Data-driven management control

From pretty dashboards to decision systems. I help you define what to measure, how to interpret it, and what decisions to make with it. 15 years designing management control systems in the financial industry, applied to your business.

A dashboard without a framework is just decoration

Seeing numbers isn't enough. You can have the prettiest dashboard in the world, but if no one defined what to measure, how to interpret it, and what action to take when a number changes, you're staring at an expensive screen.

The problem I see over and over: companies that invested in BI tools, have charts everywhere, but decisions are still made on gut feeling. The data is there, but there's no system to turn it into action.

Symptoms I recognize immediately:

✗ "We have dashboards but each department measures different things and they never match up"
✗ "Nobody knows if we're hitting our targets because they were never clearly defined"
✗ "The financial close takes weeks and by the time it arrives, the information is already stale"
✗ "We have data but we don't know what to do with it"
✗ "Every board meeting starts by arguing about the numbers instead of making decisions"

If any of this sounds familiar, the problem isn't technology. It's a management framework problem.

What I do differently

I don't start with the tool. I start with the business. Before opening Power BI or connecting data, there's a fundamental question to answer: what decisions do you need to make better and faster?

Diagnosis of your current management model

I review how you make decisions today. What information do you use? Where does it come from? How long does it take to arrive? What are you missing? I identify blind spots and opportunities where better information would produce better decisions.

KPI framework design

I define the indicators that truly matter for your business. Not the 50 that can be measured, but the 5-7 per area that connect directly with your strategic objectives. I use Balanced Scorecard, OKRs, or hybrid models depending on what makes the most sense for your company.

Financial model building

I connect your income statement, cash flow, and budget directly from your ERP. I build projected cash flow models, margin analysis, and break-even analysis. Real-time financial information, not spreadsheets that arrive two weeks late.

Thresholds and alerts

For each KPI, I define targets, tolerance thresholds, and alerts. Did gross margin drop below 30%? You get a notification. Is projected cash flow below the minimum? You know before it becomes a problem. Management by exception: you only worry when there's something to worry about.

Advisory: I'll challenge you if you're measuring the wrong things

I'm not just a technician who connects data. If I see you're measuring things that don't matter, I'll tell you. If your incentive model contradicts your KPIs, I'll tell you. The most valuable part of this service is having someone with experience who challenges your assumptions.

What's included

KPI frameworks tailored to your industry

Balanced Scorecard, OKRs, or hybrid models. Indicators that connect to real decisions, not vanity metrics.

Income statement, cash flow, and budget connected from your ERP

Up-to-date financial information without depending on someone building a spreadsheet. Monthly close in hours, not weeks.

Financial models: projected cash flow, margin analysis, break-even

Not just seeing what happened, but projecting what's coming. Models that update with real data so forecasts actually make sense.

Thresholds, targets, and alerts for management by exception

The system alerts you when something needs your attention. You don't have to review 20 reports to find the problem.

Strategic advisory

I'll challenge you if you're measuring the wrong things. I question assumptions, propose alternatives, and make sure the system reflects what truly matters for your business.

Real example

Real estate

Real estate group with 7 entities

Complete financial model (Cash Flow Statement + Income Statement) integrating data from Softland, Cloudbeds, banks, and real-time exchange rates.

The group had 7 entities, each with its own accounting in Softland, plus hotel operations in Cloudbeds, bank accounts across multiple banks, and exposure to the US dollar. The consolidated monthly close took over a week and the partners received the information weeks late.

Result:

The partners went from reviewing monthly spreadsheets that arrived late to receiving an automatic weekly email with the key indicators for all 7 entities. Consolidated cash flow, margin by business unit, applied exchange rate, and alerts when anything falls outside defined parameters.

Tools: Softland, Cloudbeds, banking APIs, BCCh exchange rate, Power BI, Python for automation.

Questions I get asked often

How is this different from the dashboards service?

Dashboards display data. Management control defines WHICH data matters, how to interpret it, and what actions to take. It's the strategic layer on top of visualization. You can have the best dashboard in the world, but if you haven't defined a management framework, it's just a pretty chart. This service is the "brain" that gives meaning to the numbers.

Do I need to have dashboards already?

No. I can design the KPI framework first and then build the visualization. In fact, it's better to do it in that order. First you define what to measure and why, then you build how to display it. Many dashboard projects fail because they start in reverse.

How long does implementation take?

It depends on the complexity. A basic framework with 3-5 KPIs per area can be ready in 2-3 weeks. A complete control system with multiple areas, financial models, and automated alerts takes 6-8 weeks. What usually takes the most time is aligning the organization on what to measure, not the technical side.

Does it work with my ERP?

I work with Softland, SAP Business One, Dynamics 365, and any system that allows data extraction (SQL, APIs, flat files). If your system has a database or generates exportable files, I can connect it. If you're not sure, let's talk and I'll tell you in 5 minutes whether it's feasible.