Strategy & operations
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With shrinking budgets, finance spending goes to new tech
As companies attempt to curb spending in advance of an unpredictable economy, finance teams continue pooling resources to implement the newest tech, a Hackett Group study found.
By Jane Thier • Feb. 18, 2020 -
OpinionLearning from P-Card pitfalls to improve the payment process
You risk diluting the benefits of e-payments if you adopt a system too hastily and cause integration problems.
By Matt Clark • Feb. 17, 2020 -
CFO uses forums to get tough love from customers
Life sciences payments company Greenphire is using unfiltered customer feedback to improve its software, CFO Sue Vestri says.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 12, 2020 -
How can CFOs curb employee turnover rates?
The bottom line of replacing an employee far exceeds the cost of upping an existing employee's compensation. What is the CFO's role in improving retention?
By Jane Thier • Feb. 12, 2020 -
Under Armour forecasts up to $60M revenue hit from coronavirus disruptions
The outbreak also puts at risk supply chain improvements that CFO Dave Bergman talked about on the company's fourth quarter earnings call.
By Emma Cosgrove • Feb. 12, 2020 -
M&A: Integration is in, holding companies are out
Setting up a holding company for an acquisition that expands the scope of a company's business might make sense temporarily, but integration can make a better long-term solution.
By Ted Knutson • Feb. 11, 2020 -
Wyndham Hotels CFO moves to XPO Logistics
David Wyshner, who will start as finance chief on March 2, joins the supply chain provider amid its exploration of a potential sale or spinoff of its business units.
By Jane Thier • Feb. 11, 2020 -
Machine learning is nearly ubiquitous in finance, even if you don't know it
Many cloud-based finance and accounting functions already use AI that helps produce more accurate numbers than you otherwise could.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 11, 2020 -
Deep DiveCFO in the Know: Getting acquired in a 'snack-eat-snack' market
Small food companies often form in hopes of acquisition by giants like Hershey or Mondelez. How can CFOs best help their companies prepare for such large-scale acquisitions?
By Jane Thier • Feb. 11, 2020 -
CFO embeds team members outside finance to improve analysis, morale
The organization of your finance team can help you separate the noise from the signal, Eventbrite CFO Lanny Baker says.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 10, 2020 -
OpinionYou've set the budget and it's Q1. Now what?
Monthly forecasting exercises offer CFOs 12 chances to perfect their plan. Here's how to get the most out of them.
By Jason Lin • Feb. 09, 2020 -
UBS global wealth management CAO replaces CFO
Amid a strategy overhaul announced last month, UBS is expected to cut the jobs of 500 senior wealth management employees.
By Jane Thier • Feb. 09, 2020 -
Survey: 60% of procurement leaders site risk from lack of financial transparency
Respondents in a Basware survey reported a direct correlation between their level of transparency and the success of their business.
By Morgan Forde • Feb. 07, 2020 -
Pods enable CFO to keep drug manufacturing costs down
AVROBIO hopes to offer drug therapy for a disorder that can cost $14M over a lifetime to treat. CFO Erik Ostrowski is doing his part by raising capital and practicing frugality.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 06, 2020 -
A consultancy CFO's No. 1 KPI
According to Halloran Consulting's Tania Zieja, there is one KPI that is vital for finance, accounting and HR.
By Jane Thier • Feb. 06, 2020 -
Reimbursement plans seen as cost-saving alternative to group insurance
Federal rules allowing companies to give employees money to buy their health insurance in the individual market just took effect.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 05, 2020 -
Merck joins peers in spinning off lower growth drugs
Merck expects to receive up to $9 billion through a tax-free dividend and realize more than $1.5 billion in operating efficiencies by spinning out women's health and legacy drugs into a new company.
By Jacob Bell • Feb. 05, 2020 -
Financial automation a must-have, CFO says
To stay competitive, companies must begin deploying technologies that can help them scale operations as their business grows, a survey shows.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 04, 2020 -
2020 trends: Middle market CFOs ready to spend on growth
Few CFOs think the economy will become an issue requiring them to take a defensive posture, a BDO survey finds.
By Robert Freedman • Feb. 02, 2020 -
Opinion2020 trends: What future-ready CFOs are thinking about
Qualitative analyses, sustainable investment, inclusive hiring, shortened supply chains and business response plans are among the priorities forward-looking CFOs will put in place in 2020.
By Anthony Coletta • Jan. 30, 2020 -
82% of workers want financial updates from CFOs
Across industries, sharing financial performance information with employees results in more trust, loyalty and better workplace culture, a Robert Half survey finds.
By Jane Thier • Jan. 30, 2020 -
Making early-pay access a thing
Scot Parnell is deploying his financial services experience to help a startup evangelize a radical idea: let employees access their earned income as needed.
By Robert Freedman • Jan. 30, 2020 -
How Lush ditched manual invoicing for automated accounts payable
Before 2017, the skincare company printed hundreds of thousands of supplier invoices annually. Now 92% of invoices are touchless.
By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 30, 2020 -
2020 M&A trends: 'Scope' deals to take center stage
Deals that move companies into new business areas have a spotty record of success, but companies aren't deterred from making them the centerpiece of their M&A strategy this year.
By Robert Freedman • Jan. 29, 2020 -
When forecasts are misaligned
Coordinating plans across finance, operations, procurement and logistics can be a challenge, especially at large businesses. A central forecasting team can help.
By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Jan. 28, 2020
