Strategy & operations

Colonial hack a wake-up call to CFOs with legacy systems

Older systems leave finance and accounting operational data at risk of breach, security specialists say.

By Ted Knutson • May 14, 2021

Most companies increase spending on diversity training: survey

Roughly four in five companies are increasing their budgets for diversity training and for managing their performance in sustainable business practices, a OneStream Software survey found.

By Jim Tyson • May 13, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

Rolling forecasts

Learn how to improve your forecasting and decision-making by eliminating the artificial time horizon in this series of articles on rolling forecasts.

By CFO Dive staff

Bankers' main CFO gripe: lack of transparency

CFOs and their treasurers can get more from their banking relationships if they treat them more as partnerships than customer-seller transactions, banking specialists say.

By Ted Knutson • May 13, 2021

Only 20% of CFOs can forecast revenue, earnings beyond a year: survey

Even after the pandemic shock, most CFOs forgo effective scenario planning and more than half lack the ability to forecast revenue and earnings beyond six months, according to a Prophix Software survey.

By Jim Tyson • May 11, 2021

Lack of automation preventing efficient financial close: CFO survey

Due to ineffective processes and technology, 51% of CFO respondents to Trintech's Global Financial Close Benchmark Report cited meeting deadlines and time pressures as their biggest challenges this year.

By Jane Thier • May 11, 2021

Companies losing out as insurers skirt rebates

Health carriers are said to be strategically overestimating how much they use premiums to pay claims to avoid returning money to policyholders.

By Robert Freedman • May 11, 2021

Half of companies lack LIBOR phase-out plan: Duff & Phelps

Despite regulatory pressure, more than half of financial services firms have not determined when they will stop using LIBOR in new contracts, according to a Duff & Phelps survey.

By Jim Tyson • May 10, 2021

Sponsored by EY

Enhancing funding plans when there are a variety of options

CFOs are busy navigating a (surprisingly) expansive menu of capital raising alternatives, weighing the pros and cons of disparate markets.

By David Brown, Head of US Equity Capital Markets, Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC • May 10, 2021

Sponsored by BlackLine

AR intelligence: Providing new answers to old questions

BlackLine AR Intelligence optimizes working capital by boosting payment predictability and improving collections forecasting.

Companies ignoring ESG may become 'uninvestable,' says investment bank chief

Interest in sustainability goals is growing "enormously" and companies that ignore the trend risk rejection by investors, according to Larry Wieseneck, co-president of investment bank Cowen.

By Jim Tyson • May 07, 2021

Deep Dive

Up from the ashes: Restaurant CFOs prepare for boom

Profit-hungry restaurant CFOs blindsided by the pandemic get ready for robust economic growth, offering lessons for leaders in less-stressed industries.

By Jim Tyson • May 06, 2021

Rising inflation, higher taxes pose 'headwinds' to growth, Schenker says

Look for 'eye-popping inflation numbers' and 'horse trading' on taxes as potential economic drags, economist Jason Schenker says. 

By Jim Tyson • May 06, 2021

Zig Zag CFO ready to capitalize on cannabis

After weathering a tough period, Turning Point Brands has the resources to become a major presence as legalization expands across the country.

By Robert Freedman • May 05, 2021

'Gender bonds' empowering women likely to improve issuers' credit outlook: Moody's

Issuance of bonds tied to women’s economic empowerment will likely grow while boosting issuers’ credit standing, Moody’s said.

By Jim Tyson • May 05, 2021

Walmart gives suppliers option for early payment to help increase access to capital

The retailer is expanding its early payments program through a partnership with the financial technology company C2FO.

By A.B. Brown • May 05, 2021

PPP runs out of funds for most lenders

About $8 billion remains available through MDIs and CDFIs, the Small Business Administration told banking trade groups Tuesday. But the portal has largely stopped accepting applications, the American Bankers Association said.

By Dan Ennis • May 05, 2021

How CFOs and CEOs collaborate best

Both executives want strong performance, but the CEO often focuses on opportunities and potential, while the CFO emphasizes realism and honest risk assessment. How should they strike a balance?

By Jane Thier • May 04, 2021

ESG investing fails to outperform: study

ESG investing offers neither superior returns nor risk protection, and investors seeking outperformance are looking “in the wrong place,” a Scientific Beta study finds.

By Jim Tyson • May 04, 2021

Corporate inversions could return under Biden tax plan

Despite hurdles, companies could merge with a smaller foreign company and relocate outside the U.S. to avoid a big tax bite.

By Robert Freedman • May 04, 2021

Leveraging cash flow's multiplier effect on valuation

Most finance tools are optimized for GAAP but they can be made more effective for increasing company value by enabling better cash management, finance leaders say. 

By Robert Freedman • May 03, 2021

Biden climate policy poses credit risks for 'carbon-intensive' companies: Moody's

Biden administration plans for curbing climate change will increase credit risks for companies in carbon-intensive industries while creating business opportunities, Moody’s said.

By Jim Tyson • April 30, 2021

Can't get funding? It's likely not for the reason you're told

Don’t expect investment firms to be upfront about why they turn down your company, SafeGraph CEO Auren Hoffman says.

By Robert Freedman • April 30, 2021

Deutsche Bank posts strong quarter, OKs 3-day remote work: CFO

James von Moltke said the bank, going forward, intends to let employees work from home 40-60% of the time.

By Jane Thier • April 29, 2021

Multinationals reported $6.16B in negative forex exposure for Q4: study

A decline in negative foreign exchange impact during the fourth quarter was probably "the calm before the storm" that likely occurred during the first quarter of 2021, according to Kyriba.

By Jim Tyson • April 29, 2021

Biden plan would increase taxes on multinationals by $1.2 trillion over 10 years: study

Biden’s proposal to raise corporate taxes to fund $2 trillion in infrastructure spending would harm U.S. competitiveness, the Tax Foundation says.

By Jim Tyson • April 28, 2021