Finance and Money Management

Effective financing and financial management are essential for any business's success.

By aligning quality budgeting with the company’s strategic goals and ensuring timely, accurate financial reporting, owners and managers gain valuable insights for informed decision-making.

Securing sufficient capital and/or appropriate debt financing is also crucial for supporting and sustaining growth. This requires that quality financial information is available to support such needs.

  • Financial Budgeting

    FINANCIAL BUDGETS ARE ESSENTIAL TO YOUR ANNUAL BUSINESS PLANNING.

    They should focus on the key drivers of income, operational expenses, and account for capital expenditures, debt repayment, and tax obligations, helping to clearly outline the business's cash flow needs.

    Balancing the budget with historical performance and proposed changes requires careful consideration.

    Operating without a budget can lead to mediocre results and poor decision-making.

    Ensuring accountability to the budget can prevent these issues, provided all aspects of financial management are effectively implemented.

  • Financial Reporting

    ACCURATE AND TIMELY REPORTING OF FINANCIAL RESULTS AGAINST YOUR BUDGETS IS A KEY SUCCESS FACTOR.

    While many businesses operate without budgets, those that have them often fail to report monthly on their progress toward financial objectives, which can be detrimental.

    Financial reports should reflect the same format as the budgets, facilitating straightforward comparisons and helping to pinpoint variances that require action.

    This quality of information leads to better decision-making and enhances communication with employees and other stakeholders.

    Being able to recognise when to implement changes or leverage positive trends is a significant advantage.

    Comprehensive monthly and annual financial reporting is invaluable and directly informs your planning and improvement efforts.

  • Capital and Debt Financing

    DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL NEEDED FROM SHAREHOLDERS AND/OR BANK DEBT TO SATISFY YOUR BUSINESSES FINANCING REQUIREMENTS IS VITAL.

    Effective business planning and financial budgeting will highlight these needs, allowing for timely action to ensure they are addressed.

    If funding cannot be secured, the business plan may need to be adjusted to lower or eliminate those requirements.

    The budgeting process should also encompass the management of external debt repayment and the distribution of dividends to shareholders to meet their expectations on their increased investment.

    Capital is a precious and limited resource, and banks increasingly require thorough documentation to support any debt financing requests.

    This reality emphasises the importance of robust business and financial planning to back such financial requests.

  • Management and Systems

    DEVELOPING SYSTEMS AND TOOLS THAT PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY AT ALL LEVELS IN YOUR ORANISATION IS IMPORATNT TO YOUR SUCCESS.

    Success in top-performing businesses comes from being highly systematic, with intentional design and process at the core, not chance.

    Whether you’re a sole trader or running a large company, delivering your product or service consistently and to a high standard is critical to success. Effective systems, thorough training, and a commitment to continuous improvement are crucial for driving growth.

    These systems should be easy to use and foster, rather than stifle, creativity. They are crucial for knowledge sharing and protecting the intellectual property within your business, and can become significant assets if you consider expansion or selling the business at a future date.

  • Steve has been part of our team for over 15 years and has helped us hugely with both of our businesses. He is now one of our Trustees. We can call on him at any time for some guidance or where needed, and get him involved with things we need more help with.

    Brad and Moana Williams, Halswell Butchery and Body Fix Gym

  • Starting our new business and buying another one was made easy with Steve’s help and guidance. The guidance on how to go about evaluating the business, working out how much it was worth and then negotiating the terms was invaluable.

    Stuart McIlwain, Embark Solutions

  • Steve very quickly impressed us and drove, what at times, what was a difficult development project. His tenacity and attention to detail helped us navigate a path to put the project in a position to be successful.

    Julian Bowden, CEO Mainland Football (past)

  • Steve constantly thinks outside the square, and looks at obstacles as challenges to overcome. He is a clear and logical thinker and is able to impart his wisdom in an open way and with clarity and precision.

    Chris Rodda QSM, Retired Board Member, Christchurch Netball Centre

  • As a consultant Steve is thorough and highly professional. He is also one of the better Directors I have worked with. His financial and commercial background is supported by a rare mix of detail consciousness and big picture strategic thinking.

    Stewart Mitchell, retired Chair of NZ Rugby, and Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association