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Case study | Media : KPEX

Programmatic media trading start-up KPEX needed to hit the ground running in the complex, fast-moving media industry. They were on the hunt for a technology savvy, commercially-focussed finance partner to support business growth and develop more mature business controls and board reporting.

In 2015 Fairfax Media (now Stuff), MediaWorks, NZME and TVNZ joined forces to create a new local advertising exchange service: the Kiwi Premium Advertising Exchange, “KPEX”.  Powered by Rubicon — a leading global technology provider in the automation of buying and selling advertising inventory — KPEX offered media agencies and clients a brand safe programmatic option for purchasing online advertising inventory across New Zealand’s leading media businesses.

 

The business needed robust, accurate financial forecasts, insights and reporting to enable timely decision making at management and board level. Balanced acted as KPEX’s offsite, outsourced finance team and delivered the goods to the executive team and board.

“Balanced were outstanding to work with. They acted as a true business partner, providing the management and board confidence in the business’ performance and considerably enhancing controls to decrease potential risks. As a technology driven organisation, KPEX needed a partner that could understand and react to the dynamics of a fast-changing industry.  I would recommend Balanced to anyone looking for a highly engaged, proactive and commercially-minded finance partner.”

Richard Thompson,

CEO,
KPEX

Through a variety of insights and initiatives implemented early on, we quickly enabled the KPEX board to confidently make informed decisions based on trusted numbers. We dove deep into the systems to correct and enhance processes and ensure the accounts were completely correct. We developed more secure controls, including eliminating the room for error across their complex revenue share calculations.

With these measures in place, the KPEX board had confidence in their financial systems. They felt less exposed and had the insights required to impact the future before it happened. The management team was able to make better financial decisions with improved information to hand and the Balanced team on hand as a commercial sounding board to bounce ideas off.

We provided the following services to KPEX:

Commercial Strategy

Budgeting

Tax Compliance

Cashflow Management

Financial Modelling

Forecasting

Xero Reconciliation

Cost Management

Profitability Analysis

Monthly Reporting

Payment Processing

Systems Enhancements

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The full story...

We developed a full budget for KPEX, along with regular monthly reporting against budget. We made the shift to forward-looking monthly forecasts, rather than simply reporting on the past.

We partnered closely with the CEO, ensuring he understood the results and which levers could be pulled to bring the forecasted results into line with the business’ financial goals. We were in weekly communication with the KPEX team and regularly spent time on site to ensure we were up to speed with everything going on.

Our partnership received the ultimate nod when we were asked to step in and cover a portion of the CEO’s duties for six months when the incumbent left, until his replacement started.

*KPEX shareholders voted to take the trading service in-house in 2019 and retire the KPEX entity.