Mordant is “on a roll” thanks to accountancy from Grant Thornton

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Youri De Vos, General Manager at joinery specialist Mordant Group, was sceptical when his accountant recommended seeking a consulting partner with more expertise. He turned to Grant Thornton for legal assistance and accountancy advice.

Thanks to the informal and approachable style of his trusted advisor, Anthony Jopart, Youri soon felt the added value.

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In “On a roll”, we crisscross the country in search of the most inspiring entrepreneurs. What are their growth ambitions and how are we at Grant Thornton helping them achieve these ambitions? Be inspired and get your business rolling too!

Creating future prospects

Before joining Mordant, Youri De Vos helped ailing companies regain their financial health. ‘Usually I could only advise, but here at Mordant I was given the freedom to take the controls myself.’ So in 2015, Youri sank his teeth into founder Michel Mordant's joinery business.

The business owner decided to appoint Youri as general manager and since then, Mordant Group has grown significantly: from 9 employees to 52 and from 400 projects a year to 3,500. ‘But the number of administrative staff remained the same’, Youri says. ‘I am always looking for digital efficiency.’

‘In 2022, our accountant suddenly said that he himself was no longer the best accounting partner for Mordant Group. On his advice, we became clients of Grant Thornton. I only regret that we didn't make the switch earlier.’

‘I want to turn opportunities into tipping points. That's how both our collaboration with Pierret and the Oxygenius project were born.’

Youri De Vos General Manager at Mordant Group

The outsider

Mordant Group is made up of three entities. ‘The first branch is our joinery unit that installs and repairs window and door frames. The second entity handles the exclusive distribution of Pierret profiles.’ Mordant Group's third subsidiary is Oxygenius - the outsider.

‘Oxygenius is business software for construction companies. It's hard to imagine today, but in 2016, there was no such thing. When I spotted that gap in the market, I tapped into my passion for computer science and started looking for partners.’

‘Placing software in the market can be risky’, says Anthony Jopart, Senior Manager Accountancy at Grant Thornton. ‘For something like this to succeed, you need accounting breathing space. We were able to create that for Youri.’

Informal relationships

Anthony Jopart is crazy about accounting. He has been ever since high school. ‘Accountancy is a riddle with a very specific answer and I love the search for that answer.’ Anthony joined Grant Thornton Charleroi in 2019. ‘I prefer to be close to my clients. Our relationship is always informal.’

‘With my colleague Maxime Vande Velde, I take care of Mordant Group's accounting. When it comes to tax advice or legal issues, I bring in my colleague Emmanuel Mariage.

‘Entrepreneurs don't want a passive accountant. They want a sparring partner who helps shape the future of their business.’

Anthony Jopart Senior Manager Accountancy at Grant Thornton

‘We helped organise Mordant Group's business activities. That's where we have delivered the greatest added value so far’, Anthony believes. ‘Mordant will shortly be opening its first showroom in Flanders. We helped Youri with the business plan and an additional line of credit with the bank, among other things.’

‘We also advised Youri on the Oxygenius project. We carried out a capital increase and made a few legal changes to the corporate structure. This way, Youri and the rest of Mordant Group are safe from risks.’

Part of the family

Peers Youri and Anthony also get along well on a personal level. ‘Yes, we get on’, says Youri. ‘We regularly go for a drink together because it is often easier to discuss something difficult in an informal context like that.’

‘And the future of our cooperation? Maybe we'd better stop?’, says Youri, smiling at Anthony. ‘No, Grant Thornton already manages so much of our business. If they see any ways to improve Mordant's performance, Anthony will let me know. I find it difficult to see how things could be done better, but he can certainly try.’