Lazuli Solutions

22/03/2021

N° 5 - Flout modelling convention for serious strategic insights

Enhance your value strategy by making the model do the work. Discover modelling techniques to enhance strategic insights. For private equity investors and strategists with close relationships to aspirational management teams, to accelerate EBITDA, cash and growth. Fast.

02/09/2019

https://www.lazulisolutions.com/model-shop/infrastructure-develop-appraise-model

This is a financial model in Excel for use by infrastructure developers . Use this model to: learn the professional secrets of infrastructure development develop the project appraise the project for viability (with project return) appraise the project for revenue requirement apprais

10/02/2019

https://www.lazulisolutions.com/model-shop/indexation-module

This is an indexation module for use in a financial model in Excel Use this module to: forecast indexation in future years forecast indexation in current year, month-by-month PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE UK VAT OF 20%

23/02/2018

https://www.lazulisolutions.com/blog/2018/2/23/free-indexation-module-for-financial-models

Overview This is a FREE module that calculates macro-economic indexation for use in a financial model. How to use 1. Use as standalone or copy/add module sheets into existing model 2. Write name of chosen index in cell F14 on sheet “Indexation_Module” 3. Update with indexation actuals

23/02/2018

https://www.lazulisolutions.com/model-shop/indexation-module-for-financial-models

Overview This is a module that calculates macro-economic indexation for use in a financial model. How to use 1. Use as standalone or copy/add module sheets into existing model 2. Write name of chosen index in cell F14 on sheet “Indexation_Module” 3. Update with indexation actuals from

03/03/2013

Budgeting OK, but forecasting? I agree that there is spreadsheet hell but after the cost and rigidity of large software implementation is it not worse? Should the situation be divided into operating and strategic? Lots of questions.

See how Adaptive Planning's SaaS budgeting, planning and forecasting tools have catered to NPD Group's global needs in a way that Excel never could.

27/02/2013

Happily involved with Little Venice Partners ... http://lv-partners.com/what-we-do.html

We don’t just do deals, although we like to work to an agreed goal. Instead we typically work with our clients over a protracted period, mostly on a retainer and success fee basis, to come up with and carry the right deal.

24/02/2013

http://wp.harriman-house.com/it-is-important-to-understand-why-consultants-are-not-expensive/

Much like a broker, the consultant is paid for achieving specific targets by specific dates, and the value of that is immense to any business or individual.

23/02/2013

Do you know where these photographs were taken?

23/02/2013

Glad to see the Beeb are getting the right end of the stick, and thanks to Kenny!
** Millions wasted on complex modelling ** Is the government wasting millions of pounds because of unnecessarily complex financial modelling on major decisions?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21355200

22/02/2013

See-Through Modelling - A technical blueprint to financial modelling using lessons learned from PFI ...by Dom Robertson is out on 18 March 2013

http://www.lazulisolutions.com/book/

http://www.harriman-house.com/book/view/245/professional/dominic-robertson/see-through-modelling/

22/02/2013

Is model flow important?

Models are like books - they tell a story and that story is best told from top to bottom and from left to right (unless you read Arabic, Hebrew or Chinese). This is good model flow.

Model flow is about how the model 'reads' from start to finish. It is about how the model is organised and structured. In theory the model collects inputs and 'machines' them to become calculations and then ultimately results. If the main results are the financial statements then there can be further results such as cover ratios, ideally calculated from the financial statements results. Standard pages progress through calculations from top to bottom and time starts on the left and stretches off to the right.

It becomes clear that model flow is important. I think there are two main reasons. Firstly it is easier to read the 'story' if it progresses logically from top to bottom and from left to right. Secondly it makes sense that subsequent results after the main results are best calculated using feeds from the main results. Whilst this is correct for cover ratios if the subsequent results require use of the inputs then the input feed must remain exactly that to avoid possible daisy chains. So ease of use and good structure and organisation.

There is a third reason why model flow is important that links in to other aspects of good modelling. Duplication. Or rather the need to avoid duplication. If model flow is strictly observed then duplication is clearer to spot and can be avoided. The cash flow waterfall is a prime example of duplication in a model that does NOT observe strict model flow.

Can you suggest others?

What about examples where strict model flow is not possible?

http://www.lazulisolutions.com/opinion/