Our Engagements
Three ways to work with Setia Advisory — each defined before it begins
Every engagement has a stated scope, a fixed fee, and a written deliverable. You know what you are receiving and what it costs before any work begins.
Back to HomeOur Methodology
How we approach every engagement
Advisory work that is useful begins with a genuine attempt to understand the situation as it is, rather than as the advisor might prefer it to be. Our method in every engagement is to listen first, examine the evidence second, and write conclusions third — with the evidence visible alongside each finding.
We do not arrive with a framework to apply. We arrive with questions, and we follow the answers. The written brief that concludes each engagement reflects what we actually found, including things that may be at variance with the client's initial assumptions. That is the point of it.
Each engagement is structured to be time-bound and deliverable-defined. This serves both parties: it keeps the work focused, and it makes it possible to assess whether the investment was worthwhile.
Listen before concluding
The first session of every engagement is primarily listening. We ask structured questions and we record what we hear before forming any view.
Examine the operating evidence
We review the financial reports, operational data, and correspondence that the business actually works with — not a curated presentation prepared for our benefit.
Write plainly with evidence alongside
No conclusion is offered without the supporting data visible in the same document. No recommendation is made without the reasoning that led there written out in full.
Engagement One
Strategic Direction Review
MYR 1,850 · Four to six weeks
A focused engagement for owners and directors weighing a turning point. Over four to six weeks, we sit with leadership, study the operating environment, examine the firm's commercial position, and produce a written brief that lays out the practical options. We do not arrive with a fixed answer; we arrive with the discipline to find the right one. Scope includes one operating review, two strategy sessions, and a final written brief delivered in person. Suitable for established Malaysian small and mid-sized firms preparing for succession, market entry, or operational restructuring.
What is included
- One structured operating review session with leadership
- Two focused strategy sessions with principal advisory involvement
- Review of relevant operating reports, financial summaries, and market data
- Written brief of the options available, delivered in person at our Kuala Lumpur office
- One follow-up call within 30 days of brief delivery
Engagement process
Initial telephone conversation to confirm fit and agree scope
Letter of engagement signed and fee invoiced before work begins
Operating review session — we listen, ask, and observe
Two strategy sessions over the following weeks to develop options
Draft brief circulated for factual accuracy check
Final brief delivered in person, discussed, and handed to client
Engagement Two
Quarterly Advisory Companion
MYR 970 per quarter
A retainer arrangement for leaders who would value a steady, considered counterpart between major decisions. Each quarter we conduct one half-day on-site session, two structured remote reviews, and informal availability by phone for discrete questions. The arrangement suits founders and managing directors who already have direction but want a dispassionate partner to test their reasoning before they commit. Documentation is light by design; the value lies in the dialogue. Includes a written summary at quarter-end.
What is included each quarter
- One half-day on-site advisory session at your premises
- Two structured remote reviews by video or telephone
- Informal telephone availability for discrete, time-sensitive questions
- Written summary at the end of the quarter noting key themes discussed
- Quarterly renewal decision — no minimum term beyond the initial quarter
How it works over time
Agreement signed, first quarter invoiced, on-site session scheduled
Half-day on-site session — current priorities, pressures, and decisions in view
Two remote reviews mid-quarter as issues develop
Written summary delivered, renewal confirmed or concluded
Engagement Three
Operational Diagnostic Brief
MYR 480 · Two weeks
A short engagement for firms that suspect, but cannot quite see, where margin or momentum is being lost. Over two weeks we conduct quiet conversations with the relevant team members, review the operating reports they live with, and prepare a brief that names the issues plainly. The deliverable is a written document under thirty pages that the leadership team can sit with, not a slide deck. No recommendations are offered without the supporting evidence visible alongside them.
What is included
- Structured conversations with key team members (no more than five)
- Review of the operating reports used in day-to-day management
- Written brief of thirty pages or fewer naming the issues identified
- Evidence for each finding placed visibly in the brief — no unsupported claims
- Suitable as a standalone engagement or as a precursor to a strategic review
Engagement process
Scope confirmed by telephone; letter of engagement and invoice issued
Structured conversations with nominated team members (usually one day on-site)
Review of operating reports and data supplied by client
Draft circulated for factual accuracy check
Final brief delivered digitally and, if preferred, in person
Choosing the Right Engagement
Which engagement fits your situation?
The three engagements are designed for different moments. The brief comparison below may help you decide where to start — or you can describe your situation in the initial call and we will suggest what makes sense.
| Your situation | Operational Diagnostic | Quarterly Companion | Strategic Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Something is wrong but you cannot quite name it | Best fit | – | – |
| You are facing a succession, merger, or market entry | – | – | Best fit |
| You have direction but want a thinking partner between decisions | – | Best fit | – |
| You want to understand the business before committing to a major change | Good start | – | Follow-on |
| You want ongoing access to advisory between the big moments | – | Best fit | – |
| You need a written document to share with a co-director or banker | Yes | Quarterly summary | Yes |
Shared Across All Engagements
Standards that apply regardless of which engagement you choose
Written engagement letter
Every engagement is governed by a written letter specifying scope, fee, deliverables, and termination conditions — signed before work begins.
Mutual confidentiality
A confidentiality understanding is standard in every engagement. What we learn about your business stays within the engagement.
Principal-led work
The advisor who conducts the engagement is a principal of the firm — no handoff to junior staff at any point in the work.
Conflict disclosure
Before any engagement begins, we review for conflicts of interest. If one exists and is material, we decline rather than disclose and proceed.
Evidence alongside conclusions
No written finding is presented without the supporting data visible in the same document. We do not separate evidence from conclusion.
Post-engagement feedback
Each engagement concludes with a structured feedback process. Responses are read by a principal and influence how we work subsequently.
Transparent Fees
What each engagement costs
All fees are in Malaysian Ringgit and are agreed before work begins. There are no additional charges within the defined scope.
Operational Diagnostic Brief
MYR 480
Two-week engagement
- Team conversations and data review
- Written brief under 30 pages
- Evidence-based findings
- No slide deck
Quarterly Advisory Companion
MYR 970
Per quarter, quarterly renewal
- Half-day on-site each quarter
- Two structured remote reviews
- Informal phone availability
- Written quarterly summary
Strategic Direction Review
MYR 1,850
Four to six weeks
- One operating review session
- Two strategy sessions
- Written brief delivered in person
- 30-day follow-up call included
Not sure which engagement is the right starting point?
Describe your situation briefly in the contact form — or call us directly. The initial conversation takes twenty minutes and carries no obligation.