Strategic Finance Advisory for Payments and Fintech Platforms

Bringing economic rigour to growth, capital allocation and risk in complex payments businesses

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About

Strategy is only as robust as the assumptions embedded in its economics

ScalePoint is an independent strategic finance advisory practice focused on complex, platform driven payments and fintech businesses, combining hands on operating judgement with disciplined advisory craft.

Built on more than twenty years in the sector, the practice is grounded in a simple conviction: strategy often outruns its economics. Direction and detail have to be examined together.

We work where growth ambition meets financial consequence, ensuring that capital, risk and value creation remain economically sound.

Approach

Macro intent and micro economics must be examined together

ScalePoint operates where strategic intent translates into financial consequence.

We examine growth paths and return logic at the macro level, and test unit economics at the micro level. The discipline lies in connecting the two, so that execution remains economically sound and trade offs are explicit early.

Focus Areas

Strategic Finance in Practice

Our work focuses on ensuring that high level strategic intent translates into disciplined operational and financial execution.

Strategic Direction and Economic Viability

Testing whether growth paths, acquisitions and partnerships generate acceptable returns under realistic conditions.

Unit Economics and Capital Intensity

Examining product, segment and pricing economics to understand what truly drives value and how much capital growth requires.

Integration and Portfolio Repositioning

Maintaining economic discipline through implementation and integration, ensuring execution choices protect long term value.

Finance at the Front End

Strengthening the role of finance in commercial decision making so that trade offs are explicit before capital is committed.

Work

Client Contexts and Case Studies

Partnership Economics No Longer Holding
PROBLEM: A strategic platform partnership was creating tension as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original plan. SOLUTION: We assessed the operating and financial logic of the relationship, identifying misaligned incentives and cost allocation drift. This provided leadership with a clear economic basis for renegotiation and restored sustainable performance.
Product Investment Under Scrutiny
PROBLEM: A leadership team wanted to invest in a new product feature to address churn and improve lifetime value. The required headcount and capital would materially shift priorities. SOLUTION: We tested the economic logic of the initiative against realistic uptake, cost scaling and capital constraints, clarifying the true break-even path. The board approved a revised, phased investment plan grounded in credible assumptions.
Margin Compression in a Platform Model
PROBLEM: A fintech platform was growing revenue but struggling to translate scale into margin expansion. Cost-to-serve and incentive structures were not aligned with the pricing model. SOLUTION: We analysed the core revenue mechanics, cost behaviour and capital intensity of the model, identifying both quick performance improvements and deeper structural adjustments. Leadership gained clarity on where margin leakage sat and what needed to change.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Partnership Economics No Longer Holding
PROBLEM: A strategic platform partnership was creating tension as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original plan. SOLUTION: We assessed the operating and financial logic of the relationship, identifying misaligned incentives and cost allocation drift. This provided leadership with a clear economic basis for renegotiation and restored sustainable performance.
Product Investment Under Scrutiny
PROBLEM: A leadership team wanted to invest in a new product feature to address churn and improve lifetime value. The required headcount and capital would materially shift priorities. SOLUTION: We tested the economic logic of the initiative against realistic uptake, cost scaling and capital constraints, clarifying the true break-even path. The board approved a revised, phased investment plan grounded in credible assumptions.
Margin Compression in a Platform Model
PROBLEM: A fintech platform was growing revenue but struggling to translate scale into margin expansion. Cost-to-serve and incentive structures were not aligned with the pricing model. SOLUTION: We analysed the core revenue mechanics, cost behaviour and capital intensity of the model, identifying both quick performance improvements and deeper structural adjustments. Leadership gained clarity on where margin leakage sat and what needed to change.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Partnership Economics No Longer Holding
PROBLEM: A strategic platform partnership was creating tension as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original plan. SOLUTION: We assessed the operating and financial logic of the relationship, identifying misaligned incentives and cost allocation drift. This provided leadership with a clear economic basis for renegotiation and restored sustainable performance.
Product Investment Under Scrutiny
PROBLEM: A leadership team wanted to invest in a new product feature to address churn and improve lifetime value. The required headcount and capital would materially shift priorities. SOLUTION: We tested the economic logic of the initiative against realistic uptake, cost scaling and capital constraints, clarifying the true break-even path. The board approved a revised, phased investment plan grounded in credible assumptions.
Margin Compression in a Platform Model
PROBLEM: A fintech platform was growing revenue but struggling to translate scale into margin expansion. Cost-to-serve and incentive structures were not aligned with the pricing model. SOLUTION: We analysed the core revenue mechanics, cost behaviour and capital intensity of the model, identifying both quick performance improvements and deeper structural adjustments. Leadership gained clarity on where margin leakage sat and what needed to change.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Partnership Economics No Longer Holding
PROBLEM: A strategic platform partnership was creating tension as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original plan. SOLUTION: We assessed the operating and financial logic of the relationship, identifying misaligned incentives and cost allocation drift. This provided leadership with a clear economic basis for renegotiation and restored sustainable performance.
Product Investment Under Scrutiny
PROBLEM: A leadership team wanted to invest in a new product feature to address churn and improve lifetime value. The required headcount and capital would materially shift priorities. SOLUTION: We tested the economic logic of the initiative against realistic uptake, cost scaling and capital constraints, clarifying the true break-even path. The board approved a revised, phased investment plan grounded in credible assumptions.
Margin Compression in a Platform Model
PROBLEM: A fintech platform was growing revenue but struggling to translate scale into margin expansion. Cost-to-serve and incentive structures were not aligned with the pricing model. SOLUTION: We analysed the core revenue mechanics, cost behaviour and capital intensity of the model, identifying both quick performance improvements and deeper structural adjustments. Leadership gained clarity on where margin leakage sat and what needed to change.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.
Integration Targets Under Pressure
PROBLEM: A payments business had committed to margin synergies following an acquisition. Twelve months in, targets were slipping and leadership confidence was weakening. SOLUTION: We reassessed the underlying cost and revenue assumptions, separated structural constraints from execution gaps, and rebuilt the financial logic behind the integration plan. The result was a revised, defensible roadmap with realistic sequencing and restored board confidence.

Why us

We work differently, and it shows

Clear Scope First

Defined objectives agreed before work begins.

Senior, Direct Engagement

You work directly with experienced judgement throughout.

Focused Timeframes

Time-bound engagements with clear decision points.

No Scope Drift

Mandates remain contained and outcome-driven.

Independent Perspective

Advice grounded in economics and practical judgement.

Flexible Engagement Model

Start small, deepen involvement where value is clear.

No Scope Drift

Mandates remain contained and outcome-driven.

Independent Perspective

Advice grounded in economics and practical judgement.

Flexible Engagement Model

Start small, deepen involvement where value is clear.

Clear Scope First

Defined objectives agreed before work begins.

Senior, Direct Engagement

You work directly with experienced judgement throughout.

Focused Timeframes

Time-bound engagements with clear decision points.

No Scope Drift

Mandates remain contained and outcome-driven.

Independent Perspective

Advice grounded in economics and practical judgement.

Flexible Engagement Model

Start small, deepen involvement where value is clear.

No Scope Drift

Mandates remain contained and outcome-driven.

Independent Perspective

Advice grounded in economics and practical judgement.

Flexible Engagement Model

Start small, deepen involvement where value is clear.

Strategy is only as robust as the assumptions embedded in its economics

Macro intent and micro economics must be examined together

Strategic Finance in Practice

Strategic Direction and Economic Viability

Unit Economics and Capital Intensity

Integration and Portfolio Repositioning

Finance at the Front End

Client Contexts and Case Studies

We work differently, and it shows

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