TAF Consulting provides business planning,
documentation
and training programs to administrators, faculty, staff and governing boards of colleges, universities and other nonprofit organizations. Armed with timely, accurate and actionable information, these stakeholders can make sound business decisions. TAF delivers task-oriented outcomes that help clients attract, manage and invest essential resources.
Strategic and Fiscal Planning
TAF focuses on fiscally grounded strategic and organizational plans. All of our planning services tie back to financial results and realities. TAF planning models quantify the financial implications of programmatic and organizational decisions and enable clients to move from brainstorming to a tangible strategy with measurable results.
Financial Planning
TAF builds interactive financial planning tools that incorporate economic, programmatic and strategic variables. Our custom models reflect how an organization operates and makes decisions, so clients can form an integrated picture of current and future institutional health, act upon results and communicate them to stakeholders.
Financial planning model outcomes include:
- Enterprise-wide financial planning model that integrates tuition and fee revenue, personnel, grant funding and research, endowment and investment strategy, advancement and capital projects in a unified framework
- Graphic and quantitative display of results and analysis, including benchmarking and ratio analysis
- Base case scenario development and sensitivity analysis
Strategy Development
TAF works with leaders, governing boards and other stakeholders to evaluate the current operating environment and develop long-range strategies. Our work has included development of sustainability strategies, facilitation at board meetings and planning retreats, and educational programs that disseminate essential planning information and skills to decision-makers.
Business Continuity Planning
While none of us know exactly what the future holds, we can be certain that our organizations will experience some sort of business disruption. TAF helps clients develop strategies to prepare for and manage disruptions. In addition to readying the organization our project outcomes improve ongoing operations and performance.
Business continuity planning outcomes include:
- Documentation of business processes, responsibilities and critical data
- Disaster preparedness training and cross-training developing a flexible workforce and resilient organization
- Identification of key partners: vendors, institutions and agencies that will support the organization in the event of a crisis
- Communications strategies
Documentation and Reports
Financial Analysis and Management Reporting
TAF helps senior managers develop relevant and actionable financial reports for internal and external stakeholders. Senior administrators communicate with governing boards, legislatures, sponsors, rating agencies, creditors, accrediting agencies, donors, and peer institutions about their mission-critical activities, organizational performance and institutional health. TAF works with clients to analyze issues, assess their audience’s information needs, and develop clear, effective messages.
Financial analysis and management reporting outcomes include:
- Financial and budget reports and templates
- Annual financial reports and Financial Statement supplements
- Ratio-analysis and benchmarking
- Documentation to support debt issuance and other financing initiatives
- Issues briefings
- Meeting materials and presentations
Policy and Procedure Documentation
Sarbanes Oxley, SAS 112 and other standards require organizations to prove that management controls are in place and communicated. TAF specializes in translating business concepts to the seasoned and novice audiences. Working with managers, legal counsel and other subject matter experts, TAF develops clear, concise and actionable policies, and process descriptions that help clients institute sound business practices.
Examples of TAF policy and procedure documentation include:
- Travel policy
- Business expense policy
- Consultant policy
- Credit card and eCommerce policy
- Endowment spending policy
Training Programs
Faculty and Staff Professional Development
TAF training and communication programs deliver the task-oriented information that employees need to do their jobs efficiently. We assess the impact of new technology and administrative policies and develop programs that help employees incorporate these changes in their daily responsibilities. We deliver essential and practical information to adult-learners, so they can perform with greater engagement, effectiveness and satisfaction.
Training and communication outcomes include:
- How to Do Business seminars: policies, procedures, forms, restructuring, work flow, and other administrative topics
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Finance, accounting and budget topics for departmental managers and administrators
- Administrative technology courses: task-oriented instruction incorporating analytical skills, system tasks and institutional processes
- Internet and intranet content
- Electronic and print news bulletins
- Policy and procedure documentation
- Administrative system documentation
Board Development
TAF works with governing boards and individual members so they have the information they need to make organizational decisions and so they can work effectively as a group.
Board development outcomes include:
- Orientation programs for new board members covering management, financial and investment topics
- Finance, accounting and budget topics specific to higher education or nonprofit organizations
- Conflict resolution and facilitation skills
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