Case Studies

Global Shared Services Transformation & Relocation

2 minute read

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: A leading salt producer partnered with Catena Solutions to relocate its finance shared services function internationally to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. Catena provided experienced leadership to design, staff, and transition a new captive shared services model, delivering a seamless execution and more than $3 million in annual savings.

Project at a Glance

• Delivered more than $3 million in year-over-year savings
• Designed and staffed a new captive shared services organization in Santiago, Chile
• Executed a seamless transition with structured change management for impacted U.S. employees
• Led a follow-on engagement reducing workforce by two-thirds post-merger while supporting business continuity

The Challenge: How Do You Relocate a Finance Function Internationally Without Disrupting Operations?

A salt producer set out to relocate its finance shared services function internationally to reduce operating expenses. While the cost-saving opportunity was clear, the company needed expert guidance to ensure the transformation was executed successfully, with minimal disruption to operations and impacted employees.

The Solution: End-to-End Shared Services Leadership

Catena Solutions deployed an experienced consultant to lead a multi-year global strategy to transition corporate finance functions and transactional activities to a captive shared services model based in Santiago, Chile.

Organizational Design & Workforce Build

The consultant designed the full corporate structure for the new shared services organization, including role definitions, job descriptions, hiring plans, and compensation policies.

They then sourced and built a highly skilled, productive local workforce in Chile to assume the relocated functions, reducing operating expenses while improving overall productivity and service delivery.

Change Management & Communications

To support a smooth transition, the consultant led all change management and communication efforts for impacted U.S.-based employees. This included structured messaging, transition planning, and efficient offboarding, ensuring continuity and maintaining employee trust throughout the process.

The Benefit: How Much Can a Shared Services Relocation Save Annually?

The relocation was executed seamlessly, resulting in more than $3 million in year-over-year savings for the organization.

The success of the engagement led the client to re-engage Catena Solutions for an additional initiative. The consultant returned to lead the human capital components of an aggressive reorganization and disposition strategy following a merger, ultimately reducing the workforce by two-thirds while supporting business continuity.

Contact us to learn how Catena can help you design, execute, and sustain complex organizational transformations.