Jean-Francois Arlove

Blackpearl Group (NZX:BPG) is a leading data technology company pioneering AI-driven sales and marketing solutions for the US market. Catering specifically to small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), BPG consistently delivers exceptional value to its customers.

Having been their CFO and now Financial Advisor I was responsible for -

• Driving financial strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the company's growth objectives
• Financial management and reporting, including quarterly, half-year, and annual financial reports.
• Strategic planning and analysis to support growth and profitability.
• Oversee the development of SaaS metrics to track the company’s performance and make recommendations.
• Risk management and compliance, including adherence to NZX requirements and IFRS.
• Report into the CEO and Board
• Grew the finance department to build out with FP&A skill set
• Supported the end-to-end deployment and approval process for HubSpot CRM, SaaS billing platform Maxio, BoardPro for governance, and Fathom, a cloud-based financial analysis and management reporting platform.

Accountability is a modern cloud-based financial management platform, designed by agency CFOs, exclusively for advertising agencies. In my role I was responsible for -

• Multiple implementations of Accountability’s platform into advertising agencies across New Zealand, Australia and USA, acting as the primary point of contact during onboarding and system rollout.
• Managed key agency accounts across Australia and New Zealand, providing strategic support and ensuring platform adoption aligned with each agency’s financial workflows.
• Responded to client support tickets, delivering timely resolutions and maintaining high client satisfaction.
• Advocated for agency needs internally to drive product improvement, drawing on deep understanding of financial operations within creative businesses.

Consulting CFO for mid-sized agencies and businesses across diverse sectors.

• Established a boutique consultancy providing fractional CFO services to mid-sized advertising agencies and high-growth businesses in sectors including fashion, retail, software development, SaaS, blockchain/Web3, and digital publishing.
• Delivered strategic financial leadership across budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, pricing models, capital raising, and board reporting.
• Worked hands-on with founders and executive teams to strengthen financial infrastructure, drive growth, and prepare for scaling or investment.
• Supported clients in aligning financial strategy with creative and operational goals, particularly in fast-moving and founder-led environments.
• Began mentoring emerging business owners and entrepreneurs through Business Mentors New Zealand, providing guidance on financial planning, leadership, and commercial strategy.

Springboard Trust is unique education change and impact organisation, bringing cross-sector experts together with school leaders to create effective strategic leadership for Aotearoa.

During my time at Springboard -

• Lead the planning and management of the organisational budget and liaise closely with the Financial Administrator to manage the balance sheet, cash flow, and all related income and cost elements of the organisation
• Ensuring the effective management of all internal operations including finance, administration, human resources, information technology, communications and marketing.
• Contribute to the organisation's national strategy, growth and planning
• Oversee the recruitment, retention and professional development of all staff
• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of all aspects of Springboard Trust's services through the development and implementation of sound policies, efficient processes, and a comprehensive information system and technology structure that improves the internal workings of the organisation
• Lead and manage the marketing and communications strategy across the organisation in order to engage, inform and raise awareness of Springboard Trust
• Led the strategic design of long-term financial sustainability
• Contributed to two successive years of surplus, both significantly ahead of budgets
• Lead the planning and management of the annual budget which is aligned with the organisation's income and growth projections
• Formed a close and trusted relationship with the leadership team, board members and main funders
• Helped grow the business from 20 - 40 people in 2 years and transitioning to a national organisation

TBWA New Zealand is an advertising and communications company part of Omnicom Group Inc listed in NY.

• Responsible for the financial management and financial strategy of the group.
• High level client relationships, group profitability, business operations, integration and the growing the groups offering.
• Helping key managers in the business to develop more profitable commercial relationships with their clients and suppliers.
• Led 2 major acquisitions for TBWA NZ
• Awarded Best Place to Work in NZ (under 100 employees) in 2006
• Managed significant upside and downside in the business over the 15 years
• Awarded APAC Financial Leadership Award in 2009 by parent company
• Appointed Director and Shareholder of TBWA New Zealand
• Appointed parent company representative in NZ for Omnicom Group Inc.

TBWA Melbourne is part of the Omnicom Group Inc.

• Setup the finance function reporting into the holding company in the UK then US
• Overall control of the finance function, treasury, reporting, auditing (USGAAP and IFRS)
• Implement accounting systems into Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland
• Stakeholder engagement and management
• Work with senior members of the business to grow and optimise
• Helped opened the Sydney and New Zealand offices in April 1997 and managed the finances of all 3 offices from Melbourne for 12 months before setting up senior staff in each.
• Appointed as General Manager/Finance Director to TBWA New Zealand in 1999 and moved to New Zealand

BBDO Melbourne is part of the Omnicom Inc NY. As an accountant in the finance team of 10, I was responsible for -

• Billings, AR for a group of clients
• Handled day-to-day accounting processes to drive financial accuracy.
• Gathered financial information, prepared documents, and closed books.
• Initiated comprehensive account assessments to check viability, stability, and profitability of business operations.
• Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis.