TechCrunch Finance Transformation

6-Month Delivery Plan Multi-Dimensional CoA Implementation for TechCrunch

Margaret Carey | ACMA Financial Controller

The Flat CoA Problem: 5 Critical Failures

The current structure forces TechCrunch to operate reactively, managing cost after the fact, hindering strategic growth, and placing grants/contracts at audit risk.

No Departmental Accountability

HoDs have no live spend visibility, making budget management and accountability impossible.

Unknown Cost-to-Serve

Cannot tag costs to service lines, limiting pricing power and accurate margin measurement.

Efficiency Blindness

No link between department costs and business outcomes, eliminating ROI measurement.

Untraceable Cost Overruns

Cost spikes absorbed into generic GL codes, making root cause analysis difficult.

Partial Data for Leadership

CFO/CEO cannot access unified profitability data, leading to delayed decisions.

Audit Risk

Government contracts require auditable, structured project-level reporting.

The Solution: 6-Segment Multi-Dimensional CoA

Simple to configure in 6 months, delivers 95% of value on Day 1, and easy to train users. Future-proofs TechCrunch for growth and audit readiness.

6 Core Dimensions:

  • Entity: Legal/Statutory compliance
  • Natural Account: GL classification
  • Department: HoD accountability
  • Project/Contract: NHS grants tracking
  • Location: Site/region analysis
  • Service Line: Product margin

Example Full Code:

001-60000-MKTG-NHS025-TRA-000

Every transaction tells a complete story: which entity, what cost, which department, which contract, where, and for what service.

Immediate Benefits:

  • Real-time departmental spend visibility
  • Project profitability tracking for contracts
  • Service line margin analysis
  • Audit-ready reporting from Day 1
  • 85% reduction in manual journals

6-Month Delivery Methodology

Extended timeline with deeper testing and stabilization for zero-risk implementation and confident Go-Live.

Month 1

Discovery & Design

  • • CoA Blueprint Signed
  • • Process Mapping Complete
  • • HoD Review Finalised
  • • Data Forensics Applied
  • • Cost Centre List Frozen

Month 2

Build & Configuration

  • • Sandbox Configured
  • • Mapping Workbook Locked
  • • System Rules Built
  • • Training Materials Created
  • • Initial UAT Sessions

Month 3

Data Migration & Testing

  • • Historical Data Loaded
  • • Data Quality Validation
  • • Opening Balances Reconciled
  • • Initial Migration Rehearsals
  • • System Integration Testing

Month 4

Parallel Run & Rehearsals

  • • Full Month Parallel Run
  • • Weekly Migration Rehearsals
  • • End-to-End UAT Sign-Off
  • • Reporting Validation
  • • Go-Live Readiness Check

Month 5

Go-Live & Hypercare

  • • LIVE for New Financial Year
  • • Daily Hypercare Support
  • • User Training Reinforcement
  • • Real-Time Issue Resolution
  • • Process Fine-Tuning

Month 6

Stabilization & Optimization

  • • System Fully Stabilized
  • • Month-End Close Optimized
  • • User Confidence Established
  • • Performance Review Complete
  • • Handover to BAU

6 Non-Negotiable De-Risking Controls

Scope Lock

Frozen after M1 sign-off. New requirements move to Phase 2 backlog.

Zero Bespoke

Standard system functionality only. Custom code adds weeks of delay.

HR Ownership

Cost Centre list frozen by HR by end of M1 to prevent mapping breaks.

Mandatory Parallel Run

Month 3 close must reconcile in both systems. No reconcile = No Go-Live.

Weekly Rehearsals

Every Friday: full load, reconcile, fix. Minimum 12 perfect rehearsals across months 3-4.

Weekly Stand-ups

Decisions made same day, not next month. Unblock issues immediately.

Critical Success Factor: Success is 30% technology, 70% change management. Weekly governance prevents scope creep and ensures timely decision-making.

Accelerated Design Strategy

Data forensics to define a 'Strawman' CoA in just 3 weeks:

  • Week 1 - Data Forensics: Analyze 24 months of GL data, flag unused accounts. Create Strawman CoA.
  • Week 2 - Smart Forms: HoDs review via online form. Vote: Keep, Kill, or Modify. No general workshops.
  • Week 3 - Lock-In Workshop: Final review and sign-off. CoA Blueprint locked and scope frozen.

Battle-Tested Insights

  • Involve HoDs Early: Budget holders in design from Week 1 become champions, not skeptics.
  • Clean Data Non-Negotiable: Poor quality data destroys trust immediately. Better to delay than launch dirty.
  • Governance is King: Without Weekly SteerCo and Scope Lock, even well-planned projects exceed timelines and budgets.

Real-World Experience: Oyster HR

Building the Foundation for a Global Finance Engine

The Challenge:

Joined at early stage when no finance infrastructure existed. Needed to handle complex global payroll data immediately.

The Solution:

Created structured Excel framework transforming third-party data into automated Xero invoices with FX and intercompany postings.

The Impact:

  • Enabled rapid launch, supporting 25+ customers in first 6 months
  • Multi-dimensional tracking delivered clear reporting across countries from Day 1
  • Legacy: Structure became the blueprint IT team used to build full platform

Ready to Transform Finance Operations?

6-Month Delivery Timeline

Zero Audit Risk

Real-Time Visibility

Margaret Carey, ACMA

Financial Controller & Systems Specialist

20 years building finance functions for Startups & SMEs

Deep experience with CoA rationalisation & system-ready data

Strong control mindset: reconciliations, clean migration, reliable reporting

Practical, structured, delivery-focused approach

An example of my approach to finance systems, controls, and delivery