Case Studies

Here are examples of how we help our clients

1. Small cap ASX listed company

ABC Limited is a biotechnology company, striving to become a leader in its field. The CEO, Sarah, approached us for assistance with the financial structure of the company, with particular regard to managing its listing on the ASX as well as with further stages of development.

We provided Sarah and the board with a careful analysis of cash flow and forecast that led them to see that the initial research and development phase of product development needed to be the highest priority. We reasoned that improving quality through a more innovative first phase would make a stronger case for securing funding for subsequent phases such as clinical trials, product refinement, application to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), partnering with larger pharmaceutical firms who might provide large scale marketing etc.

Review of our forecasts led the firm to accept that there would be a loss for a number of years. However, they now have a much clearer picture of the future, especially in respect of overseas investors and the development of a foreign partnership to assist with the patent. We have partnered with a consulting firm to analyse their risk profile including market and competitors behaviours and helped with strategies to keep them ahead in the market place.

We reviewed their Corporate Governance and ensured that this was more in line with the values of the board and CEO, Sarah, i.e., a greater priority was given to creativity, autonomy and accountability.

We also acted as their agent in liaising with ASIC and ASX to ensure good compliance and to keep investors informed.

We prepared and filed their quarterly cash flow statements at a 60% saving over their previous arrangement with a full time financial controller. These savings were ploughed back into the early years of research and development as per the new overriding philosophy.

2. SME/Family Business

Laura is the director of her own private legal firm. She was concerned about the firm’s inefficiencies. We discovered that she was not tracking her billable hours and neither were invoices being sent systematically. This was resulting considerable cash flow problems.

Laura employed one legal assistant and one secretary. She sought advice because her cash flow was not allowing her to pay staff and bills on time without covering these with her own funds until her invoices were paid.

We set up a cloud-based accounting software package to help Laura manage billable hours, file notes, issue invoices more quickly and follow-up outstanding invoices more easily and quickly. As a result, there was a 40% increase in the number of invoices paid within the 6 months following the introduction of the new system. Furthermore, and for the first time, Laura could track her cash flow situation whenever she liked simply by logging into her online accounting system.

Through increased efficiency, we have succeeded in helping Laura reduce her bookkeeping and accounting fees by more than 20%.

3. CEO

Andrew is the CEO of a stockbroking firm in Sydney. He found himself so overwhelmed by work pressures that these were affecting his family life. His relationships at work were also suffering. He complained that his staff do not listen to him or follow his instructions. He felt that he was not respected or taken seriously. At times he would become very angry but these episodes would serve only to diminish his standing within the firm.

Over a series of 6 consultations we helped Andrew to become more mindful of his own needs as well as of those of his colleagues. He became better able to identify destructive emotions early on and to observe and analyse these instead of simply reacting to them.

Over the ensuing weeks, Andrew’s relationships at work began to improve and his general mood lifted. He began to enjoy work once again and, not surprisingly, the productivity of the firm increased by 12%. This outcome was particularly satisfying to Andrew who attributed it to the changes he had made with us.

Having won Andrew’s confidence, we pointed out that he needed to become more self-aware as others tended to see him as overbearing and controlling. In time he became more interested in the views of others and more prepared to act accordingly. Ultimately, he was able to contribute to a more cohesive and supportive organizational culture comprising values such as autonomy, openness, innovation, trust and personal support. Needless to say, Andrew’s family life became much happier.

(Please note the names of company and people has been changed to keep their details confidential)