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Financial modelling and forecasting

An overview of our financial modelling services

We help aspirational businesses of all sizes, charities and not-for-profit entities as well as many individuals.

Through our highly collaborative and constructive approach, we engage with our clients to help them meet their challenges head on.

We aspire to be the very best at what we do and are committed to challenging ourselves, both individually and collectively. A willingness to invest, be it our time, in our people, in services or technology, is a defining characteristic of UNW.

UNW is a leading independent firm of chartered accountants that delivers a wide range of accountancy and business advisory services to its clients.

T E W+44 (0)191 243 6000 enquiries@unw.co.uk www.unw.co.uk

A sound financial model is paramount to forecast and successfully plan for the future. UNW offers a bespoke financial modelling service that supports our clients with critical and often complex business decisions.

We construct robust, transparent financial models and other analytical tools that adhere to best practice principles. These models can be used for a wide range of scenarios in the life-cycle of a business, including:

• Business planning,

• Strategic planning,

• Cash flow forecasting,

• Assessing a corporate transaction, and

• Evaluating operational change

Working with you, we ensure that every model is tailored for purpose and provides the functionality and outputs that you require, including sound analysis and measurement of performance.

Financial modellingand forecasting

Why you need a model

Our financial models are constructed bespoke to your requirements. However, in our experience we find that models are typically required for one of three distinct purposes.

Operational forecasting

Operational forecasting models are focussed on providing information that enables you to assess your business, understand key movements and where any pinch points, particularly in cash flow, might arise. These models can be used to allow you to:

• Perform analysis over forecast cash,• Consider the impact of new product pricing,• Evaluate potential projects, and• Calculate the sensitivity of your business to changes in

circumstance

Importantly, an operational model helps you identify where adverse movements can arise and provide prompts on how you can mitigate against them.

Finance raising

Models for raising finance build on operational forecasts. They can evaluate the affordability of funding options as well as identify the cash headroom available after investment. Our track record in producing forecast models for high profile businesses and transactions gives a layer of credibility to funders of the information being reviewed, allowing them to focus on the inputs and assumptions, rather than spend excessive time reviewing model mechanics.

Acquisitions, mergers and other transactions

These models build on underlying operational and finance models, allowing you to evaluate the impact of a transaction on your business, or for you personally, and to show what the new consolidated business looks like financially. Our models can extend to evaluate the impact to shareholder’s returns, although this is typically only required for highly complex structures.

We also offer fully bespoke models which can be used to evaluate or perform a range of analysis on your business and allow you to maximise your income and, subsequently, cash to stimulate growth.

Our recent financial modelling work

Newcastle College GroupOperational forecast review

Science CentralOperational and funding forecast

Alnwick GardenOperational and funding forecast

review

Activ TechnologyTransaction consolidation model

Orchid SoftwareOperational and funding forecast

Myco FoodsFunding forecast model

Barnes Infant AcademyOperational forecast

TDX ThermodynamixOperational and transaction

forecast

SaggezzaFunding forecast model

North East Local Enterprise Partnership

Project funding forecast model review

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Operational forecast model

Ways to WellnessOperational forecast model

Godfrey SyrettOperational forecast model

CenergistOperational and funding forecast

VocareOperational forecast model

“UNW recently provided advisory services in relation to a recent expansion project undertaken by St. Cuthbert’s Hospice. Their focus was on creating a forecast model, evaluating the cost benefit and reviewing the financial reporting and controls.

We were very pleased with the standard of work and the quality of the final product that was delivered by UNW. They were careful to clarify our objectives, and worked faithfully to the brief we agreed. We would have no hesitation in engaging them again if we had a similar project to work on.”

Paul MarriottChief Executive at St. Cuthbert’s Hospice

What our clients say about us

“At Big Solar, we are working to develop disruptive energy generation and storage technologies. As a small start-up organisation, our resources are limited and we identified a need for financial modelling support and expertise.”

“UNW were appointed to help management prepare a financial model and projected manufacturing/scale-up cost card. This work was undertaken at short notice and with a high degree of professionalism resulting in an excellent final product which is utilised widely in the business. They quickly got to grasp with some complex technical matters and worked extremely well with the Big Solar team and I would recommend their services to others.”

Neil SpannManaging Director at Big Solar Limited

“The functionality and robustness of the model that was delivered by UNW was very impressive, particularly the ability to model the existing core estate, new branches and acquisitions, and then aggregate them together with an overall consolidation of the group companies UNW worked on.”

“Ramsdens has had a fantastic year including floating on the AIM Market, and thanks to UNW’s financial model, the working capital report and the scenario modelling became one of the easiest tasks in the entire process. We thank UNW for all of their great work throughout.”

Kevin BrownDirector at Ramsdens Financial Limited

“The five-year planning tool UNW developed for us has been used to inform board-level decision making and provide us with data to report back to our parent company. We are delighted with how it has improved accuracy in our strategic planning model.

UNW have worked with us over a number of years, continually developing the model on an annual basis and also working with businesses within the Arriva UK Bus to develop a bid model to analyse the tenders and consider the cost implications of changes in tender pricing and contract wins and losses.

We have found them to be approachable, supportive and professional at all times, and would not hesitate in recommending them to other businesses in need of modelling support.”

Dave MatthewsFinance Director at Arriva

Meettheteam.

Michael McCulloch +44 (0)191 243 6234Corporate Finance Manager michaelmcculloch@unw.co.uk

Michael joined UNW in 2012, having previously spent 6 years in London and Newcastle with PwC. He works across a range of disciplines within the Corporate Finance team at UNW, with a specific focus on modelling.

He has worked with a number of businesses, of all sizes, across the UK to help deliver robust forecast models which stand up to scrutiny and testing by funders and has supported management teams to analyse forecast performance. Working with our clients, he has helped boards and businesses to have the confidence that decisions being made are based on data from a robust forecast model.

Katy Lamb +44 (0)191 243 6095Corporate Finance Senior Manager katylamb@unw.co.uk

Katy leads the financial modelling team. As well as financial modelling she also specialises in lead advisory transactions and is well placed to understand the drivers and outputs required by funders and investors from a financial model. Katy has significant modelling experience working with clients, including Arriva and Newcastle Science Central, to develop sophisticated models bespoke to their needs.

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The modelling team have the skills to rapidly articulate the core principles of your modelling requirements to develop a robust tool that delivers relevant and insightful analysis.

UNW LLP, Citygate, St James’ Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JE

T E W+44 (0)191 243 6000 enquiries@unw.co.uk www.unw.co.uk

An independent member of BKR International

A leading global association of independent accounting and business advisory firms representing the expertise of more than 160 member firms with over 500 offices in over 80 countries around the world.

UNW LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership which is registered in England & Wales with the number OC301800 and is regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Our registered office is Citygate, St James Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JE. A list of members is available for inspection at this address.

This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and to the extent permitted by law, UNW LLP, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you/or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it.

In this document ‘UNW’ refers to UNW LLP, a limited liability partnership in the United Kingdom.