Our Approach

From distance to analyse. Close enough to advise.

As a management advisory for medium-sized companies, we don’t think in terms of short-term success. We aim to create healthy companies. This is why we develop integrated solutions with our clients and finance partners: from analysis, planning and management accounting to integrated growth through value development.

We support medium-sized companies in all aspects of financing and budgeting. Our banking and business administration expertise, combined with our own position as a medium-sized company, makes us a perfect partner. We know and understand both sides. And we know that long-term success is only possible if the investor and the entrepreneur are pulling in the same direction. This is our attitude. Naturally, we draw on our friendly relations with our banking and finance partners in the Rhein-Main area that we have developed over many years. Together, these factors will provide the foundation for a healthy company full of energy for organic growth.

Turbulent times quickly show how healthy a company really is. This underpins the importance for working together with a client to ensure sustainable stability. Healthy growth needs a solid foundation – stability requires firm roots. This is why we advise companies cyclically with our WALTER FRIES Strategy and Finance Cycle It allows us to contribute to sound company development to facilitate sustainable success – for a fruitful harvest.

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The Walter Fries Strategy and Finance Cycle

Integrated advisory for sustainable company development

UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE PICTURE

Our ANALYSIS provides you with:

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  • CLARITY

    The complex world of corporate figures is presented in a simple and understandable way.

  • OVERVIEW

    Our strategy analysis highlights your strengths and weaknesses Moreover, you will be able to recognise opportunities for your organisation and assess risks realistically.

The analysis is the basis for your subsequent corporate decisions and measures.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

  • Balance sheet analysis
  • Profit and loss account
  • Reporting
  • Cash flow statement
  • Debt and collateral agreements
  • Rating
  • ABC analysis
  • Optional: Benchmarking

STRATEGY ANALYSIS

  • Organisational planning: Workshop following the TEMP-Methode® (team leader, customer expectations, employees, processes)
  • SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, risks)
  • Balanced Scorecard
  • Evaluation with recommendations for action
Facts and details of the analyses showhide

BUILDING ON SOLID GROUND

Our PLANNING/FINANCING provides you with:

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  • CERTAINTY

    Individual “What-if” scenarios will demonstrate your scope for action and decisions (Modelling for the future). This gives you certainty and reassurance in your actions and supports your medium and long-term planning.

  • STABILITY

    The liquidity and financing requirements of your business are accurately determined and structured.

  • PROFITABILITY

    Our real-time data preparation with the software Professional Planner improves the quality of your planning. This enables you to seize the opportunity to increase your profits.

  • COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

    Translating strategic objectives into specific operational measures creates a significant advantage over your competitors.

  • TAILORED IMPLEMENTATION

    Our far-reaching network and many years of experience allow us to find the right financing for you. Apart from regular bank loans, this may also include alternative financing models.

The planning and financing phase comes to conclusion. You know your objectives. To ensure that these are achieved, our precise management accounting continuously examines the measures taken.

BUDGETING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING

  • Revenue forecast, balance sheet forecast, cash flow forecast
  • Cost of capital plan
  • Working capital management
  • Liquidity planning
  • Investment and financing concept
  • Planning software: Professional Planner (Business Intelligence)
  • “What-if” scenarios
  • Business plan

REALISATION OF FINANCING

  • Equity (private equity, venture capital)
  • Debt equity (overdraft facilities, debentures)
  • Alternative financing (funds, lease financing, mezzanine financing, factoring arrangements, shareholdings, guarantee)
  • Coordination of finance partners
  • Preparation of and participation in bank and investor meetings
  • Rating
  • Debt and collateral management
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MONITORING THE GROWTH

Our MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING provides you with:

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  • OBJECTIVITY

    You gain an independent view and new perspectives of your company.

  • STEERING

    You are able to assess decisions and strategic developments in the long-term and fine-tune these as necessary. This allows you to detect dependencies and risks in good time.

  • TRANSPARENCY

    Management accounting creates transparency – internally and externally. This helps you develop cooperative connections, as well as entrepreneurial and motivated employees.

  • TRUST

    You regularly report to external investors and lenders. This creates trust, which helps you to improve your rating and gives you access to new financing options.

Monitor the achievement of your objectives with sophisticated management accounting mechanisms. Now steer your company towards the next step of development.

FINANCIAL CONTROLLING

  • Variance analysis through comparison of target and actual figures and comparison to the previous year.
  • Performance indicator system
  • Risk management (early warning system)
  • Profit centre accounting
  • Breakeven analysis
  • Cost centre accounting
  • Parameter adjustment for fundamental organisational changes
  • Optional: monthly forecast

STRATEGY COACHING

  • Gap Analysis
  • Target controlling for target achievement

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION

  • Internal financial communication
  • External financial communication
Facts and details on management accounting showhide

MAINTAINING AND DEVELOPING VALUES

Our ASSET AND VALUE DEVELOPMENT provides you with:

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  • FAIR MARKET VALUE

    We determine the fair market value of your enterprise by supporting the measurement models discounted cash flow method and comparable company analysis with our market knowledge and experience.

  • VALUE-ORIENTED COMPANY MANAGEMENT

    We identify the hard and soft value drivers in your organisation. This raises your potential for growth and increases the value of your company in the long-term.

  • INVENTORY OF ASSETS

    A forward-looking asset register provides you with a future outlook. As an entrepreneur, you benefit from the added security for your business and personal planning.

  • SOLIDARITY

    Together, we will develop your vision, mission and philosophy. This is the foundation of a integrated organisational culture.

  • INNER STRENGTH

    You will learn to take care of yourself and to transform personal areas of conflict into opportunities. And you will learn to live and lead from the heart.

Your organisation has experienced continuous economic and structural development. Now our analysis will review your strategy and finances in light of these new and increased requirements.

COMPANY VALUATION

  • Discounted cash flow method
  • Comparable company analysis
  • Goodwill documentation
  • Value-oriented company management

Further information

INVENTORY OF ASSETS

 

COACHING

  • Mission, vision, philosophy
  • Innovation coaching according to the Augsburger Schule
  • Employee surveys
  • Coaching of management staff
  • Personality development
Facts and details on asset and value development showhide
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Walter Fries Strategie und Finanzkreislauf

Analysis

  • Financial Analysis
  • Strategics Analysis

Planing / Financing

  • Budgeting
  • Strategic Planning
  • Realisation of Financing

Management Accounting

  • Financial Controlling
  • Strategic Coaching
  • Financial Communication

Asset and Value Development

  • Company Valuation
  • Inventory of Assets
  • Coaching
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Our Advisors

Proper specialist advice, proper personal support.

Walter Fries

Partner

Walter Fries

Partner

Qualified German Banker with degree from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

w.fries@walterfries.de

Claus Barthold

Senior Advisor

Claus Barthold

Senior Advisor

MBA

c.barthold@walterfries.de

Mario Rüdel

Senior Advisor

Mario Rüdel

Senior Advisor

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

m.ruedel@walterfries.de

Sandra Stürmer

Advisor

Sandra Stürmer

Advisor

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

s.stuermer@walterfries.de

Janis Jakob

Senior Advisor

Janis Jakob

Senior Advisor

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

j.jakob@walterfries.de

Stefan Schaupp

Advisor

Stefan Schaupp

Advisor

B.A. Business Administration

s.schaupp@walterfries.de

Armin Ambrosi

Advisor

Armin Ambrosi

Advisor

M.Sc. Business Administration

a.ambrosi@walterfries.de

Walter Fries

Qualified German Banker with degree from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

w.fries@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

1982 - now

WALTER FRIES Group
1980 - 1982

Major German bank
Key area Preparation of credit decisions
1964 - 1980

Cooperative bank
Key area Corporate banking

Speciality

Budgeting for medium-sized companies


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Claus Barthold

MBA

c.barthold@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

1999 – now

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
1997 – 1999

Rohm and Haas International GmbH, Bamberg, product manager
1992 – 1997

Degree course at University of Bamberg
Theme route: Corporate Tax Management, Auditing, Financing

Speciality

Budgeting and scenario planning


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Mario Rüdel

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

m.ruedel@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

1999 - now

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
1996 - 1999

Degree course at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences
Theme route: Company Management, Management Accounting
Dissertation: “Unternehmensbewertung nach der Discounted Cash Flow-Methode.” (“Company valuation according to the discounted cash flow method.”)
1989 - 1993

Bank
Key areas: Corporate banking, private banking

Speciality

Theory and practice of rating systems, advisory of groups of companies and company valuation


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Sandra Stürmer

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

s.stuermer@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

2007 – now

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
2003 – 2007

Degree course at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences
Theme route: Financial Services
Dissertation: “Non Performing Loans aus der Sicht des Investors.” (“Non-performing loans from the investor’s perspective”)
2002 – 2003

Cooperative bank

Speciality

Integrated financial analysis and budgeting


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Janis Jakob

BA (Hons.) Business Administration (FH)

j.jakob@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

2011 – now

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
2006 – 2010

Degree course at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences
Theme route: Finance, Accounting and Auditing
Dissertation: “In- und external Möglichkeiten zur Absicherung von exchange rate aus company.” (“Internal and external options for hedging exchange rate risks from an organisational perspective.”)
2004 – 2005

Schüssler & Zachmann, Aschaffenburg, Industrial Business Management Assistant

Speciality

Scenario planning and financing concepts


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Stefan Schaupp

B.A. Business Administration

s.schaupp@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

2014 – now

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
2010 – 2015

Degree course at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences
Theme route: Business Process Management, Finance, Management Accounting
Bachelor thesis: “Konzeption eines Risikomanagementsystems für Bauträger.“ (“Concept of a risk management system for property developer.”)
2012

Studies abroad at Dublin Business School, Ireland
2007 - 2010

Bank
Key area: Private banking

Speciality

Property development finance, rating


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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Armin Ambrosi

M.Sc. Business Administration

a.ambrosi@walterfries.de
Fon: +49 (0) 60 21 . 35 42 -0

Career History

2017 – heute

WALTER FRIES Unternehmensberatung
2014 – 2016

University of Passau
Theme route: Finance, Controlling, International Management
Master thesis: “Preiserhöhungen und deren Auswirkungen auf den Kunden - Erklärungsansätze zu Kundenreaktionen sowie Lösungsansätze aus der Preis-, Management- und psychologischen Forschung.“ („Price increases and their impact on the customer - explanations to customer reactions as well as solutions from pricing research, management research and psychological research.“)
2010 – 2014

University of Passau
Theme route: Management, Finance, Taxation
Bachelor thesis: “Value-Added Services im B2B-Marketing – eine Analyse.“ („Value Added Services in b2b marketing – an analysis.“)

Speciality

Integrated Financial Analysis and Financial Planning


Know-How

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Sector Experience

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Other

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References

Success is the continual growth of values.
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