Know exactly where your finance function stands.
A fixed-fee health check of your books, cash, margins and compliance. You get a written diagnosis and a prioritised action plan you own, whether or not you work with us afterwards.
Start where you are; move up as you grow.
Is this the right fit?
A good fit if
- You run a manufacturing or trading business and your monthly numbers arrive late, or you don't fully trust them.
- The P&L shows profit but cash is always tight, and nobody can tell you exactly why.
- A bank renewal, an audit, a capex decision or a first senior finance hire is coming up and you want an independent view first.
- You want to see how we work before committing to a monthly retainer.
Not the right fit if
- You need a statutory audit or any attest opinion. That is performed by an independent practising firm.
- You need a forensic or fraud investigation.
- You need your books written up or brought current. That is accounting work, and we will tell you so at the intro call.
What we review
Four areas, each assessed against how a well-run finance function in a business of your size should operate. Depth in each area depends on the data available.
Books and reporting
Whether your numbers can be relied on, and how quickly they arrive.
- Month-end close timeliness and discipline
- Bank, debtor, creditor and inventory reconciliations
- Ledger hygiene and chart of accounts structure
- What MIS exists today, and who uses it
Cash and working capital
Where cash is tied up and what is driving the squeeze.
- Debtor ageing and collection patterns
- Creditor terms and payment discipline
- Inventory holding and slow-moving stock
- Utilisation of bank working-capital limits
Margins and profitability
Which products, SKUs and customers actually make money.
- Gross margin by product, SKU or customer, where data allows
- How costs are allocated today
- Loss-making lines or accounts that are not visible in the P&L
Compliance and controls
How close you are to a notice, a penalty or a surprise.
- GST return filing status and input tax credit reconciliation against GSTR-2B
- TDS deduction, deposit and return status
- ROC filing status
- Payment timelines to MSME suppliers and their tax impact
- Approval, access and segregation-of-duties controls
How it runs
Typically completed within [X weeks] of receiving complete data.
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Intro call
We confirm fit and scope, and tell you if the Diagnostic is not what you need.
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Engagement letter and data request
A signed letter of engagement fixes the scope. You receive one consolidated data request.
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Review
We work through the data and spend focused time with your accountant or finance team.
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Findings readout
We walk you through the report, scorecard and evidence in a working session.
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Action plan handover
You leave with a prioritised plan. You can run it yourself or ask us to help.
What we need from you
- Tally backup or data exports for the last [12] months
- Bank statements for all accounts for the same period
- GST returns, GSTR-2B and TDS returns filed in that period
- Debtor and creditor ageing, and inventory records
- Latest audited financial statements
- About [X hours] of your accountant's time across the review
Common questions
Is the Diagnostic an audit?
No. It is a management review of how your finance function operates. It does not express an audit or attest opinion, and it is not a substitute for your statutory audit.
Do I have to sign up for a retainer afterwards?
No. The action plan is written so your own team can act on it. If you do continue, the Diagnostic becomes the set-up step for a Starter, Core or Growth retainer.
What if my books are behind?
We can still run the Diagnostic. The state of the books becomes a finding in itself, and the action plan will put bringing them current first.
How much of my team's time will it take?
Most of the work is ours. We need your accountant for the data request and for a few focused conversations during the review.
How is my data handled?
Confidentiality is covered in the letter of engagement. Our privacy policy explains how personal data is processed.