Strategic Finance for Payments and Fintech Platforms

ScalePoint is an independent strategic finance advisory practice working alongside finance and commercial leadership in complex payments, fintech and platform businesses, embedding financial discipline into strategic and capital decisions

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Tension

When Strategic Ambition Outruns Financial Discipline

In complex payments and fintech businesses, growth, integration and capital decisions move quickly. The economics do not always keep pace

In complex payments and fintech environments, growth can accelerate while margin quality, cost to serve and capital intensity receive insufficient scrutiny. As integration, regulatory and capital pressures increase, the gap between strategic ambition and financial reality widens.

Rising complexity places greater demands on finance to operate as a cross functional partner shaping commercial and capital decisions. Yet the discipline applied to those decisions does not always keep pace. Volume expands. Capital is deployed. The underlying economics are not always examined with equal rigour.

That drift is where value erodes, and where focused financial discipline can protect and recover it.

Response

Bridging Strategy, Economics and Execution

We work alongside management teams while providing the economic rigour investors expect

Board and Investor Advisory

Support boards, CFOs and investors with independent economic scrutiny across investment, portfolio and refinancing decisions. We review value creation plans, stress test assumptions and model risk, return and downside scenarios to ensure capital is committed and managed on defensible grounds.

Unit Economics and Profit Discipline

Build and interrogate detailed transaction level models alongside finance teams, examining pricing, interchange, scheme costs and cohort behaviour to clarify contribution margin, capital intensity and structural profitability. The focus is on durable economics and margin quality, not volume alone.

Operationalising Strategy

Translate strategic intent into financially executable plans, working closely with leadership and finance teams to connect growth assumptions, margin dynamics and capital requirements to clear performance targets, accountability and integrated financial models.

Differentiator

The Operator’s Advantage

Strategy informed by operating and financial reality

Drawing on more than two decades across payments, fintech and platform businesses, in both senior operating and advisory roles, we combine sector judgement with hands on financial rigour.

The advice given is shaped by having operated inside businesses, managed growth targets and navigated board level scrutiny directly.

Engagements are led personally, ensuring direct access to a partner who understands both the strategic ambition and the financial discipline required to deliver it.

Impact

Client Contexts and Case Studies

Strategic Value Creation
Quantifying a Platform Pivot into Enterprise Value
The Problem
An international FX and payments firm pivoting toward a platform-led model lacked a quantified bridge between strategic ambition and financial outcomes. The narrative was compelling, but enterprise value impact remained undefined and unmeasured.
The Strategy
Designed a quantified enterprise value creation plan, defining capital priorities, investment sequencing, and people costs. Worked directly with the C-suite to assign ownership and translate strategy into accountable financial metrics.
The Impact
Converted a conceptual platform shift into a transparent value roadmap. Secured executive alignment and established a measurable path toward sustainable enterprise value growth grounded in operational delivery.
Strategic Partnership Economics
Restoring Commercial Alignment in a Platform Relationship
The Problem
A strategic platform partnership began to underperform as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original investment case, creating tension between commercial expectations and operational reality.
The Strategy
Assessed the underlying operating and financial logic of the relationship, isolating incentive misalignment and cost allocation drift. Reconstructed the economic model to provide a clear, fact-based foundation for renegotiation.
The Impact
Equipped leadership with a defensible economic position, enabling constructive renegotiation. Reset performance expectations, realigned incentives, and restored a commercially sustainable partnership trajectory.
Regulatory Risk and Revenue Protection
PSD2 Compliance and European Revenue Recovery
The Problem
A major US hotel franchise faced $60 million in non-compliant revenue exposure across more than 200 European properties due to fragmented payment processes and complex PSD2-SCA requirements.
The Strategy
Partnered with treasury and operational leaders to map payment flows, isolate compliance gaps, and negotiate provider solutions. Designed and implemented a unified, regulation-compliant payments architecture across jurisdictions.
The Impact
Secured $60 million in at-risk revenue while modernising the digital guest journey. Enabled mobile check-in and loyalty integration, embedding regulatory compliance within a scalable European payments framework.
Investment Appraisal and Commercial Due Diligence
Forensic Assessment of an AI-Native Fraud Platform Pre-IPO
The Problem
A private equity client evaluated a high-growth global AI fraud platform ahead of IPO. The central question was whether performance reflected structural advantage or short-term valuation expansion.
The Strategy
Led forensic commercial diligence, stress-testing AI-driven unit economics, scalability, and competitive durability. Modelled long-term yield stability and EBITDA resilience to assess seven-year hold viability against exit expectations.
The Impact
Identified material long-hold risks and margin friction inconsistent with the investment thesis. Recommended a disciplined no-go decision, preserving capital despite subsequent public market validation.
Strategic Value Creation
Quantifying a Platform Pivot into Enterprise Value
The Problem
An international FX and payments firm pivoting toward a platform-led model lacked a quantified bridge between strategic ambition and financial outcomes. The narrative was compelling, but enterprise value impact remained undefined and unmeasured.
The Strategy
Designed a quantified enterprise value creation plan, defining capital priorities, investment sequencing, and people costs. Worked directly with the C-suite to assign ownership and translate strategy into accountable financial metrics.
The Impact
Converted a conceptual platform shift into a transparent value roadmap. Secured executive alignment and established a measurable path toward sustainable enterprise value growth grounded in operational delivery.
Strategic Partnership Economics
Restoring Commercial Alignment in a Platform Relationship
The Problem
A strategic platform partnership began to underperform as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original investment case, creating tension between commercial expectations and operational reality.
The Strategy
Assessed the underlying operating and financial logic of the relationship, isolating incentive misalignment and cost allocation drift. Reconstructed the economic model to provide a clear, fact-based foundation for renegotiation.
The Impact
Equipped leadership with a defensible economic position, enabling constructive renegotiation. Reset performance expectations, realigned incentives, and restored a commercially sustainable partnership trajectory.
Regulatory Risk and Revenue Protection
PSD2 Compliance and European Revenue Recovery
The Problem
A major US hotel franchise faced $60 million in non-compliant revenue exposure across more than 200 European properties due to fragmented payment processes and complex PSD2-SCA requirements.
The Strategy
Partnered with treasury and operational leaders to map payment flows, isolate compliance gaps, and negotiate provider solutions. Designed and implemented a unified, regulation-compliant payments architecture across jurisdictions.
The Impact
Secured $60 million in at-risk revenue while modernising the digital guest journey. Enabled mobile check-in and loyalty integration, embedding regulatory compliance within a scalable European payments framework.
Investment Appraisal and Commercial Due Diligence
Forensic Assessment of an AI-Native Fraud Platform Pre-IPO
The Problem
A private equity client evaluated a high-growth global AI fraud platform ahead of IPO. The central question was whether performance reflected structural advantage or short-term valuation expansion.
The Strategy
Led forensic commercial diligence, stress-testing AI-driven unit economics, scalability, and competitive durability. Modelled long-term yield stability and EBITDA resilience to assess seven-year hold viability against exit expectations.
The Impact
Identified material long-hold risks and margin friction inconsistent with the investment thesis. Recommended a disciplined no-go decision, preserving capital despite subsequent public market validation.
Strategic Value Creation
Quantifying a Platform Pivot into Enterprise Value
The Problem
An international FX and payments firm pivoting toward a platform-led model lacked a quantified bridge between strategic ambition and financial outcomes. The narrative was compelling, but enterprise value impact remained undefined and unmeasured.
The Strategy
Designed a quantified enterprise value creation plan, defining capital priorities, investment sequencing, and people costs. Worked directly with the C-suite to assign ownership and translate strategy into accountable financial metrics.
The Impact
Converted a conceptual platform shift into a transparent value roadmap. Secured executive alignment and established a measurable path toward sustainable enterprise value growth grounded in operational delivery.
Strategic Partnership Economics
Restoring Commercial Alignment in a Platform Relationship
The Problem
A strategic platform partnership began to underperform as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original investment case, creating tension between commercial expectations and operational reality.
The Strategy
Assessed the underlying operating and financial logic of the relationship, isolating incentive misalignment and cost allocation drift. Reconstructed the economic model to provide a clear, fact-based foundation for renegotiation.
The Impact
Equipped leadership with a defensible economic position, enabling constructive renegotiation. Reset performance expectations, realigned incentives, and restored a commercially sustainable partnership trajectory.
Regulatory Risk and Revenue Protection
PSD2 Compliance and European Revenue Recovery
The Problem
A major US hotel franchise faced $60 million in non-compliant revenue exposure across more than 200 European properties due to fragmented payment processes and complex PSD2-SCA requirements.
The Strategy
Partnered with treasury and operational leaders to map payment flows, isolate compliance gaps, and negotiate provider solutions. Designed and implemented a unified, regulation-compliant payments architecture across jurisdictions.
The Impact
Secured $60 million in at-risk revenue while modernising the digital guest journey. Enabled mobile check-in and loyalty integration, embedding regulatory compliance within a scalable European payments framework.
Investment Appraisal and Commercial Due Diligence
Forensic Assessment of an AI-Native Fraud Platform Pre-IPO
The Problem
A private equity client evaluated a high-growth global AI fraud platform ahead of IPO. The central question was whether performance reflected structural advantage or short-term valuation expansion.
The Strategy
Led forensic commercial diligence, stress-testing AI-driven unit economics, scalability, and competitive durability. Modelled long-term yield stability and EBITDA resilience to assess seven-year hold viability against exit expectations.
The Impact
Identified material long-hold risks and margin friction inconsistent with the investment thesis. Recommended a disciplined no-go decision, preserving capital despite subsequent public market validation.
Strategic Value Creation
Quantifying a Platform Pivot into Enterprise Value
The Problem
An international FX and payments firm pivoting toward a platform-led model lacked a quantified bridge between strategic ambition and financial outcomes. The narrative was compelling, but enterprise value impact remained undefined and unmeasured.
The Strategy
Designed a quantified enterprise value creation plan, defining capital priorities, investment sequencing, and people costs. Worked directly with the C-suite to assign ownership and translate strategy into accountable financial metrics.
The Impact
Converted a conceptual platform shift into a transparent value roadmap. Secured executive alignment and established a measurable path toward sustainable enterprise value growth grounded in operational delivery.
Strategic Partnership Economics
Restoring Commercial Alignment in a Platform Relationship
The Problem
A strategic platform partnership began to underperform as volumes, pricing assumptions and implementation costs diverged from the original investment case, creating tension between commercial expectations and operational reality.
The Strategy
Assessed the underlying operating and financial logic of the relationship, isolating incentive misalignment and cost allocation drift. Reconstructed the economic model to provide a clear, fact-based foundation for renegotiation.
The Impact
Equipped leadership with a defensible economic position, enabling constructive renegotiation. Reset performance expectations, realigned incentives, and restored a commercially sustainable partnership trajectory.
Regulatory Risk and Revenue Protection
PSD2 Compliance and European Revenue Recovery
The Problem
A major US hotel franchise faced $60 million in non-compliant revenue exposure across more than 200 European properties due to fragmented payment processes and complex PSD2-SCA requirements.
The Strategy
Partnered with treasury and operational leaders to map payment flows, isolate compliance gaps, and negotiate provider solutions. Designed and implemented a unified, regulation-compliant payments architecture across jurisdictions.
The Impact
Secured $60 million in at-risk revenue while modernising the digital guest journey. Enabled mobile check-in and loyalty integration, embedding regulatory compliance within a scalable European payments framework.
Investment Appraisal and Commercial Due Diligence
Forensic Assessment of an AI-Native Fraud Platform Pre-IPO
The Problem
A private equity client evaluated a high-growth global AI fraud platform ahead of IPO. The central question was whether performance reflected structural advantage or short-term valuation expansion.
The Strategy
Led forensic commercial diligence, stress-testing AI-driven unit economics, scalability, and competitive durability. Modelled long-term yield stability and EBITDA resilience to assess seven-year hold viability against exit expectations.
The Impact
Identified material long-hold risks and margin friction inconsistent with the investment thesis. Recommended a disciplined no-go decision, preserving capital despite subsequent public market validation.

Insights and Tools

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Private Equity After the Reset: From Capital Abundance to Capital Discipline

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Modeling MiCA & AI Act impact on 2026 margins

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From Growth to Economic Maturity in Payments

Like oak barrels, payments mature. Growth first, economics later.

When Smartsheet Actually Makes Sense

An opinionated view on when Smartsheet is genuinely useful—and when it isn't—based on regulated fintech work.

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Next Step

Exploratory Conversation

A confidential discussion to determine whether there is a clear strategic finance mandate

The conversation can be structured around specific capital, performance or integration questions, or simply used to explore the issues at hand at a senior level. Where appropriate, a more detailed review is defined under NDA.

When Strategic Ambition Outruns Financial Discipline

In complex payments and fintech businesses, growth, integration and capital decisions move quickly. The economics do not always keep pace

Bridging Strategy, Economics and Execution

We work alongside management teams while providing the economic rigour investors expect

The Operator’s Advantage

Strategy informed by operating and financial reality

Client Contexts and Case Studies

Strategic Value Creation

Quantifying a Platform Pivot into Enterprise Value

The Problem

The Strategy

The Impact

Strategic Partnership Economics

Restoring Commercial Alignment in a Platform Relationship

The Problem

The Strategy

The Impact

Regulatory Risk and Revenue Protection

PSD2 Compliance and European Revenue Recovery

The Problem

The Strategy

The Impact

Investment Appraisal and Commercial Due Diligence

Forensic Assessment of an AI-Native Fraud Platform Pre-IPO

The Problem

The Strategy

The Impact

Operational Intelligence for FinTech Leaders

Agentic AI in Finance: Why Maturity Comes Before Machines

Agentic AI in Finance: Why Maturity Comes Before Machines

Private Equity After the Reset: From Capital Abundance to Capital Discipline

Private Equity After the Reset: From Capital Abundance to Capital Discipline

Modeling MiCA & AI Act impact on 2026 margins

Modeling MiCA & AI Act impact on 2026 margins

From Growth to Economic Maturity in Payments

From Growth to Economic Maturity in Payments

When Smartsheet Actually Makes Sense

When Smartsheet Actually Makes Sense

Exploratory Conversation

A confidential discussion to determine whether there is a clear strategic finance mandate

Start a Conversation