Hi,I'm Alex

With a background in strategy and operations, I specialize in acquisitions integration, ERP (SAP) implementation, shared services, outsourcing, and finance transformation. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with top companies across various industries, including:

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Recent news

  • 2025

    • I'm living in Bangkok at the moment and am currently available for remote contract work.

  • 2024

    Travels:

    • I spent time in Tokyo, Bangkok, DaNang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong.

    I wrote several blog posts and articles:

    • Assessing operations: an in-depth guide to evaluating operations as part of transformation programs such as acquisitions integration or ERP implementation
    • Information gathering: a look at the important process of gathering information which forms the basis for design work as part of many transformation programs
    • Business/process frameworks: how to create a framework to help structure different aspects of transformation programs
    • Scope creep: A brief post on managing scope creep
    • Ansoff's grid: A look at this useful tool for strategic planning.

    I expanded my knowledge in:

    • The lastest on VBA, HTML, CSS and JavaScript. I worked through the freeCodeCamp curriculum and FrontendMentor challenges.
    • I created this website, with design structured in pure HTML and CSS. It utilises the 'static site generator' 11ty to automatically convert markdown-based articles/blog into web pages

    Work

    • In 2024 I worked with a global recruitment company on the assessment of the operations of potential acquisition targets (I started this in mid 2023)

  • 2022 and 2023

    • In 2021-23 I was living back in the Scottish highlands.
    • I spent a year buying, restoring and selling classic cars, including a 1989 Renault Alpine GTA, 1985 Toyota Landcruiser HJ60, 1985 Toyota Celica Supra and 1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am.

  • 2020 to 2022

    • I led the global design and pilot implementation of SAP S/4HANA Central Finance and CO-PA (margin analysis) for a multinational consumer goods company.

Featured posts

Spotlight: The leadership-project team gap

I recently had a conversation about an organisation struggling with business and IT misalignment. IT were reporting a key project was delayed, but still underbudget.

The project objective was the in-house development of a new ERP system. This in itself is an unusual approach in 2025 when most organisations opt for 'off the shelf' applications, often delivered on a 'software as a service' basis.

In situations like this, business leaders may lack to the knowledge and experience to understand or challenge IT. Similarily in some situations IT may lack the ability to challenge business requirements.

Clear communication between leadership and project teams is essential - especially regarding objectives, benefits, scope and execution status. I explore this topic in more detail in my latest article.

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Other featured posts

  • Operations assessment

    by Alex Roan on Jul 1, 2024

    Business transformation is a process where an organisation changes from an existing to a target operational state. Organisations spend a significant amount of effort identifying these improved target states. Corporate strategy drives this at macro level while team, department, function and business area managers are responsible for the execution at a lower level.

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  • The chart of accounts, concept & design

    by Alex Roan on Jun 25, 2020

    The chart of account (CoA) is one of the most important structures in business. It reflects all the activities a business is involved in and it provides a foundation for the majority of financial and management reporting. Correct use of the chart of accounts can both simplify operations and improve decision making capability.

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  • SAP HANA and S/4HANA - A simple guide

    by Alex Roan on Jun 3, 2020

    Recent years have seen a resurgence in large organisations taking on major SAP upgrades with the relatively new SAP business suite 4 HANA (S/4HANA) collection of applications. But what exactly is HANA? and what is S/4HANA? How is implementing or upgrading to it different from the R/3 upgrades that were significant programs for many organizations over the last few decades?

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  • Improving the record to report process

    by Alex Roan on May 18, 2020

    Starting from business transactions such as the purchase of materials, payments to employees and sale of goods and services. Ending with reporting and decision making including the submission of detailed annual reports. The 'record to report' process (RtR) is a long, complex process that involves people from across the enterprise. Despite the critical nature of this process, it’s rare to find RtR clearly documented from start to finish. I've found that few finance employees can describe the complete process. In part, this is because the process touches core operational transactions (purchases, manufacturing, sales etc.). From another perspective, it's because certain parts of the process require a high level of expertise.

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Connect

I'm currently available for work.

I'm also always interested to discuss anything related to strategy and operations transformation

You can connect with me on LinkedIn or by submitting the below form: