The switch to hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric vehicles (EV) in the automotive sector involves a lot of change. Punch Powertrain, with its headquarters in Belgium, took this challenge as an opportunity. They saw this change as a major driver for business growth. Their own e-propulsion systems contribute to a sustainable world. Just what Finsiders is trying to build with its partnership with Punch Powertrain – a sustainable growth story.
Punch Powertrain came to Finsiders a few months ago with the request to support their finance & controlling team in order to help realize their planned growth. This resulted in the start-up of our Finsiders Matthias and Marijke.
With a background in Business Controlling, our Finsider Matthias was given the opportunity to work as a Senior Finance Consultant at Punch Powertrain. Focused on analyzing and controlling the financial figures of the activities of the production site in Sint-Truiden, Matthias is gaining additional experience in this production environment. The first period focused mainly on forecasting, which is essential in the business that Punch Powertrain is in. A solid forecast is a preparation to anticipate the proposed growth. In addition to the routine tasks as a controller, we were also asked to look at possible optimizations in the existing reporting and the preparation of reporting on the production of two new products. Just something Finsiders likes to help its customers with.
Finsiders naturally ensures that the continuity of the daily tasks in a finance department can continue in many projects. In her project, Marijke was assigned to be responsible for the consolidation of the Punch Powertrain group and the consolidated annual accounts. Just the expertise that Punch Powertrain was looking for.
"When I arrived on my first working day at Punch Powertrain, I was surprised at how large the site in Sint-Truiden is. I have already gained experience at a multinational, but Punch is a different category with its large factory halls and a 5-storey R&D tower. I was immediately impressed. I already notice that I am making enormous growth as a consultant, and that is exactly what Punch Powertrain and I needed," says Marijke Vanhalle.
Punch Powertrain nv is an independent global supplier of innovative and energy-efficient drive systems to the automotive industry. The company builds on 50 years of experience in the development and production of world-class transmission technologies and offers Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVTs), Dual Clutch Transmissions (DCTs), hybrid and electric drive systems. Punch Powertrain, headquartered in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, has more than 1,700 employees. The company has five R&D centers and three production facilities in Europe and China.
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