Case Study: Heidelberg Materials
Strengthening Internal Controls Following Acquisition
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Client
Heidelberg Materials
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Engagement
Internal Controls Review and Enhancement
(Post-Acquisition Integration Support) -
Focus
Internal controls, post-acquisition integration, governance and risk management
Delivering post-acquisition integration through strengthened internal controls and risk management
The challenge
Following the acquisition of two companies, Heidelberg Materials needed to assess and strengthen the internal control environment across the newly integrated entities.
The organisation faced several challenges, including limited internal resource and specialist expertise to undertake the work, the need to quickly understand new processes, risks and control environments, and ensuring greater consistency and robustness across key financial control areas.
There was a clear requirement for experienced, independent support to review processes, identify risks and implement practical improvements
Our approach
Littlechild & Haley led and delivered a two-year programme to review and enhance internal controls across the newly acquired entities.
The work focused on:
- Detailed walkthroughs of key processes to understand how they operated in practice
- Identification of key risks and control gaps
- Development of clear, practical recommendations
- Constructive challenge of existing ways of working
- Close engagement with stakeholders to ensure recommendations were workable and implemented
The engagement combined strong technical expertise with a flexible, collaborative approach that supported effective engagement across the business.
The impact
The engagement delivered tangible improvements to the control environment across the acquired entities.
Key outcomes included:
- Improved understanding of processes, risks and key controls
- Strengthened mitigation of identified risks
- Greater consistency and structure within the control environment
- Increased confidence in governance and assurance
- Implementation of multiple control improvements across key processes
The work helped Heidelberg Materials move from a position of limited visibility and resource constraint to a more robust and controlled operating environment.
Delivering post-acquisition integration through strengthened internal controls and risk management
What made the difference
Heidelberg Materials particularly valued:
- The experience and technical expertise brought to the engagement
- A flexible and communicative approach that supported collaboration
- The ability to challenge constructively and improve existing practices
- A genuine, long-term commitment to supporting the business
“Littlechild & Haley have consistently added value over the past two years. They bring extensive internal controls and IA experience, apply an ‘outside the box’ mindset, and are particularly strong in research and analysis. They engage very effectively with auditees, adopting a relaxed but thorough approach that builds trust while still ensuring a robust and professional outcome.”
– Director of Internal Control, Business Intelligence, Fraud, Risk & Insurance
Heidelberg Materials
