{"id":19617,"date":"2026-08-31T11:37:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/?p=19617"},"modified":"2026-09-10T11:52:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T06:22:26","slug":"fmcg-finance-transformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/resources\/case-studies\/fmcg-finance-transformation\/","title":{"rendered":"Transforming Finance Operations for an Australian FMCG Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Executive Summary\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDespite a challenging handover and minimal documentation, Befree successfully transitioned an Australian FMCG client’s finance operations within a complex SYSPRO ERP environment. What began as core accounts payable and accounts receivable support expanded rapidly within the first year, driven by consistent delivery, proactive ownership, and process improvements. Today, the team supports a broad range of critical finance functions, including reconciliations, customer claims, and continuous process improvement.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Client Snapshot\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Industry: <\/strong>FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods)
Geography:<\/strong> Australia
Operational Context:<\/strong> High transaction volumes, customised finance processes within a SYSPRO ERP environment
Engagement Focus:<\/strong> Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable support, expanding into reconciliations, customer claims, Balance Sheet reconciliations, and finance process improvement<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Challenge\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The engagement began with a difficult handover and minimal process documentation, requiring the team to independently understand complex accounting workflows within a customised SYSPRO ERP environment. At the outset, the client was facing several operational pain points:<\/p>

  • Limited transition period and minimal process documentation<\/li>
  • Backlog in Accounts Receivable reconciliations<\/li>
  • Delayed stakeholder responses on outstanding balances<\/li>
  • Large volume of pending Zoho CRM customer tickets<\/li>
  • Historical unreconciled Braintree clearing accounts<\/li>
  • Reliance on manual month-end journals<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Befree's Approach\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Rapid Learning & Ownership\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The team independently learned the client’s SYSPRO ERP through live transaction processing, online resources, and internal documentation, all while ensuring uninterrupted finance support.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Stabilising Operations\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • Maintained AP and AR continuity<\/li>
    • Utilised daily trackers for customer queries and AR follow-up<\/li>
    • Built relationships with stakeholders<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t

      Eliminating Backlogs\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
      \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      • Reviewed and prioritised aged AR items<\/li>
      • Reduced Zoho CRM ticket turnaround from approximately 3 days to same-day closure in most cases<\/li>
      • Implemented daily monitoring and structured escalation<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t

        Resolving Complex Reconciliations\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        • Took ownership of Braintree clearing account reconciliations<\/li>
        • Resolved historical reconciling items<\/li>
        • Managed Amazon vendor reconciliations and supplier statement differences<\/li>
        • Implemented sustainable reconciliation controls<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t

          Process Improvements\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
          \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
          • Standardised transaction processing workflows<\/li>
          • Reduced dependency on manual month-end journals<\/li>
          • Introduced month-round reconciliation controls<\/li>
          • Improved clearing account transparency and financial reporting<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t

            Rapid Expansion of Services\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
            \n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n Initial Scope vs Expanded Scope<\/title>\r\n\r\n <style>\r\n .table-responsive {\r\n width: 100%;\r\n overflow-x: auto;\r\n -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table {\r\n width: 100%;\r\n min-width: 600px;\r\n border-collapse: collapse !important;\r\n border-spacing: 0 !important;\r\n font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\r\n background-color: #ffffff !important;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table thead,\r\n .scope-table tbody,\r\n .scope-table tr,\r\n .scope-table th,\r\n .scope-table td {\r\n background-color: #ffffff !important;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table th {\r\n background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;\r\n font-weight: bold;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table tbody tr,\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:nth-child(odd),\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:nth-child(even),\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:hover {\r\n background-color: #ffffff !important;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:nth-child(odd) td,\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) td,\r\n .scope-table tbody tr:hover td {\r\n background-color: #ffffff !important;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table th,\r\n .scope-table td {\r\n padding: 12px;\r\n border: 1px solid #dddddd !important;\r\n font-size: 14px;\r\n text-align: left;\r\n vertical-align: middle;\r\n background-color: #ffffff !important;\r\n }\r\n\r\n .scope-table thead th {\r\n background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;\r\n }\r\n <\/style>\r\n<\/head>\r\n\r\n<body style=\"margin:0; padding:0;\">\r\n\r\n <!-- Mobile Scroll Container -->\r\n <div class=\"table-responsive\">\r\n\r\n <table class=\"scope-table\">\r\n\r\n <thead>\r\n <tr>\r\n <th>Initial Scope<\/th>\r\n <th>Expanded Scope<\/th>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/thead>\r\n\r\n <tbody>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td>AP<\/td>\r\n <td>AP & AR<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td>AR<\/td>\r\n <td>AR Reconciliations<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td>Basic Bookkeeping<\/td>\r\n <td>Zoho CRM Claims<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td><\/td>\r\n <td>Braintree Reconciliations<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td><\/td>\r\n <td>Amazon Vendor Reconciliations<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td><\/td>\r\n <td>Balance Sheet Reconciliations<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <tr>\r\n <td><\/td>\r\n <td>Process Improvements<\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody>\r\n\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/body>\r\n\r\n<\/html>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40b7317 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"40b7317\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Results & Business Impact\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acec81d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"acec81d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The engagement delivered measurable improvements across scope, efficiency, and reconciliation accuracy:<\/p><ul><li>Significant increase in the scope of services<\/li><li>Successfully mastered a complex SYSPRO ERP environment<\/li><li>Eliminated historical AR reconciliation backlogs<\/li><li>Reduced Zoho CRM response time from 3 days to same-day resolution<\/li><li>Successfully reconciled complex Braintree clearing accounts<\/li><li>Improved Amazon vendor reconciliation accuracy<\/li><li>Reduced manual month-end journals<\/li><li>Improved month-end close efficiency and reporting quality<\/li><li>Became a trusted extension of the client’s finance team, supporting both operational delivery and continuous process improvement<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cbc9db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cbc9db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Despite a difficult transition, the team quickly stabilised operations, resolved long-standing reconciliation issues, and introduced sustainable finance processes. Through technical adaptability, proactive ownership, and a continuous improvement mindset, the engagement rapidly evolved from <a href=\"https:\/\/befreeltd.com\/au\/services\/bookkeeping-outsourcing\/\">supporting core bookkeeping activities<\/a> to managing a wide range of critical finance functions. Today, Befree continues to serve as a trusted extension of the client’s finance team, delivering operational excellence while driving ongoing process improvements.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Executive Summary Despite a challenging handover and minimal documentation, Befree successfully transitioned an Australian FMCG client’s finance operations within a complex SYSPRO ERP environment. What began as core accounts payable and accounts receivable support expanded rapidly within the first year, driven by consistent delivery, proactive ownership, and process improvements. Today, the team supports a broad […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19619,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[88],"class_list":["post-19617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies","tag-bookkeeping"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Australian FMCG Finance Operations Transformation | Befree<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How Befree resolved AR backlogs, Braintree reconciliation issues, and manual journal reliance for an Australian FMCG company using SYSPRO ERP.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" 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