Director of Finance

Where do you work?
“I work at the Carpinteria site, Dako North America Inc.”

What do you do?
“It’s my job to make sure the Finance Department of 13 people works as a team, all with the same goals and objectives. This year, our main objectives are to improve Dako’s cash-flow by collecting on over-due invoices and, working with Sales, to improve our ability to turn net sales into dollars faster. This includes improving our processes with this new team. Some of my responsibilities lie within traditional finance such as budgeting, monthly and quarterly period-closures, analyzing results and reporting to management. I represent Finance on the Local Management Team, and make sure that Finance is involved in various improvements, and I ensure that Finance supports all other functions in daily business.”

What are the requirements of your job?
“My job involves freedom with the responsibility to deliver results. It requires that I understand the business, the Dako strategy and how not just Finance but all of the Carpinteria site can work towards Dako’s corporate objectives. As Head of Finance, my leadership and managerial skills are put to the test every day. I have to set reasonable but ambitious objectives, prioritize and delegate tasks among my co-workers and, when working on cross-functional teams and projects, speak out and defend my opinions while making compromises for the good of the higher goal. I work in a multi-cultural global environment.”

Why are you working for Dako?
“I come from Malmö in Sweden, and I started working for Dako in Copenhagen, which is close to my home town. I wanted to work for a company like Dako, which is the global market leader in cancer diagnostics. It felt like a very positive business, offering products that make a difference for people - and the right move for me. It was also my immediate impression that the company had an international mentality and welcomed foreigners.”

What kind of development opportunities do you see at Dako?
“I started working as a Corporate Business Analyst in Corporate Finance, Denmark. In 2007, I was offered a new position as Director of Finance in Dako North America Inc., California. Dako encourages its employees to take the initiative and help drive the business forward and this means that there is huge potential for personal development and leadership. Dako is a company that is always evolving, and I have an open mind about the future.”

What makes working at Dako special?
“The special thing about working at Dako is the small-scale operations and close relationships within and between the sites. Then there is the fact that the company wants to grow and really step up in size, to become a major player in the life-science business. It feels good to work for a company whose products really mean the difference between life and death for many of us or our relatives out there.”