Financial Operations and Management

An effective financial operations function will coordinate with other business functions for:

• Implementing policies, procedures and internal controls are essential for cost effective business operations.
• Creating an effective accounting function for streamlined reporting.  Accurate financial reporting is the basis for management and regulatory reporting and analysis of business results.
• Selecting scalable and easily integrated financial reporting and operating systems creating seamless data flow.  
• Defining communication channels between Finance and other functions to maintain bi-lateral exchange of information and accountability

Mergers & Acquisitions

Identification, due diligence and integration of target companies are critical to assuring a successful execution of a Merger or Acquisition.

Research target companies for product line expansion, opening access to new markets and leveraging existing core competencies.

• Involve subject matter experts and stakeholders to execute a detailed due diligence plan.
  
• Thoroughly detail all assets purchased and liabilities assumed in negotiating the Purchase/Sale Agreement.
  
• Ensure inclusion of a break-up fee should the target company fail to fulfill its obligations in pre-closing.
  
• Determine and weigh the pros and cons for an Asset purchase vs. an Equity deal.
  

Mergers and acquisitions enable growth opportunities beyond the core business model if done strategically. Success is to increase long-term profitability, manage risk and market position.

Financial Strategy and Analysis

An effective FP&A function will partner with leadership to  pursue growth and profitability goals including: 

• Rolling forecasts ensures merger of up to-date actuals, changed landscape, revised revenue projections and costs.
• Long term planning identifies and determines opportunities, risks, capital requirements and the need for investments.
• Creating a sense of accountability by validating business cases and investments. Ensuring the spend is directed properly.
• Identifying KPI’s and creating scorecards to keep track of progress.
  

Start-ups Business Management

There is little need for a devil’s advocate at a startup. The whole rest of the world is fighting against you. The inside of a startup should be a bastion of hope and optimism.
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The start-up must establish a mission and vision with clearly defined goals that attracts top talent and builds a positive risk-reward scenario that ensures investor funding.

• Can the existing market accommodate a new player or can a new player capture an emerging market share?
• Based on the mission and vision, stretch goals are identified and communicated with reasonable milestones and timelines.
• Frame the value proposition based on customer and/or prospect feedback.
• Research the competitive landscape to categorize competitors, noting strengths and weaknesses.  
• Invest early in marketing to clarify and articulate the value proposition, defendable points of differentiation, and brand awareness.

M&A Integrations

Successful M&A Integration is based on consideration of multiple factors all coming together bi-laterally to enable a good outcome.
Awareness and responding to cultural aspects and differences in business practices between the companies in particular cross-border

• Evaluation during due diligence phase of the high-risk areas specifically differences in business practices, compliance standards and reporting formats
• M&A organizational changes and restructuring has as a goal alignment with the acquiring company while mitigating the risk of business continuity  
• Alignment of information systems may require an intermediate solutions in reporting compliance with the acquiring company until the blueprint of the replacement system is finalized
• ​Assess potential synergies with flexible models allowing stress-testing under different scenarios as well as potential additional costs of compliance