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On 27th, 28th May 2010 Poznan became a
capital of Polish controlling. As every year
there appeared controllers from leading
Polish and foreign companies to take part in
the 4th International Congress of Controllers:
Controlling Intelligence Adventure (CIA).
This year the participants came in large num-
bers not only to exchange experiences, get to
know new trends and raise their references, but
also or mainly, to estimate what is the real pic-
ture “after storm”.
The results, which are possible to define after
numerous discussions and presented lectures
are unambiguous, the last crisis again very
strongly defined the role of a controller in a
company. Without doubt, in a contemporary sit-
uation, a controller must be close to business,
close to market problems and often difficult de-
cisions. They need to have not only analytical
skills but also must interpret market relations,
competition context and define strategic sce-
narios better than before.
To be a real management partner, a controller
must be himself a leader of changes, a creator
of new challenges, increase his self confidence
and communication skills. They have to change
from hermetic structure of the language of
numbers, charts and tables into the world of
business, relations, links and also emotions,
which accompany these changes.
The borders of the responsibility scope enlarge,
the endless work on relations between finances
and business is obligatory so as mutual under-
standing could help in gaining competition ad-
vantage in future.
We could listen lectures about the experi-
ences of:
- Igor Kostyszyn, Finance Director, Polfa
Warszawa PLC,
- Maciej Bienkowski, Operations & Logistics
Controller, Coca-Cola HBC Polska Ltd,
- Iwona Niewrzoł, Manager of the Business
Decision Assistance Depar tment, ZPC
Mieszko PLC,
- Astrid Zakrzewska, Director PwC Academy,
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
- Tomasz Debicki, Plant Controller, Philips
Lighting Poland PLC O/Pabianice,
- Bartosz Gayer, Operational Controller, Zywiec
Zdrój PLC,
- Rainer Vieregge, Businesscoach, RVA Con-
sulting, Aachen,
- Ph.D. Konrad Marchlewski, Board Vice-Pres-
ident, Atlas Ltd,
- Matilda Crossman, Managing Director Cen-
tral and Eastern Europe, The ExP Group,
- Mariusz Andrysiak, Director of Managing
Information Department Bankowy Fundusz
Leasingowy PLC,
- Paweł Zygarłowski, Board President Centrum
Rozwoju Szkół Wyzszych TEB Akademia,
- Grzegorz Dadela, Financial Director, Subaru
Import PolskaLtd.,
- Arkadiusz Kasprzak, Vice-President KKS
Lech Poznan PLC.
However, there is an optimistic idea from the
picture shown by spokespeople as well as
from backstage conversations that many
Polish controllers have been ready to accept
this challenge and take up a role of reliable and
objective partner, who points at risks, notices
chances and can not only define them but also
interpret in a wider business context.
They definitely stated that they became part-
ners for the boards, who were more helpful to
go through storms and turbulences. Boards’
Presidents taking part in the Congress empha-
sized the necessity of this direction and tight co-
operation in the scope of creating a strategy,
setting new business frames and defining busi-
ness together.
Backstage conversations and evening integra-
tion meetings proved again that apart from
substantial development, taking part in the CIA
Congress is a great chance to exchange views
and make new, interesting contacts.
Next chance, next year in Poznan 26th, 27th
May 2011. Note this date in your diary!
Edyta Szarska
International Controllers’ Conference in Poznan successful
Internationaler Controller Verein ICV