How the centralisation of finance functions in German banks succeeds

Germany's banks currently have the adaptation and reorganisation of their financial architecture on their agenda. The financial institutions are developing new Target Operating Models (TOM) of their financial functions. The goal is to become faster, more cost-effective and qualitatively better.

The current reorganisation of financial infrastructures is being used to think about the possibilities of (further) centralising the finance functions. The need for this will increase in the future due to several industry trends: Cost pressure and requirements for data quality are rising in equal measure, a shortage of skilled workers and increasing regulation are putting companies under pressure. The result: a wide-ranging, continuous transformation process.

In the current white paper "The centralisation of finance functions: Scenarios, Phases, Success Factors", our experts provide impulses and solutions for the successful implementation of centralisation options. 

Centralised finance functions have several advantages:

• They can make a significant contribution not only to increasing transparency and better controlling processes, but also to increasing efficiency and exploiting synergies.
• They make it possible to reduce the challenges in finding qualified personnel. 
• They support the implementation of concrete transformation strategies - as M&A activities or the establishment of foreign branches are facilitated. 
• Outsourcing solutions or the establishment or expansion of own shared service centres can lead to higher personnel flexibility in addition to cost-saving effects.  
  

In the white paper, our authors analyse the opportunities and risks of three specific implementation scenarios and explain how institutions can proceed in several phases. It also shows which success factors need special attention - from IT architecture to employees and governance.