I am sometimes engaged by small to medium scale businesses to help them conduct strategic planning especially towards the end of the financial years or at the beginning of the financial year.
A great opportunity to get insight into various strategies employed to survive in the difficult and very fluid environment. Unlike in the past where strategic planning would involve looking far into the horizon and craft strategies that span several years ahead, in the prevailing environment—planning beyond 6 months extremely challenging.
Nobody knows with confidence how the operating environment will be like come June 2024. First we had an Elnino drought threat but fortunately some rains have managed to come—this could help reduce the adverse impact. Economic headwinds expected to be part of us in 2024.
So what are the general trends I observed from various financial statements during strategic planning sessions?
The Profit and Loss Statements: Some recorded good sales meeting targets but it’s the costs that dragged profits down and in some instances into losses. Statutory Instrument Changes impacted many as most of the changes resulted in losses. Statutory Instruments of note are foreign currency related; statutory tax currency changes—and those with exposure to value chains where local currency is used also felt the heat. Late payments and when received, the value of payment diminished. A difficult period for Finance Teams in ensuring set targets are met.
Strong competition from the informal sector, dealing with inflationary pressures, and power outage challenges.
Balance Sheet Analysis: Whilst the world has moved on from Covid-19, the impact is still very much active on balance sheet especially Debtors and Creditors. Employees who were supposed to be paid salaries during Covid-19 still have not received them—and they are carried forward to future years.
This also applies to debtors –with some classified as bad as those who owe either closed business or have kept on promising to settle debts. This has led in most cases to high gearing.
ZIMRA Garnishes: Noted in several entities where failure to abide by tax rules and regulations has resulted in the long axe of tax authorities and other statutory bodies taking drastic action of garnishes. Big impact on working capital and business operations.
Hail those who survived 2023 and the question is—who will be the last man standing by December 2024? Will companies be able to clear Covid-19 impact balances, be able to ride Statutory Instrument Swings, meet tax obligations, pay inflation adjusted salaries, and make profits?
Will they be able to retain skilled staff, and face off with stiff competition? Of course some are tweaking their business models—including going informal to survive. Diversification on the lips of everyone and more business partnerships including with forums such as ZBIN in order to tap into the informal sector.
