“Financial models can be complex, but they don’t have to be. We make them simple; simple makes them clear.”
Financial Mechanics is a specialist financial modelling services company, providing modelling and training courses to clients worldwide. We design and build financial models used in forecasting business performance, evaluating projects, securing funding…(read more)
The FAST modelling standard was pioneered by the founder of Financial Mechanics, John Richter, and Morten Siersted of F1F9 over 15 years ago and is now used by thousands of modellers across the globe as a ’shared language’ for modelling.
The Standard advocates a philosophy of good financial model design rules founded on the acronym FAST: flexible, accurate, structured, and transparent. It advocates transparent model structure and clear, crisp modelling style.
The Standard has been developed from the experience of industry practitioners who have learned simple techniques to replace overly-clever ‘good ideas’ that proved bad in practice over time. It documents a skilled craft that is functional within the realities of the business environment.
As a minimum objective, models must be free of fundamental omissions and logical errors, and this outcome must be achieved under short lead times. However, a good model must achieve more than this minimum standard. It must be easily used and reviewed by others and readily adaptable as circumstances change.
The FAST Modelling Standard is now promoted through a non-profit organization, which you can follow at www.fast-standard.org or join us within the FAST Standard group on LinkedIn.
Model design and modelling techniques must allow models to be adapted easily and quickly when new information becomes available
Models must reflect key business assumptions directly and faithfully without being over-built or cluttered with unnecessary detail
Rigorous consistency in layout and organization is essential to retain a model’s logical integrity over time, particularly as a model’s author may change
Our modelling approach is founded on simple, clear calculations that can be understood by other modellers and non-modellers alike.