Improving working capital

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Our specialist, market leading working capital team helps clients to identify and realise cash and cost benefits at pace, and across the end-to-end value chain by leveraging data analytics and technology.

We work closely across our regional and international network of sector and subject matter experts to mobilise with speed and depth to deliver value seamlessly.

We deploy our diverse teams to focus on improving operational processes that underpin the working capital cycle, often by leveraging technology and by utilising digital working capital solutions and data analytics. Our digital tools provide data-led insights that drive better outcomes efficiently.

We understand how important it is to have an advisor you can rely on to drive change hands-on. Our solutions are pragmatic and results-oriented, ensuring quick realisation and benefits delivery.

Where and how we could help you to release cash from working capital

Accounts receivable

  • Tailored, proactive collections
  • Credit risk policies
  • Aligned and optimised customer terms
  • Billing timeliness & quality
  • Contract & milestone management
  • Systematic dispute resolution
  • Dispute root cause elimination
  • “Surge” operational bandwidth
  • Negotiation strategy and support

Inventory

  • Lean & agile supply chain strategies
  • Global coordination
  • Forecasting techniques
  • Production planning
  • Inventory tracking
  • Balancing cost, cash and service level considerations
  • Inventory parameters & controls defining target stock

Accounts payable

  • Consolidated spending
  • Increasing control with centre led procurement
  • Helping avoid leakage with purchasing channels
  • Payment terms
  • Supply chain finance benefits assessment & implementation
  • Helping eradicate early payments
  • Payment methods
  • Negotiation strategy and support

How can we help? Our working capital services

Working capital diagnostic & benchmarking

Our working capital diagnostic service can help you identify, quantify and overcome your working capital challenges by:

  • completing a working capital benchmarking exercise to compare performance against peers and identify potential improvement opportunities
  • performing a diagnostic review to identify ‘quick wins’ and longer-term working capital improvement opportunities
  • developing detailed action plans for implementation to generate cash and make sustainable improvements
  • assisting with the implementation of sustainable working capital reduction using robust, efficient and collaborative processes. Focusing on the key levers of end-to-end process optimisation, compliance and monitoring, identification and improvement of commercial terms as well as creating and embedding a ‘cash culture’

Performance transparency

Our Working Capital Analytics gives you specialist operational insights from management to operational level using flexible tools which do not depend on costly system development. This allows a clear view on operational performance, targeted interventions and enables improved decision making.

  • Specialist operational working capital insights
  • Rapid deployment without large IT investment
  • Intuitive visualisation & predictive indicators
  • Tailored dashboards per role & function
  • Repeatable, automated, report production
  • Flexible ERP integration and cloud based hosting
  • Data protection & end to end encryption

Digitised working capital management

Our unique digital toolkit brings together our specialist operational insight and advanced digital methodologies to help our clients make sustainable cash improvements.

Optimised Supply Chain & risk management

Ongoing disruption in the global supply chain makes managing inventory a key focus area - the risk of both excess as well as insufficient stock is higher than ever. We bring expertise to improve control and agility of the supply chain at pace focusing on:

  • Reconfigure demand forecasting model
  • Update replenishment triggers & lead times
  • Realigned safety stocks
  • Fit for purpose sales & operations Planning processes
  • Implementing supply chain & planning technologies
  • Mapping supply chain risks

Surge Capacity & Managed Services

Execution Managed Services (EMS) is our unique approach to operational delivery. When you need to deliver programmes and projects, or run complex functions, we bring together the skills you need from across PwC to advise, design and execute.

Our ability to ‘operate and run’, combined with our business understanding, technical expertise, data and technology capabilities, means we can simplify complex challenges, improve existing operations and processes, and execute quickly and effectively.

Some areas where we can help you to deliver and more:

  • Non-core elements of business
  • Requirement for surge capacity to fix operational challenges
  • Situations with infrequent volumes and/or require deep technical expertise
  • Support on to manage existing & emerging risks
  • Respond to changing regulations
  • Political events (e.g. Brexit)
  • Global health crises (such as Covid-19)
  • Large complex transformations
  • Deals activity (e.g. M&A activity)
  • Recontracting current BPO/ Op model evolution

Would you like to know more about EMS?

Find out more about or Execution Managed Services

Our Working Capital Study 2023/24 is now available

With borrowing costs still high, making the most efficient use of available cash remains critical. And while there are glimmers of economic recovery ahead, the outlook is still fragile and demands care and caution from a working capital management perspective.

Find out more

Contact us

Daniel Windaus

Daniel Windaus

Partner, Working Capital Practice Leader, PwC United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)7725 633420

Stephen Tebbett

Stephen Tebbett

Partner, Working Capital, PwC United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)7717 782240

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