Pillar 04

Advisory. Judgement before the decision.

Advisory is where governance stops being administrative. It is the work of deciding how risk is identified, how control is exercised, and whether a transaction is worth doing on the terms offered.

Governance reviews

We assess how decisions are actually made: delegation of authority, board and management meeting discipline, related-party processes, policy coverage and the gap between documented process and observed practice.

The output is a maturity assessment with prioritised recommendations and an implementation plan phased over a governance year, so improvement is scheduled rather than aspirational.

Risk and internal controls

Controls are reviewed where money and authority move — procurement, vendor onboarding, payments, credit, inventory, payroll and system access — testing both design and operating effectiveness.

Findings are rated by exposure, with a remediation owner and date against each. Repeat testing confirms closure rather than accepting assurance.

Transactions and due diligence

For acquisitions, investments and exits we run financial and compliance due diligence: quality of earnings, working capital normalisation, contingent tax and labour exposures, and undisclosed related-party trade.

On the sell side, we prepare the business for scrutiny — records, schedules, reconciliations and disclosures — so valuation is not eroded by avoidable diligence findings.

Outcomes

What changes in the business

Documented decision rights

A delegation of authority and board process that makes who may commit the business unambiguous.

Tested controls

Control design and operation tested where value moves, with rated findings and closure tracking.

Risks surfaced early

A maintained risk register reviewed with leadership on a fixed quarterly cadence.

Transactions on evidence

Diligence findings quantified and reflected in price, warranties or walk-away.

Engagement Process

How the work runs

01

Scope

Objectives, entities, processes and reporting audience defined with leadership.

02

Assess

Documents reviewed, processes walked through and controls tested.

03

Quantify

Findings rated by exposure and likelihood, with financial impact where measurable.

04

Recommend

Prioritised remediation plan with owners, dates and dependencies.

05

Assure

Follow-up testing and a quarterly governance report to the board.

Deliverables

What you receive

  • Governance maturity assessment
  • Risk register with ratings and owners
  • Internal controls review report
  • Delegation of authority and policy set
  • Financial and compliance due diligence report
  • Quarterly governance report to the board

Evidence

Related case studies

All case studies

Every engagement, in detail

Advisory services we deliver

Each service below is a dedicated page covering scope, deliverables, due dates and pricing approach under the advisory pillar.

FAQs

Advisory questions

No. Owner-managed businesses benefit most, because concentration of authority and founder dependence are precisely the risks a review surfaces and structures around.

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Speak to the advisory team

Tell us where you are today. We respond within one working day with a scoped proposal.