Transform corporate finance to propel your strategy

The role and responsibilities of the CFO have evolved dramatically. Once limited to the finance function, the CFO is now, more than ever before, a strategic partner accountable for creating value across the entire business. We have the expertise to support CFOs as they transform the finance organization, shape portfolio strategies, undertake major investment and financing decisions, and communicate with investors.

Boards view CFOs as the most important corporate executive after the CEO. But in today's business environment, CFOs face new challenges. Corporate performance is increasingly tightly managed. Risks, including cyber issues, are growing. People within the business have higher expectations, especially when it comes to data and advanced analytics and the impact on value creation from disruptive business models. And it can be a struggle to deliver the best service in finance at minimum cost.

Our deep understanding of the finance function and expertise in specific industries uniquely positions us to support the CFO on two overarching topics—corporate and capital-markets strategy, and value-based management.

We work closely with CFOs and finance leaders to make sure the finance function's priorities are closely aligned with--and help propel--your corporate strategy. We'll help you create a roadmap of key initiatives that produce quick wins and efficiency gains while enhancing the capabilities that support your most strategic activities :

• M&A strategy
• Valuation considerations
• Due diligence
• Pre-announcement planning
• Merger integration
• Divestitures and separations
• IPO process services 

In this era of the activist investor we help CFOs tackle another key challenge, our investor management framework addresses all the essential levers that influence the gap between intrinsic and market value, enabling you to:

• Systematically uncover investor biases about your company and your industry sector;
• Target the right investors: those that can truly move the stock, and be influenced;
• Tailor the totality of your communication to these investors and adjust your communication mix to reflect the unique circumstances of your company;
• Approach investor management activities in the same disciplined way as any critical, cross-functional business process, guided by clear strategies, execution plans, KPIs, and more.

How we do it

Corporate and capital markets strategy

In our experience, well-executed strategies that reflect value creation and the appropriate risk considerations are crucial to success. We help our clients maximize value creation by aligning their corporate strategy with the capital markets' perception of where value lies, communicating that strategic intent, and crafting a compelling story for investors.

We support our clients in the following areas:

• Capital-markets analysis—to determine which strategies and business models create the most value;
• Active portfolio management—to fund corporate growth and maximize long-term value;
• Investor communications—to explain corporate strategy clearly, manage performance expectations, maximize shareholder value, and anticipate the perspective of activist investors;
• Innovative financing strategies—to build value.

Value-based management

CFOs play a crucial role in aligning stakeholders so everyone sees value creation through the same lens. As the CFO is also at the helm of value-creation efforts company-wide, he or she can use the finance function to test new ideas and set best practices.

We support our clients in several areas:

• Performance measurement and management—to apply rigorous analytical tools and methodologies that assess business value and performance;
• Finance-organization design—to enhance the structure of the function to enable greater focus on business support and value creation, using proprietary diagnostic tools and COE and SSC solutions;
• Lean finance—to optimize the practices and performance of the finance function to drive productivity and effectiveness;
• Finance-talent management—to help shape the talent strategy, build talent systems, and develop leaders through capability-building Finance Academies to create a world-class finance function;
• CFO support—to help define the role, responsibilities, and agenda of the CFO, including the role of working with the leadership team and the board and leading enterprise-wide initiatives such as guiding digital transformations and embracing the opportunities provided by big data and advanced analytics.