Large Forecasting Models

Here's how your models can be more effective

We create tools to make your staff more effective and you more confident when presenting numbers. Company analysts use these software systems to answer all internal strategic and external (e.g. bank syndicate or equities analyst) questions about the future performance of the business.

These tools are typically Excel spreadsheets. In many cases, the spreadsheets are linked to Applix's TM1 OLAP database.

We create models which reflect the true complexity of the business, but follow the dictates of Occam's Razor to be as simple as possible. We create models that are flexible so you can respond quickly to new requirements, which let you intuitively understand upside and downside scenarios and are transparent enough to give intuitively correct results.

Some systems allow you to drill into detail or compare different entities/scenarios easily. Imagine a system where you can change one entity and see consolidated results super-fast-without headache.

We create software that is totally buttoned down from a finance perspective. If international issues are important, your new model will rock! Able to do international/US issues (e.g. US vs. UK GAAP), consolidations/minority interest issues, currency issues, DCF valuations, alternative valuation methodologies, etc.

How we work together to achieve success

To achieve the results above, we apply three main services:

System Design is the initial phase of a new project. This initially includes understanding the key pain felt using the current system, understanding goals for the new system, and gathering requirements. Quickly, this becomes an interactive process as we develop an architecture and create mockups of the new system and ensure they meet your needs.

The final deliverable from System Design is a detailed specification of the new system with time and cost estimates for Implementation and Training. We have been through this process dozens of times, and are very efficient consultants at getting the information needed and presenting alternatives to arrive at the optimal specification for your needs.

Implementation is the phase where the software is created. There is little interaction during this phase, and the key project management focus is on tracking progress against the schedule and avoiding feature creep so as to keep the project on schedule.

Our experience in building this type of software allows us to estimate the difficulty of features and to give the kind of honest feedback that helps clients stick to the important issues and avoid adding unnecessary bells and whistles.

Training and Support involves demonstrating the system, producing documentation, training users, training trainers, and transferring technical knowledge to key staff members who will be responsible for updates.

Of course, we stick around during initial use of the system, as that's when most bugs are found (and easily fixed). And since Minotaur Financial has been around for twelve years, you can be confident we will be here to help if you need to make major changes to the system or to train new employees.

Next steps

If you think this service can help you achieve these results, contact us.