Navigating M&A: Challenges and Lessons in Operational Integration

In this episode, CJ interviews Rebeca Sanchez Sarmiento, the CFO of Dotmatics and the queen of managing operational complexity. With over seven acquisitions under her belt in just a few years, Rebeca shares insights on managing the complex realities of inorganic growth. She breaks down how Dotmatics balances autonomy and integration across multiple entities while finding synergies and implementing system consolidations. The conversation delves into the intricacies of managing 16 P&Ls, creating consistent forecasting frameworks, and determining whether to lean into an 80/20 approach or aim for all-around excellence. Beyond M&A, Rebeca’s extensive experience in investor relations and as a sell-side equity analyst adds depth to the discussion. The conversation also touches on her personal journey, including a bold move to Los Angeles, how it helped her career, and her approach to work-life balance and remote work.

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(02:30) Sponsor – Mercury | NetSuite

(04:51) Managing Acquisitions from an Operational Angle

(08:19) Why Finance Staff Aren’t the First to Go After an Acquisition

(09:10) Approaching a Company’s Financials After Diligence

(10:07) Why Dotmatics Manages These Companies Separately

(12:14) Prioritizing System Consolidation and Process Changes

(13:45) Forecasting for the Acquisition Company

(15:12) How Rebeca Forecasts for 16 P&Ls

(16:16) Why Dotmatics Distribute Instead of Having a Sales Team

(17:21) Sponsor – Operators Guild | Maxio | RemoFirst

(21:03) How Rebeca Structures the FP&A Team

(23:05) The 80/20 Approach to Forecasting

(25:44) Why They Don’t Budget for M&A Itself

(27:54) How Rebeca’s IR and Research Background Informs Her Current Role

(34:38) Rebeca’s Research on the Latin American Market

(37:09) How Rebeca Moved to LA on a Whim

(41:28) The Benefits of a Remote Workforce

(44:09) Rebeca’s Approach to Work-Life Balance

(47:59) Why Employees Will Leave a Job

(48:46) Long-Ass Lightning Round: Why People Stay in Bad Work Environments

(51:22) Advice on Patience

(51:53) Finance Software Stack