Strategic decisions should be based on the best possible data and analysis. Our analytics and modelling specialists interrogate, simplify and dynamically summarise vast volumes of complex and disparate data to assist you in making informed decisions.

Well-developed models and forecasts support better decisions and allow management to gain a deeper understanding of the key drivers of business performance. Our financial modelling solutions include:

• dynamic three-way forecast modelling to assist in assessing funding requirements, optimal capital structure and obtaining finance;
• independent assessment and sensitivity testing of existing models;
• cash and working capital projections and capital allocation analysis;
• acquisition and project finance modelling;
• strategy and initiative assessment and sensitivity analysis; and
• tender submission and assessment analysis.

Analytics interprets historic data to develop insights, providing clients with visual and interactive dashboards to assist decision making. Our analytics solutions include:

• customer sentiment analysis;
• benchmarking;
• retail analytics on demand and supply data;
• automating manual, time intensive tasks to clean, manipulate and report on data;
• data migration analytics; and
• transactional analytics to test financial information including revenue, expenses (such as payroll), working capital and cash flow.

Our experts work with clients to improve and accelerate conversion of earnings to cash. We do this by optimising debtor, inventory and creditor management practices to embed a “cash culture” within our clients’ businesses.

We have established a Centre of Excellence and dedicated team of working capital experts focussed on increasing cash flow for our clients. We use our Cash Flow Optimisation System to forecast, track, save and generate cash.
We work with your team to:

• identify ‘hot spots’ across the different parts of the working capital cycle – including ‘sale to collection’, ‘procurement to pay’, and ‘inventory management’;
• quantify the ‘size of the prize’ in cash terms using targeted and transactional analytics;
• develop, prioritise and implement cash and working capital improvement initiatives;
• improve forecasting processes and dashboard reporting accuracy; and
• design incentive packages linked to cash flow.

We have extensive experience to help you implement plans to ‘unlock’ material cash. We also have the expertise to provide our clients with best practices, procedures, systems, and staff training programs to maintain the improvements achieved.

View the 2019 McGrathNicol Advisory Working Capital Report.

We work with companies to improve earnings by utilising a proven methodology and a “hands on” approach to plan and implement initiatives that help drive value to the bottom line. Our approach applies to the execution of specific revenue optimisation or cost reduction initiatives or to the implementation of enterprise wide strategic change.

We provide a governance structure ensuring high quality analysis, accountability and compliance throughout an organisation. This approach not only substantially improves profit performance, but assists organisations to build the leadership, infrastructure and culture to drive ongoing high performance. Our costed, financial results-focused approach includes:

• early identification of issues driving current earnings performance;
• detailed initiative planning including bottom up approach to extract the best ideas from the business;
• thorough financial cost and benefit analysis;
• initiative implementation focused on prioritising activities based on financial benefits;
• establishment of a leadership and governance framework and key workstreams;
• implementation of a reporting cadence and accountability across the organisation;
• portfolio planning to ensure resources are allocated to activities driving the greatest value; and
• rapid reporting methodology to track the progress, cost and financial outcomes of initiatives.

We work with companies to provide an independent and objective assessment of operational performance. We understand that a cohesive and well-managed operational platform is critical to a business’ success. This requires aligned organisational structures with agreed business strategies, clear process efficiencies within core and support functions, and transparent governance frameworks.

Our “hands on” approach combines subject matter experts, specialist analytical skills and practical experience to identify options and implement actionable solutions that improve value and operational performance. We offer a fully actionable, accurately costed and results-focused approach that incorporates:

• An end-to-end assessment of the supply chain, including strategic sourcing and procurement, supplier management, contract performance, manufacturing management and logistics.
• Early identification of issues impacting asset utilisation, waste reduction and other operational efficiencies.
• Bespoke process improvement including, finance function capacity and capability reviews using our four-tier core competency framework.
• Assessment, design and implementation of “fit for purpose” roles processes and procedural guidelines.
• Assessment of options to simplify corporate structures to reduce costs and risks and provide significant governance and tax benefits.
• Development of detailed transformation plans with clear priorities and deliverables linked to financial benefits, resource capability, and return on investment.
• Review and assess corporate structures to eliminate unnecessary trading and dormant entities. A simplified corporate structure reduces costs and provides significant governance and tax benefits. We work with you to implement measures and controls to sustain the benefits of a simplified corporate structure into the future.
• Management of changes necessary to deliver improved operational performance and realise competitive advantage.

Strategy is more important than ever in this era of disruption and rapidly evolving markets. We understand the need for a clear and implementable solution, bringing together years of extensive strategic and commercial experience to drive strategy from development through to implementation. Our strategy philosophy revolves around the following fundamental principles:

• Understanding the problem or opportunity: comprehensively exploring the problem and articulating the opportunity will provide the business clarity on where the focus should be.
• Making the right choices: alternative strategies should be fully considered and quantified before settling on a preferred direction.
• Strategy execution is key to success: establishing appropriate governance, accountability and action is key to ensuring success.

We have developed a six-stage framework which focuses on delivering an implementable and costed strategic plan. Our approach leverages the acclaimed Argenti System of Strategic Planning and we will work with you to:

• Define your purpose: understanding your shareholder, what their desired business outcomes are and how they measure success is key to establishing strategic objectives to build a sustainable strategy.
• Analyse the gap: clearly quantifying the difference between current state and the desired state provides focus and clarity for the business.
• Identify the strategic “Elephants”: concentrating efforts on the key strategic issues that will have a significant impact on performance allowing you to better allocate resource and prioritise.
• Close the gap: evaluating all strategic initiatives through a quantification and risk lens ensuring effective choices can be made.
• Implement and monitor: a strategy is only as good as its execution. Plans should be measurable, with the ability to be tracked and reported against to demonstrate progress and success.

Developing implementation plans and providing project management teams to ensure initiatives are rolled out effectively and efficiently is in our DNA. We can provide hands-on implementation and delivery of those plans for broader business transformation projects.