Consulting Studio
The consulting studio is an essential partner for scaleups and micro to small-sized businesses, providing end-to-end, project-based consulting specialising in Strategy, CFO Advisory, Operations & Organizational Transformation, and Technology Management & AI.
Acting as an independent party and trusted advisor, we empower businesses to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities with best-in-class solutions to achieve their objectives.
Strategy
At Carter Seven we are well positioned to help you achieve long-term sustainable success, which aligns with your capabilities, systems and value proposition.
- A focus on long-term viability and stability
- An approach to growth that is holistic, intentional and strategic
- Aligning growth initiatives with existing capabilities
Some companies adopt a scattered approach, attempting to pursue growth in multiple areas simultaneously, involving entering different markets, launching various products and implementing diverse growth strategies. The consequences are that growth strategies often lead to a dispersion of resources allocated across a broad spectrum.
We create growth strategies that encourage the importance of specialized focus, carefully selecting and prioritizing initiatives that align with a company’s strengths, delivering a clear customer value proposition, and seeking out market opportunities.
CFO Advisory
The Chief financial officer role is dynamic and evolving, underpinned with strategy and complexities in a fast-paced business environment.
At Carter Seven, we have in-depth experience and a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities encountered in real-world financial leadership. When you need project-related financial guidance or leadership, our CFO Advisory services manage all aspects of your financial department. Our fully customized service ensures that whatever your needs, you get the expertise to achieve your goals.
Our CFO advisory service is designed to work directly with business owners and investors, encompassing a wide range of financial management and strategic support functions tailored to meet the needs of each business. These services help companies optimize their financial operations and make informed strategic decisions.
Strategic Finance
Transaction Support
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A): Providing due diligence, valuation, and integration support.
- Divestitures and Recovery: Assisting with the sale, separation or transformation of business units.
- Fundraising: Advising on equity and debt financing options, including IPOs.
Financial Management
- Long-Term Financial Strategy: Developing strategies to achieve long-term financial objectives.
- Capital Structure Optimisation: Advising on the best mix of debt and equity financing.
- Growth Strategy: Identifying and evaluating opportunities for expansion, mergers, and acquisitions.
Investor Relations
- Communication Strategy: Developing strategies for communicating with investors and stakeholders.
- Financial Reporting: Preparing and presenting financial information to investors.
- Investor Meetings: Organizing and participating in investor meetings and roadshows.
Finance Operations
Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
- Budgeting and Forecasting: Developing detailed financial plans and forecasts.
- Variance Analysis: Analysing differences between planned and actual financial performance.
- Scenario Planning: Creating financial models to assess the impact of different business scenarios.
Performance Management and Compliance
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with financial regulations and reporting requirements.
- Financials Preparation: Assisting with the preparation and presentation of financial statements and management accounts.
- Internal Controls: Implementing and monitoring an effective internal controls framework.
Cash Flow Management and Working Capital
- Cash Flow Forecasting: Predicting future cash flows to ensure liquidity.
- Working Capital Management: Optimising the management of receivables, payables, and inventory.
- Treasury Management: Managing the company's cash, investments, and financing.
Finance Optimization
Operational Efficiency
- Cost Reduction: Identifying and implementing cost-saving opportunities.
- Process Improvement: Streamlining financial processes for better efficiency.
- Performance Metrics: Developing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).
Technology and Systems
- Financial Systems Implementation: Advising on and implementing financial software and ERP systems.
- Data Analytics: Leveraging data analytics to improve financial decision-making.
- Cybersecurity: Ensuring the security of financial data and systems.
Risk Management
- Risk Assessment: Identifying and evaluating financial risks.
- Risk Mitigation Strategies: Developing strategies to mitigate identified risks.
- Internal Controls Review: Evaluating existing internal controls to ensure they are effective in safeguarding assets and preventing fraud.
Operations & Organizational Transformation
Alignment of a business’s strategy and operating model is crucial to ensure a business is tailored to serve its objectives optimally.
Key challenges to overcome:
- Resistance to Change: Employees and stakeholders may resist changes to existing processes, systems, or organisational structures, leading to slower adoption and implementation.
- Complexity: Transformations often involve multiple departments, systems and processes, increasing the complexity of implementation and coordination.
- Integration of Technology: Implementing new technologies and systems while ensuring compatibility with existing systems and data can be challenging and require careful planning.
- Resource Allocation: Adequate allocation of financial resources, time and skilled personnel is crucial for successful transformation but can be constrained by budgetary limitations.
An operating model is a foundational element that shapes behaviour, process workflow, IT decisions and investment choices and as such its design and alignment are critical to avoid an extremely challenging bridge between Strategy and execution.
Coordination and concentration of resources is of paramount importance, so we take a holistic approach, considering, people, culture, processes, governance structure and technology to create a cohesive framework that propels an organization towards its strategic objectives, creating aligned and adaptable operating models.
In addition, we can lead your end-to-end organizational transformation effort with a results orientated approach built on team collaboration and ongoing development.
Technology Management, Data Analytics & AI
In todays fast paced and constantly changing business landscape with an increasing array of options, choosing the right solutions at the right time can ensure your business has the foundation to scale.
Key challenges to overcome:
- Ineffectiveness resulting from manual and time-consuming processes and workflows impeding productivity and inflating operational costs
- Insufficient transparency, siloed departments and collaboration challenges
- Inadequate analytics and insight
We help clients make and implement informed decisions through customized strategic roadmaps, change management and project management. Our approach ensures we create business value and optimize performance.