Financial Model Build
Financial Model Build
F1F9 are experts in building financial models. We work with robust template structures and standardised calculations that we’ve refined in hundreds of models. This flexible approach creates accessible and easy-to-use models whilst removing complication, reducing the risk of error and minimising cost.
Our approach to model build
We will build a model focussing on the business need that you have explained to us. The model will be clear and accessible to all users, and structured to allow you and your team to operate and amend it.
We will project manage the build of the model using an open and transparent process – ensuring that your requirements are met and there are no surprises when we hand over the first and final drafts. You should expect the following:
1. Proposal
Initial call to discuss:
- the business need for the model
- stakeholders & their requirements
- preferences and any past issues
- relevant reference models
- other relevant documentation
Proposal issued, including:
- a fixed fee
- the project timetable
- scope of work (see below)
- our proposed team
- our relevant experience
2. Project Initiation
Kick-off meeting to plan:
- logistics and communication
- how we will work together
- weekly phases of work
- timing of weekly update calls
- alignment with your own deadlines
We will also present:
- how we apply best practice
- the Excel start file (see below)
- any model design questions
- first work phase questions
3. Build Phase
Weekly calls to:
- present the latest model
- receive your feedback
- discuss the next phase of work
- review progress & timetable
We will also complete:
- QC checks & software review
- F1F9 peer review
- model documentation
- a record of actions (see below)
4. Handover
Handover, to present:
- the best practices followed
- how to navigate & review
- key model operations
- how to maintain audit trail
Ongoing availability for:
- clarification questions
- further support by the hour
- additional training
How can we help?
Renewables
We have worked with clients across all the major renewables technologies, modelling complex technical calculations alongside financial calculations in a clear and structured way to provide valuable insights and maximise client confidence.
Project Finance
Our models provide the clarity needed for critical decision-making at every stage of an infrastructure project. We’ve built over 140 models to help clients assess, successfully bid for and close major schemes and more than 130 models to monitor or value operational projects.
Corporate Finance and Reporting
We work alongside clients to streamline and enhance their routine forecasting and reporting capabilities and provide a rapid and responsive service for fundraising and other transactions. We provide up-front solution design, rapidly understanding a business’s key drivers and how these should be best represented in a model.
Download a financial model
These free to download example financial models demonstrates our approach to building best practice models, which makes our models easy to read and review, and straightforward to operate and amend.
Our Clients
Meet Our Model Build Team
Kartikeya Pathak
Project Manager
Kartikeya Pathak
Project Manager India
Kartikeya is a Project Manager with over 5 years of financial modelling experience. He has built more than 140 best practice models, gaining experience of different model types and industry sectors. Kartikeya is expert in operating models as well as building them, and highly proficient in optimising models to achieve our client’s requirements.
Varsha Sehgal
Project Manager
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Aditi Jain
Project Manager
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Animesh Pandey
Project Manager
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Mohit Sharma
Financial Modeller
Kartikeya Pathak
Project Manager India
Kartikeya is a Project Manager with over 5 years of financial modelling experience. He has built more than 140 best practice models, gaining experience of different model types and industry sectors. Kartikeya is expert in operating models as well as building them, and highly proficient in optimising models to achieve our client’s requirements.
Ayush Upadhyay
Financial Modeller
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Riya Ratra
Financial Modeller
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Ameen Ahmed
Financial Modeller
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Isha Aggarwal
Financial Modeller
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Aniket Saini
Financial Modeller
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Case Studies
In 2016, F1F9 won a tender to work with Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, and we continued to support them through to 2018.
In 2016, F1F9 won a tender to work with Ofwat, the body responsible for economic regulation of the privatised water and sewerage industry in England and Wales, and we continued to support them through to 2018. We worked closely with the regulator to rebuild the 2019 price review model (PR19) that Ofwat and the regulated water companies would use in the price review process. A large number of complex and interrelated elements need to be incorporated into this type of model, with further layers of complexity introduced from functionality for sensitivities, adjustments and overlays. Transparent calculations and consistency of excel model structure was paramount for this tool, which led Ofwat to specify a model built using the FAST standard. F1F9 worked very closely with the Ofwat Analytics team to develop a model that they were confident would facilitate a smooth and efficient price review.
Our client described their experience of working with us:
“F1F9 has been a flexible, responsive partner for the PR19 model build. With a large team of skilled financial modellers they have always been able to meet our financial modelling requirements, even when deadlines have been very short… I have shared beta versions of the model with companies and feedback from them has been positive: companies have found the FAST-compliant model much more transparent and easier to use. Feedback on the model from internal Ofwat stakeholders has also been very positive”.
We have been working with Mubadala to standardise their approach to financial modelling (“The Mubadala Way”) since 2012. We have taught over 200 analysts from a wide variety of sectors. Our training programme use…
We have been working with Mubadala to standardise their approach to financial modelling (“The Mubadala Way”) since 2012. We have taught over 200 analysts from a wide variety of sectors. Our training programme uses a variety of learning approaches: self-study backed up with support from our team of modellers, informal and formal assessments, instructor-led classroom sessions and webinars. At the final stage of the programme, participants are required to present to senior members of the organisation. Our initial brief was to run a programme for Mubadala’s core modellers – those professionals who work with financial models of considerable complexity on a daily basis. Based on a real-world case study, the training took participants through all the requirements for financial modelling from basic skills and drills in Excel to the design and construction of a highly complex set of financing requirements.
Since running the early programmes, we have amended the course material to give it a more general appeal (suitable for analysts for whom modelling is not core but nonetheless important). This included the development of further case studies relevant to the work being undertaken (including a hotel and a satellite). We continue to work with Mubadala’s learning and development team in improving the design of the programme.
Mubadala’s commitment to a single financial modelling standard has resulted in its analysts understanding the importance of a common approach and honing their technical skills. The course has been popular and in high demand – with participants enjoying the study material and the opportunity to present their work to senior colleagues.
Power NI is the largest electricity company in Northern Ireland. Their parent is the Energia Group, a leading integrated Irish energy business with substantial businesses in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern…
Power NI is the largest electricity company in Northern Ireland. Their parent is the Energia Group, a leading integrated Irish energy business with substantial businesses in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
In 2018, F1F9 created a best practice budgeting and reporting model for Power NI, followed by two smaller builds looking in more detail at specific elements of the business. Subsequently, Energia Group expressed a desire to improve and standardise their range of financial reporting and forecasting models. In response to this we delivered a series of in-house training courses on best practice excel modelling to finance delegates from businesses across the Group. We recently supplemented this engagement with a ‘model clinic’ and remediation work to a tax model that the Energia Group identified as a priority for development.
As a result of this work, the Energia Group has realised significant efficiencies in their modelling practices. The staff we have trained are now equipped to build better structured, more robust models and have direct access to F1F9 resource wherever it adds value.
Eneco is a Dutch energy company that works for all to participate in the transition to sustainable energy. It services 5.3 million customer contracts across The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and has an ongoing…
Eneco is a Dutch energy company that works for all to participate in the transition to sustainable energy. It services 5.3 million customer contracts across The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and has an ongoing commitment to promoting financial modelling skills amongst its analysts. Eneco engaged F1F9 to deliver a programme of excel modelling courses to their investment analysts. The initiative has been extended to include advanced Project Finance modelling. 70+ analysts have completed the F1F9 training. Eneco has adopted a standardised approach to modelling across the business and finance functions. Analysts are able to build high-quality models across multiple business units (wind, solar, heat and industrials).
F1F9 created a new process for updating, analysing and communicating large financial datasets in 8 Excel financial models which take inputs from core non-Excel management information systems…
Virgin Trains is a train operating company that has operated the InterCity West Coast franchise since 1997. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland.
The company’s previous process for budgeting, reporting actuals and updating forecasts was complex and time-consuming, with the complexity leading to errors in the final output. Over 80 spreadsheets were in use across 11 departments for the budget process alone. Duplication of common inputs led to inconsistency.
Since 2015 and supported by WKGT’s in-house FAST modelling champions, we have delivered several intensive in-house financial modelling courses and provided ongoing post-course learning in the form of online tutorials and support from our modelling experts…
Since 2015 and supported by WKGT’s in-house FAST modelling champions, we have delivered several intensive in-house financial modelling courses and provided ongoing post-course learning in the form of online tutorials and support from our modelling experts. The training has been delivered in German using F1F9 staff based in Germany and has been held annually since 2015.
The course participants gained a deeper understanding of efficient modelling and a general improvement in their Excel skills. This knowledge facilitates decision making by providing easily-understood results in reasonable timeframes. The modular structure of FAST has also reduced the time it takes to review models, particularly larger or more complex ones.
Masdar is a global leader in renewable energy and sustainable urban development and has more than a decade of experience working in partnership with business and government as a renewable energy developer and investor…
Masdar wanted a single point of contact to coordinate the delivery of consistent modelling solutions for several projects under development as well as for a portfolio of operational projects. F1F9 applied the FAST standard and highly-refined model structures to build models that gave both clarity to calculations and maximised the commonality between models. This was supported by bespoke classroom training and reinforced with online resources. We worked closely with the Masdar team to develop effective dashboards focussed on user efficiency and printable reports to communicate results to decision makers.
F1F9’s approach meant that our client’s teams could achieve their desired improvement in transparency and usability across the model estate. The models were used by Masdar to support numerous operational and business development projects, with the experience gained on each project improving productivity on the next.
F1F9 engaged with Energy Saving Trust (EST), a world leading centre for advice and research working with businesses, governments, consumers and communities to promote domestic energy efficiency…
F1F9 agreed a scope of work that maximised the impact of review time. We undertook a focussed review of the construction phase calculations, including costs and financing, and of the operations phase, reviewing power prices, revenues, costs, financing and tax. Because we were reviewing a template model to be used by multiple user groups, we checked workings against the model’s extensive user notes and stress tested the model by changing assumptions, dropdown inputs and scenarios. We also reviewed the model for ease of use and understandability alongside a technical and best practice review.
F1F9 worked alongside Ricardo to deliver a review report which clearly described and prioritised findings within the agreed time frame. With the comprehensive review report and regular dialogue, Ricardo could easily act upon our review findings making the template model more reliable to use. The model has now been in use for 2 years, and F1F9 have provided further support to give confidence in the model as it continues to evolve.
F1F9 worked with the Amber Infrastructure team, a leading international infrastructure specialist focussed on development, financing and investment in public infrastructure…
We reviewed the forecasting and valuation model developed by NGA to give Amber an appropriate level of confidence in the forecasts before entering into the transaction. F1F9 agreed a scope of work with our client that maximised the impact of our review time — including technical review, logical review, sensitivity testing and model specific elements. The model included a large number of repeated structures for several classifications of upfront and recurring revenues and costs, so a bespoke element of our review focussed on confirming the consistency of these calculations and that all of the calculated values flowed correctly to the financial statements.
F1F9 worked alongside Amber to deliver a comprehensive review report within the project timetable. Our findings were clearly described and prioritised, enabling our client quickly to identify points that needed to be addressed before completion. Regular dialogue throughout the process meant our client remained in control at all times, with complete clarity of the approach to the review and its findings and resolutions.
F1F9 worked closely with the Finance Director at Rocket Marketing Group, a business that creates, develops and manages a variety of added-value reward and customer loyalty programmes…
We planned a combination of online modelling resources, on-the-job coaching, and joint design and build — all to fit within the available budget. Online excel financial modelling resources could be utilised when time allowed and when content was relevant to the build. The model build itself was facilitated by regular video conferences for planning, discussion of approach and targeted training on specific aspects of the model. We took responsibility for parts of the build where Victoria needed to focus on her role as Finance Director.
Our flexible response to the needs of Victoria and Rocket enabled them to gain the key business insights they needed, and to be equipped for whatever analysis the business will demand in the future.
Model Build FAQs
How long will it take to build my model?
How long will it take to build my model?
Turnaround times can range from 4 to 12 weeks from start to finish. Most assignments are delivered on a 4 week / 6 week (first draft / full draft) or 6 week / 8 week timescale.
Can you continue to support me after the model has been built?
Can you continue to support me after the model has been built?
Yes, we won’t disappear at the end of the model build assignment. We’ll always be available to deal with any questions you may have.
If you need further support to run the model, or to make structural changes, we can do this on an hours incurred basis. If there are discreet packages of work, we can also agree a fixed number of hours in advance.
Ongoing maintenance contracts are also available with pricing to reflect the amount of regular work required.
Do you provide model review services?
Do you provide model review services?
We do provide model review services, but we don’t provide model audit services. Our reviews are based on fulfilling an agreed scope of work, and are suitable if you need increased confidence in your model but not contractual reliance.
Our reviews cost in the range £4,000 to £8,000 and depends on model size and the required scope of review. Please contact us for further information.
What does an F1F9 model look like?
What does an F1F9 model look like?
Our models follow the FAST Standard, which stipulates adherence with modelling best practice and a standard approach to structuring models. The FAST Standard is independently governed by a not for profit organisation (The FAST Standard Organisation.)
We build models that are transparent and easy for a user to operate and understand. You will find examples of our models on the ‘Download Resources’ page.
Get In Touch
Are you or your team looking to increase their financial modelling skills? Are you interested in team-based training focused on best practice and standardised approaches? Are you hoping to build up your own skills and expertise?
Our financial modelling instructors would be pleased to hear from you…