Challenger bank hires first CFO as it ramps up growth

Minneapolis-based Branch seeks to grow its reach by taking a workplace-first approach, new CFO Brian Whalen says. 

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 27, 2020

Biggest new CFO priority? User experience.

As AI migrates closer to the mainstream, finance may be tasked with ensuring a positive user experience. But where does that leave the traditional CFO?

By Jane Thier • Feb. 27, 2020

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Digital transformation, one smart step at a time

As pricing pressures tighten margins and technologies like artificial intelligence evolve, finance chiefs are more closely scrutinizing the cost and returns of the tech tools they implement.

By CFO Dive staff

As XBRL in financial reporting matures, focus is on accuracy

The ability to increase financial transparency with machine-readable tags is improving, but few means are in place to ensure data quality. 

By Ted Knutson • Feb. 25, 2020

Study: AI to play 'major role' in fraud prevention, consumer experience

A KPMG study found despite the time-consuming and often challenging deployment process, every company should take the time to invest and implement AI.

By Jane Thier • Feb. 23, 2020

The 'dark web' a fraud risk factor to financial data

Data like stolen credit and debit cards, including personal and corporate cards, are quick to show up on the dark web, said Emily Wilson of Terbium Labs.

By Jane Thier • Feb. 20, 2020

Catching rogue staff before they cost your enterprise a bundle

You can expect a cash leakage of up to 5% of revenue if your security system is built around little more than periodic audits, a security specialist says. 

By Robert Freedman • Feb. 20, 2020

Learning 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

The problem with planning: Knowing when to turn down new tech

The influx of innovative tech designed to modernize the finance function has made it harder than ever to discern what's best for your company. How can CFOs make the distinction?

By Jane Thier • Feb. 13, 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

You'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. 9, 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. 6, 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. 4, 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

How to combine external data with AI to improve forecasting

Understanding the external factors that affect business can mean the difference between revenue gains and value destruction.

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 26, 2020

AI enables biopharma CFO to reduce costs while trials underway

CFO Richard Steinhart can tout the company's efficient use of funds as he meets with potential investors and partners. 

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 23, 2020

Office workers' dislike of data entry aligns with CFO goals

Workers say routine tasks like data entry and filing documents eats into their productivity, an opportunity robotic process automation vendors want to seize. 

By Roberto Torres • Jan. 21, 2020

How to make small-dollar renewals worthwhile

If you have a lot of contracts facing expiration, a technology process can make their renewal more cost effective. 

By Nick McMenemy • Jan. 20, 2020

CFO touts simplified biopharma cap structure

Capital transparency helps investors measure the performance of a $60M clinical-stage company. 

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 16, 2020

Why your organization needs finance-governed analytics

CFOs are the ideal internal champions to create governed analytics strategies that extend planning and reporting capabilities beyond finance into sales, marketing, operations and HR.

By Bill Koefoed and Scott Stern • Jan. 14, 2020

RPA adoption key to attracting young finance talent

Working nights and on weekends to close the books was the norm 20 years ago. In the age of automation, young professionals demand better.

By Jane Thier • Jan. 9, 2020

New CFO takes over Amazon's AWS division

Sean Boyle is out as CFO of AWS, but will remain with the company, while Luis Visoso, head of finance for Amazon's global consumer segment, takes Boyle's place. 

By Jane Thier • Jan. 8, 2020

SEC can't force Telegram to reveal its bank records, judge rules

The encrypted messaging app won't have to reveal how it spent $1.7 billion, but it must prove by Thursday that it complies with foreign data privacy laws.

By Robert Freedman • Updated Jan. 9, 2020

Materiality, volatility key to identifying forecasting drivers

An FP&A expert shares thoughts on the budget line items worth paying close attention to in your forecasting. 

By Robert Freedman • Jan. 5, 2020

Ping CFO sees annual recurring revenue as 'the great normalizer'

The subscription-based cybersecurity firm has seen its ARR increase 23% year-over-year. 

By Robert Freedman • Dec. 17, 2019