WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US
“Given the role of the team, the outputs are always high profile and always with tight deadlines, for example the monthly flash results, the Executive team briefing pack and presentations for the CFO. Ashif played a significant role in delivering timely, reliable and accurate outputs in all circumstances, using a combination of the accounting and consolidation system, Excel and PowerPoint to deliver high quality outputs and control the integrity of the reported financials. On a personal level, Ashif has a very professional approach, is easy to work with and demonstrated a high level of commitment throughout the time he was at Orange. As such I have no hesitation in recommending Ashif to prospective employers."
Jeremy Williams, Head of Orange Group Planning & Analysis, – Part of France Telecom.
“Ashif Manjothi worked with Ultralase for around 6 months in 2009, and was tasked with improving the financial reporting of the company including Cashflow forecasting, FTE and Payroll reports and our internal Management Reports as well as External Board Packs. These were completed with rigorous attention to detail, dedication and were always delivered in a timely fashion. Ashif’s input was first class and really provided what was required at an important time.”
Tony Veverka, CEO, Ultralase – Part of 3i.
“I initially recruited Ashif when I was Interim Finance Director of Rentokil Initial’s UK Washroom Business. Ashif did an excellent job in improving the quality of financial reporting and excelled at putting together business cases for major capital investments. I subsequently used Ashif’s skills again when I was Interim CFO at NCP Services Limited and in my current role to develop a high quality cash and financial reporting system. As the fact that I have contracted Ashif three times testifies, I have no hesitation in recommending Ashif for a financial planning and analysis role as his work is of the highest quality.”
Iain Chisholm, Interim CFO, Ultralase – Part of 3i.
“I worked with Ashif for a couple of years when I was FD of the Initial Washrooms Solutions business in the UK. The business was undergoing a significant amount of change, and as Head of Financial Planning and Control, Ashif was an indispensable support during a very challenging period. He is an excellent manipulator of data, able to think creatively and work independently to produce work of excellent quality. He is very reliable and conscientious. I would not hesitate in offering Ashif another contract at a future point in time."
Mark O’Connor Former FD, Initial Washrooms Solutions, UK – Part of Rentokil-Initial.
“Ashif acted as Programme FD on a large and complex capital replacement programme with a total investment value of £400m. He was responsible for managing long range forecasts and stakeholder communication as well as day-to-day control activities. Ashif was a positive and energetic member of the team who I would be pleased to work with again.”
Steve Hammell, Chief Financial Officer – Sheffield Forgemasters.
“Ashif is a very able and professional finance director who can operate well in high pressure environments at a very senior level. His domain knowledge and approach is first rate and he’s a great guy to work alongside.”
Sion Hughes, Commercial and Supply Chain Consultant – Sheffield Forgemasters.
“Ashif was brought in to assist on a potential private equity backed investment that I worked on. Initially tasked with getting the business through the FDD process, Ashif's role very quickly expanded, and he became a pivotal part of the deal team. Unfortunately, the transaction never completed but I would have no hesitation in using Ashif again in either an interim or a permanent capacity."
Ian Finlay, Chairman – Confidential.
“Ashif is dedicated, enthusiastic, forward thinking and creates a "can do" attitude around him and with those with whom he is working. In my experience of working with Ashif, he was prepared to undertake the hard yards and roll his sleeves up, recognising the need to understand information from the ground up. With that in mind, he worked diligently to gain greater clarity through improving the quality of the source information and then pulling this into a format with the eventual audience in mind. Throughout, Ashif made sure that any issues were highlighted along with his thoughts on potential solutions. He is a great asset for those who get the chance to benefit from his input.”
Paul Hawkes, Consultant – Confidential.
“Ashif did a great job improving our reporting systems and processes in the run up to our IPO and afterwards. Consistently excellent work over a long period. Ashif is a very committed and capable operator and I would wholeheartedly recommend him.”
David Wilton, Chief Financial Officer – Sumo Group plc.
“What sets Ashif apart as a consultant is his willingness to integrate himself into the heart of the organisation by building deep relationships across the business. Ashif truly cares, not just about the success of the project he’s working on, but about the whole organisation, its people and building for long term success. He always goes that extra mile, is willing to step in to help out beyond his remit and is an absolute pleasure to work with. In terms of specifics, Ashif joined us at Sumo during a period of significant transition and played a pivotal role in a number of transformational projects and was a great help during our IPO process. The most substantial changes have come through the implementation of Planning Analytics (TM1) and Cognos Controller by IBM and redesigning our financial board pack. Ashif also helped us with a number of bolt-on interfacing systems, such as a new HR and CRM system, PAW (online dashboards) and Virtual Board Room, to provide true end to end solutions for our business needs. But Ashif’s contribution goes much further than the specific tools he’s helped us with and he will truly be missed here at Sumo.”
Andrew Stewart, Group Director of Finance – Sumo Group plc.
“I worked closely with Ashif throughout his time at Sumo Group plc. He rapidly got to grips with the dynamics of the business and with the culture of the organisation, which made him very effective very quickly. As well as leading on a number of projects that will have a huge impact, he was always willing and able to add value in many other areas. He combines a determination to get things done with an engaging personality that makes him a pleasure to work with.”
Steven Webb, General Counsel and Company Secretary – Sumo Group plc.
“Ashif joined us initially on an Interim basis for 6 months as Chief Operating Officer to oversee operational efficiencies within our business and business process improvements with a focus on cost management and margin improvement. He completed these with rigour and attention to detail and has created processes that we hope to use for several years to come. He was also responsible for creating a 3 Year Plan for the business and continues to monitor its progress as a non-executive director and a valuable member of our senior management team. I am sure he will be an asset to any business and would not hesitate in recommending him for similar roles.”
Naeem Sattar, Chief Executive Officer – Hispek Limited.
“Since June, Ashif has been acting as Chairman as well as Interim Chief Financial Officer and we have seen an immediate positive impact on the business. Ashif has supported us by analyzing, streamlining and improving our processes and systems, including business planning, bookkeeping, financial statements and detailed cash flow projections. Together we have identified numerous cost saving areas, and are currently in the process of setting targets for the new accounting year. We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with a professional strategist with this level of experience, and anticipate an exciting new phase of growth in the business as a result of working together.”
Jonathan Drury, Chief Executive Officer – Savvy Foods Limited.
“Ashif joined Pattonair a few weeks prior to the completion of the transaction to support the transition of the finance function to private equity ownership. His initial focus was to create a new reporting pack for the Group but subsequently he took on a wider role within the finance team which included working on the ABL debt facility and the company’s COGNOS system.Ashif integrated himself well within the wider finance team and very quickly gained a strong understanding of the business. The CFO pack which he created was a significant improvement on the Board reporting which was in place when he started. This is the second assignment on which I have worked with Ashif, the first time when I was working with 3i. I would recommend him highly to prospective employers and would not hesitate to work with him again.”
James Gunton - Exponent Private Equity.
“Ashif joined Pattonair in preparation for the acquisition by Exponent and management, and worked with me through the pre-acquisition stage. He was pivotal in the implementation and set up of the Group reporting and head office functions of the newly established Groups including management reporting to the Board, and onerous complex covenant reporting to the UK banking Group. Ashif’s financial modelling, data manipulation skills and Microsoft skills were excellent, such that he became the fountain of knowledge within the business. I certainly would not hesitate in recommending Ashif to prospective employers and hope that we work together on another project in the future.”
Mark Whatling, Group Financial Controller at Pattonair Group - Part of Exponent Private Equity.
“Ashif joined Pattonair to assist in the Management and Private Equity buy out from Umeco Plc. During his time with the group Ashif played an integral role in the transformation of the reporting processes and formats required as a result of the ownership change. He demonstrated excellent financial modelling and data management skills, and allied these to a strong understanding of systems infrastructures to develop a very effective and flexible set of management information for local Business Units, Group and External reporting. He was consistently professional, and also very enjoyable to work with. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to future employers.”
Jonathan Moritz, Operations Financial Director, Pattonair– Part of Exponent Private Equity.
FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) for businesses is an essential component of any successful business, as it helps to ensure that your company's financial goals are met and that your business is operating efficiently. In recent years, new AI tools have emerged that can help businesses take their FP&A to the next level.
What is Financial Planning and Analysis?
Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) is the process of creating a financial plan and analysing financial data to make strategic decisions for a business. FP&A involves forecasting future financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities, and evaluating potential investments.
Why is FP&A Important for Businesses?
FP&A is important for businesses for several reasons. Firstly, it allows businesses to plan for the future and ensure that they have the resources they need to achieve their goals. Secondly, it enables businesses to make informed decisions by analysing financial data and identifying trends. Finally, it helps businesses identify potential risks and opportunities and take steps to mitigate or capitalise on them.
The Role of AI in FP&A
AI tools are becoming increasingly important in FP&A, as they allow businesses to automate many of the processes involved in financial planning and analysis. AI tools can help businesses to collect and analyse financial data more quickly and accurately than is possible with manual methods. Additionally, AI tools can identify trends and patterns that may not be immediately apparent to human analysts, allowing businesses to make more informed decisions.
Supplementary AI Tools to Microsoft Excel
While Microsoft Excel is a popular tool for financial planning and analysis, it has limitations when it comes to analysing large datasets and identifying patterns. To overcome these limitations, new AI tools have emerged that can be used in conjunction with Excel.
One such tool is Tableau, a data visualisation tool that allows businesses to create interactive dashboards and visualisations from their financial data. Tableau can help businesses identify trends and patterns in their data more easily, allowing them to make more informed decisions.
Another tool is Alteryx, a data preparation and analysis tool that can be used to automate data cleansing and preparation tasks. Alteryx can help businesses save time and reduce errors when preparing their financial data for analysis.
In summary, financial planning and analysis is an essential component of any successful business. With the emergence of new AI tools, businesses can take their FP&A to the next level by automating processes, identifying trends and patterns, and making more informed decisions. Whether you are using Microsoft Excel or supplementary AI tools like Tableau and Alteryx, FP&A can help you plan for the future and achieve your business goals.
Ashif Manjothi of Strategas Management Consultants has been involved in FP&A for over 25 years and has seen it’s remarkable evolution. A small selection of testimonials from clients can be seen above, so if you would like to learn more about how Strategas Management Consultants can help your business with FP&A in today's world, simply call or email us at strategas@thevcp.co.uk and we will come back to you as soon as possible.
Have a question or want to arrange an appointment?
Interested in seeing what we can do for you? Email us at strategas@thevcp.co.uk and start the conversation. We would be very pleased to hear from you.