Cash Pressure
Growth often hides margin erosion, weak cash conversion, and operational inefficiencies until performance starts to tighten.
For founder-led and growth-stage companies
The Numbers Look Fine.
Until They Don't.
Margin erosion. Decision fog. Execution drift. Nexum diagnoses what's breaking and builds the discipline to fix it — before it shows up in your numbers.
A focused diagnostic that identifies where your finance function is limiting growth — delivered in 2–3 weeks.
Background Across Leading Organizations
Big Four Advisory
PwC — Strategy & transformation across multiple industries
MULTI-INDUSTRYPrivate Equity
Brookfield — Portfolio value creation & operating model design
PORTCO OPSPublic Companies
Celanese, GameStop — Finance transformation & governance
SEC-REPORTINGComplex Transitions
Spinoffs, ERP integration & material weakness remediation
HIGH COMPLEXITYPublic companies. Private-equity backed businesses. Complex transformations. Measurable results.
Where Growth Creates Pressure
Growth magnifies complexity faster than most systems can absorb.
As businesses scale, visibility declines, execution slows, and financial pressure compounds.
Decision Fatigue
Leaders are forced to make high-stakes decisions without timely visibility, reliable forecasts, or aligned operational data.
Execution Breakdown
Strategic priorities lose momentum when accountability, operating rhythm, and cross-functional coordination begin to drift.
Risk Anxiety
As complexity increases, hidden operational and financial risks become harder to identify before they become expensive.
How We Turn Complexity Into Control
A pragmatic, repeatable approach that delivers measurable results.
1
Expose What's Breaking
We uncover the real issues hidden in the noise.
2
Clarify Real Options
We define the highest-impact paths forward.
3
Pressure-Test Tradeoffs
We evaluate scenarios and make the right calls.
4
Deliver Results That Stick
We execute with discipline and build lasting impact.
Governance, metrics, and accountability are embedded from day one.
Explore Services
Four disciplines. One integrated partner.
Practical support focused on the levers that protect margin, improve visibility, strengthen execution, and create durable enterprise value.
01
Finance Transformation & Governance
Decision-Grade VisibilityKnow what's happening before it shows up in cash
Board-Ready Performance MetricsMetrics leadership trusts and can defend
Forecast With CredibilityMove from guesses to disciplined planning
Faster Close. Fewer Surprises.Timely insight executives can act on
02
Strategic Cost Management
Protect Margins as You ScaleIdentify where growth is eroding profitability
Stop Silent Cost CreepControl SG&A without slowing the business
Eliminate Low-Value SpendReduce noise, protect margins
Allocate Capital With ConfidenceFund what drives returns—cut what doesn't
03
Audit, Risk & Internal Controls
Improve Cash VelocityShorten cycles, free trapped cash, reduce friction
See Risk Before It Breaks SomethingIdentify blind spots early—when they're still fixable
Protect the Business as It GrowsReduce risk without adding bureaucracy
Right-Size ControlsReduce friction while staying protected
04
Execution Discipline & Technology
Execution Without DriftEnsure strategic initiatives actually deliver
IT That Fits Your StageEnough to operate. Enough to scale. Never more than you need
AI That Earns TrustAdvanced analytics only where it improves decisions—not just reports
Every engagement starts with a diagnostic — not a scope. The Finance Readiness Assessment is the fastest way to identify your highest-leverage constraint.
Typical investment: $5K–$10K · Delivered in 2–3 weeks · No retainer required to start
Selected Engagements
Four engagements. Real stakes. Measurable outcomes.
Representative transformation work across finance, governance, controls, operating model design, and strategic cost management. Each case reflects judgment under pressure — not just execution.
Retail Finance Transformation
$3M
Board-approved transformation
investment secured
investment secured
ROI LevelHigh
ComplexityHigh
StakeholdersCFO · CAO · CEO
Focus AreaFinance Transformation
Transforming Retail Finance to Drive Strategic Decisions and ROI
The Challenge
⌄
A retail enterprise experiencing rapid growth faced critical challenges within its finance function, impacting operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. Key concerns included data integrity issues across disparate systems, manual paper-based processes creating operational bottlenecks, and legacy reporting capabilities misaligned with the CFO's strategic vision.
What I Did
⌄
I identified a strategic misalignment between the CFO's expectations and ongoing finance projects. Collaborating closely with the CFO and CAO, I clarified strategic objectives and uncovered barriers affecting financial data. Through stakeholder engagement across departments, I mapped the organizational structure and analyzed current processes, systems, and data flows — identifying root causes of inefficiencies and their broader impact on finance strategy.
The Solution
⌄
The finance portfolio was reassessed and realigned with organizational objectives. This diagnostic provided insights into operational gaps between the CFO's strategic goals and execution capabilities — specifically in human resources, process optimization, technology infrastructure, and data utilization. Findings were proactively presented to the CEO with a clear transformation roadmap.
Impact
⌄
Successfully secured a $3M board-approved capital investment, demonstrating commitment to company-wide transformation and strategic alignment. The initiative established a clear path to eliminating data integrity issues, automating manual processes, and building reporting capabilities aligned with the CFO's long-term vision.
Indirect Spend Optimization
$2M+
T&E surge identified and
spend levers unlocked
spend levers unlocked
ROI LevelModerate
ComplexityHigh
Top DriversMarketing · Logistics · IT
Largest CategoryMarketing $100M
Driving Profitability Through Indirect Spend Optimization
The Challenge
⌄
A publicly traded company reported a $2M surge in travel and entertainment (T&E) expenses within a single fiscal year — signaling underlying inefficiencies, weak spend controls, and untapped opportunities for strategic cost optimization.
What I Did
⌄
Performed an enterprise-wide analysis of indirect spend using detailed data modeling and stakeholder interviews. Findings revealed that Marketing, Logistics, and IT — not T&E — were the primary cost drivers. The resulting insights guided a targeted cost-optimization plan designed to mitigate financial exposure and enhance operational efficiency.
The Solution
⌄
Leveraging advanced data analytics, the company identified the primary drivers of indirect spending — Marketing ($100M), Logistics ($40M), and IT ($12M). A deep analysis of spend patterns, operational trends, and departmental practices revealed concentrated cost areas and inefficiencies. These insights shaped a focused roadmap to rationalize expenditures and optimize resource allocation.
Impact
⌄
Pinpointed inefficiencies contributing to the $2M T&E surge and executed a vendor-led optimization initiative to standardize processes and strengthen controls. Further identified indirect spend levers across Marketing, Logistics, and IT for additional cost optimization and measurable bottom-line ROI improvement.
Spinoff Finance Integration
$95B
Parent organization alignment
achieved at go-live
achieved at go-live
ROI LevelModerate
ComplexityHigh
Timeline1 Year Consolidation
ScopeERP · Finance · Compliance
Designing a High-Impact Finance Structure After a Spinoff
The Challenge
⌄
The acquisition of an early-stage private business introduced new operational and regulatory complexities, exposing the need for stronger financial governance, standardized controls, and a comprehensive compliance framework to align with public-company expectations.
What I Did
⌄
Led the end-to-end finance and ERP integration for the newly spun-off company, ensuring full alignment across people, processes, systems, and data. From initial assessment through go-live, established a scalable finance infrastructure that delivered operational efficiency, compliance with public-company standards, and readiness to support long-term strategic growth.
The Solution
⌄
Developed a finance architecture that harmonized systems and processes from the $95B parent organization, embedding robust compliance controls and governance mechanisms to meet legal and regulatory standards. The framework addressed people, process, systems, and data simultaneously — ensuring nothing was left behind at go-live.
Impact
⌄
The acquired company successfully consolidated its operations within one year, achieving full regulatory compliance while maintaining reporting accuracy and uninterrupted period-close performance. The resulting finance structure positioned the business for sustainable growth under public-company scrutiny.
Controls & Risk Remediation
<2 Yrs
Full material weakness
remediation achieved
remediation achieved
ROI LevelModerate
ComplexityHigh
Company Size$13B Public Co.
Prior Investment$6M Controls Spend
Remediating Material Weaknesses with Bottom-Line Impact
The Challenge
⌄
A $13B publicly traded company invested $6M to strengthen its internal controls; however, persistent material weaknesses revealed ongoing deficiencies in compliance, governance, and risk management effectiveness. Despite significant spend, the underlying causes remained unresolved.
What I Did
⌄
Partnered with business leaders and external auditors to design a structured project plan addressing the underlying causes of inefficiencies. The resulting actions improved control rigor, reduced unnecessary expenditures, and strengthened compliance oversight — going beyond surface-level fixes to eliminate root causes.
The Solution
⌄
Designed a comprehensive project plan engaging key stakeholders and external auditors to identify the root causes of inefficiencies and implement a strategy to eliminate unnecessary spending while strengthening compliance controls. The approach linked control improvements directly to cost reduction — making the business case undeniable.
Impact
⌄
Achieved full remediation of material weaknesses in under two years, enhancing internal control effectiveness and mitigating compliance risk. The effort delivered measurable cost savings by eliminating recurring audit-related expenses and inefficiency-driven spending — turning a $6M control problem into a sustainable governance advantage.
Designed as proof, not promotion. These cases reflect operator credibility built across public companies, private equity portfolios, and high-complexity transitions — where judgment and execution discipline drove the outcome.
Proven Impact
Experience across leading organizations.
Supported strategy and transformation initiatives across multiple industries, improving operational efficiency and accelerating growth.
Advised portfolio companies on value creation, operating model optimization, and performance improvement.
Partnered on strategic planning and financial transformation to enhance profitability and strengthen long-term value.
Enabled organizational alignment and cost optimization initiatives to drive productivity and sustainable growth.
Advisory
Leadership without permanent headcount. Direction, accountability, and decision support.
Hands-On
Targeted execution where it matters most. Unblock progress and stabilize execution.
Turnkey
End-to-end delivery with clear accountability, measurable outcomes, and no internal burden.
Meet the Founder Behind the Work
Experience that drives results. Partnership that lasts.
Founder PerspectiveBuilt around clarity, accountability, and execution.
Nexum Consulting brings together strategic finance, operational discipline, and practical transformation experience to help leadership teams regain control during periods of growth and complexity.
The work is designed for leaders who need more than advice. They need a partner who can diagnose the constraint, align stakeholders, and help move the business forward.
Experience across public companies, private-equity backed environments, transformation initiatives, internal controls, and finance operations.
Start Here
Request the Finance Readiness Assessment
Tell us a bit about your situation. We'll respond within one business day to discuss scope, fit, and next steps.
✓ $5K–$10K typical investment
✓ 2–3 week delivery
✓ No retainer required
Prefer email?
jaime.gutierrez@nexumconsulting.net