M&A and strategy advice, without the large-firm overhead
Clear advice for high-stakes decisions. 100+ transactions. Numerous strategy engagements. 20+ years’ experience
How I help
Buying a business
Target screening, valuation, due diligence, synergy analysis, deal structuring and process design, so you pay the right price, manage risks and capture opportunities
Weighing strategic options
Business portfolio reviews, strategic alternatives to M&A, and decision support to increase your odds of making successful strategic decisions
Business case support
Refining the commercial logic, testing or modelling the financial impact, or documenting it in an audience appropriate format, so you can submit approval requests with confidence
Financial modelling projects
Modelling the financial impact of your strategies under different scenarios to help you craft the best way forward
Why Helmsley Advisory
Senior-executed, from start to finish - You work directly with me (Steven Harper) from the first call to closing, not a junior team
Honest advice - Sometimes the best acquisition is the one you don't do. If the deal or strategy doesn’t make sense, I’ll tell you
Fractional expertise - Only use me when you need me, eliminating the need to hire permanent staff members or have support on an ongoing retainer
Partner network - Although I’m a solo-practitioner, I have a network of professionals who do adjacent work to mine, enabling a broader team to be assembled if needed
Board-ready outputs - Valuation and financial models which stand up to scrutiny, with the analysis converted into an audience appropriate decision document
Companies served
I've had the privilege of working with both listed and unlisted clients across various sectors, including financial services, agriculture, chemicals, professional services, food services, auto retail, textiles, logistics, and property
“Design isn't just about making things beautiful; it’s also about making things work beautifully.”
— Roger Martin
How we work together
Confidential introductory call
Scoped proposal and fee options
Engagement contracting
Project delivery with me directly involved throughout
Handover and training as needed
My story
Career
After university, I joined a listed South African financial services group during an expansion phase involving new business lines and new geographies. I was fortunate to work in a small team that built a health insurance and administration business through acquisitions. Later, I moved to group-level M&A, executing transactions across Southern, East, and West Africa. My decade with the group honed my skills in strategy, M&A, and financial modelling.
In 2015, my wife and I relocated our family to the countryside for a better quality of life and I founded Helmsley Advisory to continue doing the work I enjoy. Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with clients in sectors beyond financial services. Through this I’ve gained a breadth of experience by understanding what leaders in various sectors grapple with and how they drive value creation and manage risks in their businesses.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) - Finance & Economics
Certified Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) with the Corporate Finance Institute
STEVEN HARPER
FAQs
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Owner-managed and corporate businesses with Revenue of R50m+
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The person you speak to on the first call is the same person who’ll deliver the work and be available throughout the project. The analysis, modelling, insights and output will be me working with you and your team from start to finish.
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Hilton, KZN, South Africa. I typically work remotely but travel to client sites as needed per project.
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I use various fee structures as appropriate per project, including hourly or weekly billing, retainers, or fixed project fees. I’d be happy to discuss a fee structure that works for both parties.
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Confidentiality is a given and is formally contracted in all engagements. I understand the sensitivity of the information I’m exposed to and ensure your transactions and strategies are kept confidential.
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I use AI primarily for research, auditing / reviewing my work, and to test ideas and concepts. I remain fully accountable for all work delivered.
As a matter of course, I use maximum confidentiality safeguard settings, and either anonymize or use ‘Incognito mode’ when any client data is loaded into an AI model.
I’d be happy to tailor an approach to AI use per client if needed.
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The call is a no obligation discussion to:
1) determine if we’d like to work with each other;
2) gather information about the transaction or project to help scope a proposal.
I’d be happy to sign an initial NDA prior to the call if required.
Got further questions?
I’d be happy to answer any further questions via email or have a short call to discuss