![[Translate to English:] Executive Management and Finance Teams Analyzing Profitability and Financial Performance](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/2/csm_value-creation-roadmap-interim-aid_Francisco_Baraona_Portrait_a09922e1fa.jpg "[Translate to English:] Value Creation Roadmap – Improving Financial Performance with Interim Aid")
Value Creation, Profitability, Sales & Finance
Rising costs, increasing pricing pressure, and growing revenue that fails to translate into higher profits: CEOs and CFOs face the challenge of identifying where value is being lost and which measures will actually improve profitability.
Interim Aid’s Value Creation Roadmap connects Sales, Operations, and Finance through a unified profitability analysis. It identifies financial performance gaps, prioritizes actionable measures, and lays the foundation for their operational implementation.
In many B2B companies, profitability losses do not originate in a single area but occur throughout the entire value chain, from quotation and cost estimation to service delivery and invoicing.
Sales and Finance often operate with different KPIs, cost and risk factors are not fully reflected in pricing proposals, and the actual contribution margins of individual contracts remain unclear.
External cost pressures add to these challenges: According to the Simon-Kucher Pricing Study 2026, B2B companies in the DACH region expect costs to increase by an average of 11%. At the same time, only around two-thirds of planned price increases are actually implemented.
Simply raising prices does not necessarily address the underlying causes of insufficient profitability.
Interim Aid’s Value Creation Roadmap therefore focuses on the financial relationships between pricing, costs, operational processes, and financial performance management.
![[Translate to English:] Three Phases of the Value Creation Roadmap: Profitability Assessment, Action Plan, and Operational Implementation](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/2/csm_value-creation-roadmap-interim-aid_Francisco_Baraona_Portrait_3e73a11633.jpg "[Translate to English:] Value Creation Roadmap – Three Steps to Improving Profitability")
During a two- to three-day on-site assessment, we work with Executive Management, Sales, Controlling, and, where necessary, Procurement to analyze the key drivers of financial performance.
The focus is on cost calculations, contract structures, approval processes, and reporting. This initial assessment helps identify potential financial weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.
Over the following one to two weeks, we validate the identified opportunities using existing company data.
The result is a prioritized action plan that evaluates potential initiatives based on their expected financial impact and implementation effort.
Upon request, Francisco Baraona supports the implementation as an Interim CFO, COO, or Transformation Manager, working directly with the responsible teams to execute the identified measures.
Our guiding principle: Standardize first, then digitalize and automate and implement AI where it delivers measurable business value.
A unified profitability analysis creates transparency and improves financial performance management across Sales, Operations, and Finance.
The approach focuses on three key areas:
From −€2 Million to +€9 Million
Improvement in B2B financial performance at an energy utility company
Over €10 Million
Annual pre-tax earnings impact from two interim management projects at an energy utility company
+160% Software Revenue
Achieved through a business model transformation at a technology provider
These results are based on different reference projects and do not guarantee comparable outcomes. The technology provider's transformation was carried out during a permanent appointment as CEO.
Francisco Baraona | Degree in Economics
Value Creation, Transformation, Turnaround, Exit Readiness
Francisco Baraona has been working as a C-level Interim Executive since 2019, serving in roles including CEO, COO, and CFO. Previously, as Managing Director, he led the transformation of a private equity portfolio company through to its successful sale.
His expertise spans operational profitability improvement, business model transformation, and corporate performance management across the energy sector, B2B software, and industrial technology. He has worked with various ownership structures, including private equity investors, family offices, and municipal shareholders.
His Approach: Combining Analysis and Execution with Hands-On Executive Leadership and Operational Accountability.
![[Translate to English:] Francisco Baraona, Economist and Interim Executive Specializing in Value Creation and Business Transformation](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/2/csm_value-creation-roadmap-interim-aid_Francisco_Baraona_Portrait_81bb232d8c.jpg "[Translate to English:] Francisco Baraona – Value Creation & Transformation")
Growing revenue without corresponding improvements in profitability, insufficient cost transparency, or inconsistent performance metrics between Sales and Finance are compelling reasons to take a closer look at your company's value creation processes.
A structured profitability assessment helps you identify financial performance gaps, prioritize actionable measures, and make informed decisions about which improvements to implement.
Talk to Interim Aid about your current business challenges and how a Value Creation Roadmap can help improve your company's profitability.
What Is a Value Creation Roadmap?
A Value Creation Roadmap is a structured approach to improving a company's profitability. It identifies financial performance gaps, evaluates key profitability drivers, and translates these findings into prioritized action plans across Sales, Operations, and Finance.
How Does the Profitability Assessment Work?
The paid Profitability Assessment begins with a two- to three-day on-site visit. The initial findings are then validated using company data, and specific improvement measures are prioritized. The entire process, from the initial assessment to the presentation of findings, typically takes around three weeks, depending on data availability.
How Much Does a Value Creation Roadmap Cost?
The cost depends on the agreed scope of services. The Profitability Assessment is offered at a fixed price, which we will explain during an initial consultation.
How Does This Approach Differ from Traditional Management Consulting?
The Value Creation Roadmap combines strategic analysis with hands-on implementation. The Interim Manager who identifies key profitability drivers and develops improvement measures can subsequently take on executive responsibility for implementing those measures.
Florian kursawe
We are here for you - your request is important to us
Companies can arrange a free initial meeting to discuss possible solutions. Candidates are invited to join our network of experts.
![[Translate to English:] Wir sind für Sie da: Direkter Kontakt zu Florian Kursawe](/fileadmin/_processed_/2/d/csm_Florian_Kursawe_Geschaeftsfuehrer_Interim_Aid_6eac42f394.jpg)
