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, Technology Ventures & AI, Brand & Marketing and Technology Infrastructure & Systems.
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 Optimisation
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.
Technology – Ventures & AI
We provide customised packages to turn ideas into thriving tech products, addressing the strategic technological needs of your business. Our packages are designed to craft innovative strategies and deploy cutting-edge product design and development.
Package 1 - Concept Development
From ideation, product strategy and brand creation to architecture and UX/UI design & prototyping, we help shape your vision into a concrete plan.
Small
1 – Month
Medium
1 – 3 Months
Large
3+ Months
Services:
- Ideation: Turn innovative ideas into actionable plans.
- Product strategy: Create a clear path for your product’s success.
- Brand creation: Craft a unique and memorable logo & identity for your brand.
- Architecture & User Experience (UX) Design: Design intuitive and engaging experiences for your users.
- User Interface (UI) Design & Prototyping: Build visually appealing and user-friendly prototypes, providing a blueprint for development.
Package 2 - Planning & Preparation
Based on the prototypes and blueprints created during the 'Concept Development' phase, we carry out strategic roadmap creation, scoping, sprint planning, and resourcing to ensure your development project is set for success.
All Sizes
1 – 4 Months
Services:
- Scoping: We define and prioritise your project requirements.
- Roadmap creation: We outline a strategic timeline for your project.
- Sprint planning: We organise technical development into efficient, manageable sprints.
- Resourcing: We allocate the right talent to ensure project success.
Package 3 - Development & Delivery
We turn your strategy blueprint and visual prototypes into high quality, scalable tech products and infrastructure. We manage everything from server architecture and database creation to backend, frontend (web, iOS, Android), AI integration, payments, blockchain, and provide ongoing quality assurance with agile project management.
Small
1 – 3 Months
Medium
3 – 6 Months
Large
6+ Months
Services:
- Server Architecture Design & Deployment: We design and implement robust server infrastructure solutions.
- Database structure creation: We develop efficient and scalable database systems.
- Backend & API Development: We build powerful and secure back-end systems and APIs.
- Responsive Web Application Development: We create web apps that look great on any device.
- iOS & Android App Development: We develop sleek, high-performance and functional smartphone applications.
- AI Integration: We enhance your product with intelligent AI solutions.
- AI Model Development & Deployment: We create and deploy custom AI models tailored to your needs.
- Payments Integrations: We implement seamless payment systems into your product.
- Blockchain Development & Integration: We develop and integrate blockchain solutions for enhanced security and transparency.
- On-going Quality Assurance & Testing: We continuously test and ensure the quality of your product.
- Agile Project Management: We manage your project with agile methodologies for maximum efficiency.
Brand & Marketing
We provide your business with expert guidance to navigate the complexities of a highly competitive and rapidly evolving market, ensuring that your brand stands out and that your marketing efforts resonate with you audience.
Key challenges to overcome:
- Marketplace ambiguity by defining a strong, distinctive brand that resonate with an audience to build loyalty.
- Sector relevance by leverage up-to-date market insights and advanced strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
- Shifts in consumer preferences and behaviours through being able to adapt to changing cultural trends.
- Digital transformation through constantly monitoring rapidly evolving digital technologies and platforms.
We help clients to have presence in an era where digital advancement and global competition are prevalent, through effective brand and marketing strategies that are essential for sustained success and growth.
Strategic Direction
Strategic Brand Positioning
- Establishing an objective brand positioning through analysis of market trends, competitor strategies and customer insights to deliver a unique value proposition; carving out a distinct personality to enhance brand recognition.
Data-driven Marketing Solutions
- Focus on building the visual and verbal elements of the brand, aligned with the strategic positioning, to allow the business to communicate consistently and effectively across all platforms and build brand equity.
Integrating Digital Transformation
- Leading on the integration of cutting-edge digital tools and innovative marketing technologies allowing businesses to stay ahead of industry trends and rapidly adapt to new opportunities and challenges.
Brand Activation
Brand Development and Positioning
- Effective development and evolution of the brand where the goal is to create a compelling narrative that resonates with the target audience and differentiates the business in the marketplace.
Integrated Campaign Management
- Oversee the planning and execution of multi-channel marketing campaigns to ensure a cohesive and impactful brand presence across all touch points; driving greater brand awareness and customer engagement.
Comprehensive Digital Marketing
- Increase brand loyalty through the design of robust digital marketing strategies across social media, search engines, database communications and customer journeys to enhance engagement and retention.
Marketing Optimisation
Performance Tracking
- Monitor the performance of marketing initiatives to make sure that marketing efforts are cost-effective and aligned with strategic goals, leading to improved financial performance and resource allocation.
Brand Synergy Assurance
- Offer dedicated brand guardianship to maintain consistency across all marketing communications to enhance credibility and trust with the target audience and support long-term business success and recognition.
Data-driven Marketing
- Leveraging advanced analytics and data insights that work hard in optimising marketing spend, improve ROI, and achieve more precise targeting, ensuring that brand communications drive measurable outcomes.
Technology Infrastructure & Systems
To navigate the complexities of rapidly evolving technological landscapes we can provide expert strategic guidance to assist in improved operational efficiency, drive business growth and crest the digital wave.
Key challenges to overcome:
- Becoming obsolete through technologically advanced tools, platforms and systems to stay competitive.
- Cybersecurity by ensuring advanced security protocols to protect sensitive data and customer trust.
- Counter inefficiency through streamlined transformation to new workflow and system infrastructures.
- Unqualified data by integrating management and analytics to drive decision-making and gain insights.
By offering specialised knowledge and insights, our Technology consultancy helps organisations adopt the right technologies, streamline processes and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Strategic Configuration
Consulting and Strategy Development
- Advising organisations on how best to use technology to meet their business objectives. This includes assessing current infrastructures and practices, identifying areas for improvement, and planning for long-term technology strategies.
Digital Transformation Services
- Helping businesses implement digital technologies to transform services or operations. This can involve the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how businesses operate and deliver value to customers.
Data Analytics and Business Intelligence
- Offering tools and consultancy for data analysis, reporting, and warehousing solutions that help businesses make data-driven decisions.
Operations Development
Cloud Solutions
- Providing cloud services such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), software as a service (SaaS), or hybrid solutions that combine on-premises and cloud-based services.
Cybersecurity Services
- Enhancing the security of information systems through threat detection, response services, and ongoing security monitoring and management.
Enterprise Software
- Custom software development tailored to specific business needs, including CRM systems, ERP systems, and other application developments.
Technology Optimisation
Automation and AI Solutions
- Implementing automated processes and artificial intelligence solutions to improve efficiency, reduce human error, and lower operational costs.
Solution Integration and Support
- Ensuring that technology systems and applications work together seamlessly, including integrating new solutions with legacy systems, plus providing ongoing management of technology services and infrastructure which can include help desk services, network administration and digital asset governance.
Training and Change Management
- Assisting organisations with the adoption of new technologies through training programs and change management strategies to ensure smooth transitions and maximise the effectiveness of new technology implementations.