiated financial follow up, forecasting, budgeting, reporting, logistic planning and efficiency in purchasing .

• 

  IKEA of Sweden, Supply Chain

  Jan 2012 - Jun 2014

  Business Navigator PMO

  Securing an efficient and optimal utilization of total invested money for IT-related initiatives and services within IKEA global supply chain by focusing on steering, cost-efficiency and follow-up. Project support to 15 Global IT developing project, budget process and overall administration within the PMO.

• 

  IKEA

  Jun 2014 - Oct 2019

  (Acting CFO May 2019-Oktober 2019)With 18BSEK in turnover, 20 IKEA stores, ecommerce and customer support centre I contributed to a profitable growth of +6% for the country. In combination with cost efficiency and margin optimization we delivered the to date best financial results for IKEA Sweden. The CFO function included responsibility for Business Navigation, Retail Operation, Finance, Legal, Risk & Compliance and Local IT, altogether 60 people. During the first year I together with the CFO re-organized ways of working within the function by successfully simplifying processes and clarifying roles and responsibilities, securing mandate and succession planning both in stores and at head office.I successfully created a simplified structure for the financial Business Planning process, improving and clarifying the connection with the overall Business plan for Retail Sweden. In this process I also implemented multi-channel financial follow-ups and steering. I worked a lot with business cases supporting growth by balancing risks and returns, the new IKEA city shop in Stockholm as an example.As acting CFO I led Risk management as well as Safety & Security for IKEA Sweden as well as Local IT.I ensured that country operations were compliant with IKEA Group Code of Conduct and other Group Steering processes. I also built and maintained trustful business relationships with external stakeholders (authorities, auditors, advisors, Inter IKEA Group).The last 6 months I, then as acting CFO, prepared, planned and implemented new ways of “Work, Lead and Organize” for the CFO organization in Sweden as part of the IKEA global transformation. Show less Business Navigation at IKEA Retail Sweden is a function within the CFO organisation, responsible for the profitability development i.e. the Profit & Loss with a top line of 18BSEK. In this role I recruited, developed and led my 14-person team at the Head office Finance department. Me and my team supported stores and the country within the areas of Navigating the business, Business and Project Controlling, Business Information, Business Administration, Recovery (Sales Backflow)incl. Quality, and Staff optimization. I was also the matrix responsible for the 20 Finance Managers and their teams in the stores plus ecom and customer support centre. I worked closely with the Store managers and the Finance managers to align forecasts, investments, budgets and follow-up.During these years IKEA initiated the transformation of becoming a true multi channel company. I successfully empowered my team to find and implement new, more relevant ways of steering and following up our business in this new retail environment, in order to improve customer experience and maintain margins and profitability. Show less

  • Deputy Chief Financial Officer

    Jun 2017 - Oct 2019

  • Country Business Navigation Manager

    Jun 2014 - Jun 2017
• 

  Asynjor Invest

  Sept 2022 - now

  Partner and board member

  Asynjor Invest is a platform for Female Business Angels in Sweden. Asynjor Invest wants to increase opportunities for an equal society and create a new social structure with a better and more healthy financing culture that is sustainable.