YevgueniTenemaza

Global Finance & Operations Executive leveraging engineering precision to transform chaotic workflows into streamlined financial systems. Expert in FP&A, Post-Merger Integration, and data automation. Proven track record managing $10M annual budgets and $4M in annual partner payouts, utilizing advanced forecasting and KPI dashboards to drive scalability. I bridge the gap between technical data and financial strategy to deliver operational excellence.

1. 2020 – Now

   Finance & Operations in Barcelona

   Six years building the finance and operations backbone of the world's biggest chess platforms, through hyper-growth and two acquisitions.

2. Chess.com

   Senior Finance and Operations Manager

   Mar 2023 – PresentBarcelona, Spain

   • Strategic FP&A ($10M Budget)Own financial planning across Engineering and Chessable units. Enforced strict discipline by tracking monthly variances and holding stakeholders accountable.
   • Financial Automation & Month-CloseEngineered custom automated dashboards and workflows that streamlined the month-end close process, reducing manual data entry by 40%.
   • AI-Driven EfficiencyArchitected AI-enhanced reporting tools to synthesize complex financial data into actionable executive insights; utilized BigQuery with AI to build automated dashboards with Google Sheets integration for webapp visualization for key stakeholders.
   • Payout Infrastructure ($4M/Year)Managed digital transformation of partner payouts, architecting secure workflows and executing rigorous data audits to safeguard disbursements.
   • Data Automation & SQLEliminated data team dependencies by building independent SQL pipelines, verifying 100% accuracy for C-level reporting.
   • Post-Acquisition IntegrationLed financial integration post-merger, ensuring zero operational downtime and facilitating seamless HR/Finance team consolidation.
   • Finance HandbookOverhauled the finance, accounting and operations handbook so processes run the same way no matter who runs them.
   • Product & Tax AssessmentsRan the financial and tax assessments of potential new products before they reached the roadmap.
   • Compliance & ERPDelivered the UK year-end accounts, kept the UK and Spain entities legally and administratively compliant, and drove the move to a consolidated ERP.

3. Chessable Ltd. & Play Magnus AS

   VP of Finance & Operations

   Jun 2021 – Mar 2023Barcelona, Spain

   • Group ReportingReported directly to the Group CFO of Play Magnus (listed in Oslo), and produced the monthly reporting for the CEO, CFO, CMO and VP of Content.
   • Process OptimizationSlashed the monthly financial closing cycle by 70% (from 10 days to 3 days) by re-engineering workflows and implementing reconciliation protocols.
   • Multi-Entity AccountingKept the books for the UK and Spain entities (Chessable, GingerGM, Gloucester Publishers and Chessable Spain) on Xero and Holded, and worked with the group on consolidated annual accounts.
   • Treasury & PayrollManaged more than £800K in monthly cash movements: payroll in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Germany; VAT (HMRC, VAT OSS) and US sales tax; contractors, software and advertising.
   • Cash Flow & RoyaltiesManaged $3M in annual partner payouts, designing precise commission structures and implementing automated calculation models for forecasting.
   • Operational ScalingBuilt the HR and administrative infrastructure to support a rapidly scaling team of 150 employees, ensuring operational stability during a period of hyper-growth.
   • Strategic AuditsLed the preparation of annual financial statements and served as the primary lead for external audits, ensuring full compliance across UK and Spain entities.
   • Systems BuiltA new HR tool, later rolled out across the group. A contractor payment solution. A US sales-tax tool with multi-state registrations. A live labor-cost outlook for the whole group. The accounting integration of two acquired companies.

4. Chessable Ltd

   Head of Finance & Customer Success

   Apr 2020 – Jun 2021Barcelona, Spain

   • Financial OperationsEstablished the company's core financial reporting structure, managing full-cycle accounting and leading the month-end close process prior to the Play Magnus acquisition.
   • Customer Success LeadershipDirected the Customer Success department, implementing scalable support workflows and KPIs that improved service quality during a period of rapid user growth.
   • International PayrollManaged complex multi-currency payroll operations for UK and Spain entities, ensuring strict compliance with cross-border tax regulations and labor laws.
5. 2012 – 2020

   Civil Engineering in New York City

   Before finance, I spent eight years on New York construction sites as a certified special inspector and field engineer. I read approved drawings line by line, tested concrete, steel, masonry and welds, and held projects to the building code. My first concrete superstructure was a 21-story building in Manhattan, from the support of excavation for the retaining wall through the foundations to the frame. That's where the discipline comes from: verify everything, and stay calm when a job site gets heated.

6. Municipal Testing Laboratories

   Special Inspector & Field Engineer

   Apr 2017 – Aug 2020New York City, USA

   • Project OversightOversaw inspections on multi-million-dollar construction projects across New York City, keeping every project's inspections current. It's the work that first got me interested in the business side.
   • Team LeadershipManaged a team of inspectors to keep projects compliant with local building codes, and trained new hires in field techniques.
   • Structural InspectionInspected rebar, bolting, structural steel, masonry, welding and piles against the approved drawings, and sampled mortar and masonry for testing.
   • Quality ControlIssued non-conformance reports (NCRs) and RFIs, and documented every site visit in daily inspection reports.

7. Future Tech Consultants of New York

   Field Engineer

   Feb 2017 – Apr 2017New York City, USA

   • Inspected concrete, rebar and masonry on active job sites and wrote the daily inspection reports.

8. Impact Concrete & Control Inspection

   Special Inspector

   Mar 2012 – Dec 2016New York City, USA

   • Field InspectionInspected concrete, rebar, bolting, steel, masonry and piles, plus excavation sheeting, shoring and bracing. Started in 2012 while studying Civil Engineering at City College.
   • Code DocumentationPrepared NYC Department of Buildings technical reports (TR-1, TR-2, TR-3, TR-4 and TR-8) for clients.
   • Concrete TestingSampled and tested concrete in the field as an ACI-certified technician, and maintained the testing kit.
   • Peer ReviewReviewed other inspectors' reports for accuracy before they went to clients.