01
Understand the workflow first
Technology choices follow the investment process, data dependencies, users and control requirements — not the other way around.
About
Technology work grounded in the investment process.
DeskTooling is a specialist consultancy focused on the analytical tools, data flows and applications used by front-office investment teams.
The consultancy
Many investment teams operate between two technology worlds: flexible, business-owned Excel tools and larger platforms that do not always cover specialist requirements. DeskTooling works in that space.
The focus is practical front-office development — stabilising and extending valuable tools, integrating data, improving controls and moving appropriate workflows to more durable platforms.
Engagements are scoped around a defined operational or analytical need. Advice is technology-agnostic and intended to support clear ownership by the client team.
Principles
A disciplined approach to bespoke tooling.
02
Prefer durable simplicity
Retain what works, reduce avoidable complexity and introduce new architecture only where it has a clear operational purpose.
03
Make controls visible
Calculations, exceptions, reconciliations and data lineage should be understandable to the people responsible for the process.
04
Leave clients able to own it
Documentation, handover and maintainability are part of delivery rather than an afterthought at the end of a project.
Working model
Senior-led and designed for clear accountability.
01
Direct senior involvement
Requirements, design decisions and delivery remain close to the people who understand the front-office problem.
02
Clear decision rights
Scope, assumptions, responsibilities and acceptance criteria are made explicit at the start of an engagement.
03
Collaborative delivery
Work can sit alongside internal technology teams, data providers, administrators and existing platform vendors.
04
Documented transfer
The client receives the practical documentation and knowledge needed to operate and evolve the delivered solution.
Confidentiality
Sensitive workflow and system information is handled on a need-to-know basis and can be covered by appropriate confidentiality terms.
Control
Delivery is designed to work within the client’s security, access, change-management and data-governance requirements.
Independence
Architecture recommendations are based on the requirement and operating context rather than attachment to a single vendor stack.
Need help with an Excel tool?
Discuss the requirement directly.
The first discussion is about the current process, its constraints and whether specialist support is a sensible fit.