Clear direction for management
An effective early-warning system with clear documentation, defined escalation paths and robust approval processes that hold up when it matters.
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Detecting crises early through financial transparency under IDW S16
The ability to act in a crisis starts with the right steering system, not once the crisis has already arrived.
What many are experiencing right now
Where steering systems fall short in practice
Under section 1 of the German StaRUG, management carries the legal responsibility to identify developments that threaten the company’s existence early and to counter them effectively. The IDW S16 standard defines what a robust system has to deliver for that.
In practice, the same structural weaknesses keep surfacing:
- ✓Risks are assessed in isolation, with no link to planning and operational steering.
- ✓Forecast and liquidity run decoupled from each other.
- ✓Measures are defined but not consistently tracked or checked for whether they actually work.
We analyse and strengthen your finance and controlling structures, from the data basis through integrated planning to measure controlling.
This creates the basis for an early-warning system that actually holds up in critical situations.
Your benefit
What you gain
From spotting risk to concrete counter-measures
We close the gap between identified risks and trackable, systematically prioritised measures, before financial weakness turns into a threat to the company’s existence.
One consistent picture instead of isolated reports
CFO and management get an integrated view of earnings, cash flow, working capital and the effect of measures, condensed into a standardised crisis picture that decisions can rest on.
Stronger financing stability
Covenants, maturities and liquidity buffers are actively monitored, counter-measures planned on a realistic timeline and documented. No surprises for banks, investors or shareholders.
Where we make the difference
Our services
Four building blocks, usable individually or as an end-to-end steering system. Click a tile for details.
Analysis of the finance and controlling system
A structured review with clear prioritisation
A structured review of the data basis, planning quality, forecast processes and KPI logic.
Based on a field-tested IDW S16 check, with clear prioritisation of the areas that need action.
Assessing and developing integrated planning
P&L, balance sheet and cash flow consistently linked
We check that P&L, balance sheet and cash flow are consistently linked, and validate scenarios (base, downside, stress) for completeness and plausibility.
Planning assumptions are documented traceably and formally approved.
Optimising liquidity and risk steering
Rolling planning with clear escalation rules
Building or sharpening rolling liquidity planning, working capital steering and active covenant and financing monitoring.
With defined cash controls and clear escalation rules.
Introducing effective measure controlling
With owners, deadlines and effectiveness checks
We put in place mechanisms to quantify, plan and verify the success of counter-measures realistically.
With defined owners, binding deadlines and effectiveness controlling that escalates automatically when things drift.
We’re here for you
Talk directly to our expert
Stefan Drescher
Founder and Managing Director. Stefan Drescher is happy to take the time for a no-obligation initial conversation about your steering system.