About
Our Philosophy
At Near Future, we help our clients encapsulate future financial outcomes through a bespoke financial model. Our seasoned consultants specialise in solving the toughest forecasting challenges: using a structured approach, we condense and translate complex transaction terms into a transparent and robust model engine. Using a transparent approach which can be followed by even novice Excel users, our models transform a range of inputs into key outputs such as IRR and debt metrics which can be sensitised and compared across projects or investments.
We believe that the secret to successful model development is not only technical expertise but also effective project management. This is why each of our projects is led by a dedicated, senior director who takes ownership of and responsibility for the success of the project.
Additionally, with our model review and audit services, we provide you, your investors or financiers with comfort over the integrity of models that have been developed in-house or by other advisors.
Through our range of training courses, we transfer this knowledge to our clients, helping them make lasting improvements to the way they forecast, thus enabling more informed decision making.
Our Team
Marli van Staden-Basson
Founder
Qualifications CFA, CA(SA)
Email [email protected]
Phone +44 (0) 77485 56239
Marli is a financial modelling specialist with nearly 20 years’ experience in financial services. She founded Near Future in 2016, with the aim of providing high quality, director-led financial modelling services to infrastructure investors and corporate clients.
Marli leads model developments and model audits on deals in a wide range of industries and geographies. She is also an experienced trainer who has delivered courses across the globe, including in London, New York, Frankfurt and Johannesburg.
Prior to founding Near Future, Marli gained experience in M&A and Valuations at PwC London before honing her infrastructure modelling skills at a boutique consultancy. Born and bred in sunny South Africa, she started her career at Deloitte Cape Town in 2007. She qualified as a statutory auditor and attained her CFA charter in parallel, before relocating to London in 2010.
In her free time, Marli is an enthusiastic cook, a lover of wine and mother to an unruly toddler and a sassy pre-schooler.
Stefano Filippi
Associate
Qualifications BAccLLB cum laude; BAccHons cum laude
Email [email protected]
Phone +44 (0) 77485 56239
Stef recently joined the Near Future team as an Associate, having completed his chartered accountancy training at Deloitte Cape Town. His audit clients spanned a range of industries from renewable investors and financial institutions to manufacturers. Stef’s role as audit senior saw him managing engagement teams and opining on complex technical accounting issues to ensure fair representation of financial statements.
Before starting his career at Deloitte, Stef distinguished himself as a top student at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, achieving the rare feat of attaining a double degree in accounting and law with distinction. He topped this off with a coveted distinction in his postgraduate accounting honours degree and was also placed in the top 10 nationally in the chartered accountancy competence test.
In his free time, Stef is an avid golfer and enjoys running. He recently relocated to Italy from where he is embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, enjoying the world’s finest pizza and pasta in front of his laptop while developing complex Excel models.
Doug Murray
Consultant
Qualifications PhD Theoretical Physics; BScHons
Email [email protected]
Phone +44 (0) 77485 56239
Doug is a seasoned financial modeller with a successful track record spanning over two decades. Doug’s areas of expertise include financial model audit and VBA development. He supports the Near Future team as a specialist consultant.
In 2005, Doug developed and cofounded Spreadsheet Advantage, an Excel add-in that helps spreadsheet developers and users increase productivity. It contains various tools including ones to align and compare different versions of spreadsheets, analyse the logic flow in them and to produce a map of each worksheet.