As CEPI grew in size and complexity, the need for structure in financial planning became increasingly urgent. Together with Finext, CEPI renewed its planning process: gaining control, shortening lead times, and creating one reliable source of truth- enabled by smart, purposeful financial planning software.
CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) was founded in 2017 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. It is a global alliance of public, private and philanthropic organizations, with the goal of: accelerating the development of vaccines andcountermeasures against epidemics and pandemics-with equal access for everyone.
At the heart of CEPI's 2022-2026 strategy is the 100 Days Mission: an ambitious challenge to develop vaccines against new pathogens within 100 days. Headquartered in Norway, with operations also in the UK and the US, CEPI needs not just innovation in science, but also resilience and precision in its financial function.
From growth to grip
Following a period of rapid growth-driven in part by the pandemic-CEPI's finance team realized their way of working, heavily reliant on Excel spreadsheets and manual consolidations, was no longer sustainable. The need for finance process automation became clear: processes had to become more efficient, scalable, and less manual.
Building progress together
An external assessment led to the choice of a new FP&A tool that better matched CEPI's needs. But it wasn't just about technology-it was about trust and collaboration. From day one, Finext played a crucial role in building internal support. While other parties focused on tool demos, Finext provided direct answers to finance-specific challanges and helped the team envision how the new system, Vena Solutions, would work in their own context.
"Finext gave us clear answers and exuded confidence. They understood our challenges and came up with practical solutions."
The first implementation-focused on forecasting operational expenses-went live within three to four months. It was an intense, co-creative effort, with the internal team closely involved in both the design and setup.
Tangible results, clearly felt
The transformation paid off quickly. What used to be a fragmented and time-consuming process is now more structured and scalable:
• Improved planning, reporting and execution
• Better consolidation, audit trail and version control
• More time for analysis instead of data gathering
Thanks to structured workflows, clear data ownership, and the right financial planning software, CEPI now has tighter control of costs, improved forecasting accuracy, and the confidence to make faster decisions. The next step? CEPI is preparing for a new phase, introducing contribution planning and consolidated cashflow planning.
Wondering how Finext can also future-proof your financial processes? Let's get acquainted.
