Foundations Review
Clarity before change. Structure before solutions.
Most back office pressure in hospitality doesn’t announce itself. It builds quietly — through half-checked payroll, blurred responsibilities, reports that are “close enough,” and decisions made without clear visibility. Everything technically works, until it doesn’t feel calm or predictable anymore.
The Foundations Review is designed to help you step back and understand where that pressure is actually coming from — across cash flow, payroll, purchasing and administration — so you can create clarity and direction before introducing change.
This is how every engagement with Daou Consulting begins.
What the Foundations Review Is
The Foundations Review is a focused assessment of your current back-office controls.
It looks at:
How cash visibility is managed week to week
How payroll, compliance, and purchasing decisions interact
Where administration is supporting the business — or quietly falling behind
Where risk, pressure, or inefficiency is building
The aim is not to overwhelm you with findings — but to create clarity and direction.
What the Review Is Designed to Do
The Foundations Review helps you:
Understand where cash and compliance pressure is really coming from
Identify gaps or inconsistencies in existing systems
Separate urgent issues from structural improvements
Prioritise what should be addressed first — and what can wait
Decide whether formal system implementation is worthwhile
It replaces guesswork with a clear starting point.
If you want clarity around where back-office pressure is really coming from, the Foundations Review is the place to start.
What’s Covered
The review typically considers:
Cash Flow & Visibility
How cash position, timing, and forward commitments are trackedPayroll & Compliance Controls
How wages, superannuation, and statutory obligations are managedPurchasing & Supplier Commitments
How spend decisions are controlled and aligned to cash positionAdministration & Month-End Routines
How financial admin is kept current and reliable
The focus is on controls and decision-making, not accounting detail.
How the Review Works
The Foundations Review is conducted as a structured consultation.
During the review, we:
Walk through how your back office currently operates
Identify pressure points, risks, and inefficiencies
Discuss what’s working — and what isn’t
Map clear next steps
You’ll leave with a practical understanding of:
Where your foundations are solid
Where they need strengthening
What action makes sense next
What You Receive
Following the Foundations Review, you receive:
A clear summary of key findings
Identified priority areas
Recommended next steps
Guidance on whether system implementation is appropriate
There is no obligation to proceed beyond the review.
Who the Foundations Review Is For
The Foundations Review is suited to hospitality owners who:
Feel reactive or uncertain around cash flow
Are juggling payroll, suppliers, and admin without clear structure
Want control without unnecessary complexity
Are considering system improvements but want clarity first
It’s particularly valuable before investing time or money into changes.
How the Review Fits With Other Systems
The Foundations Review sits at the centre of the Back Office Foundations framework.
It informs:
Cash Flow Control System implementation
Rather than guessing where to start, the review ensures effort is directed where it matters most.
Optional: Pressure Test Your Back Office
If you’re unsure whether a full Foundations Review is the right next step — or want to start identifying pressure points on your own — complete our Back Office Pressure Test first.
This self-guided tool helps you reflect on where pressure is building and what may need attention.
It’s private, obligation-free, and designed to give you clarity — not a score.
→ Complete the Back Office Pressure Test
Next Steps
If you’d like to understand how your back office is really functioning — and what would make the biggest difference — the Foundations Review is the right place to start.