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Finance transformation

Taking your finance department to the next level with the latest thinking, articles and case studies in the finance world.
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Latest on finance transformation

Read our latest features and articles on finance transformation topics, including change management, business partnering and finance function effectiveness.
How to solve the productivity conundrum
  • Article
  • 09 Jan 2023
While weak productivity is a contemporary international phenomenon, the British case is particularly acute. We ask what UK business can do to help reverse the trend.
How Edinburgh airport got ahead of the game with TCFD disclosures
  • Article
  • 14 Dec 2022
Highly commended at the 2022 Finance for the Future Awards for its integrated approach, Edinburgh Airport has made great strides in its non-financial reporting, treating sustainability with the same rigour as finance.
CFOs need to walk the walk on ESG
  • Article
  • 05 Dec 2022
A survey of global finance leaders by A4S finds that companies have high awareness of sustainability issues, but significant work is still needed to translate ambition into action.
How can local authority finance teams make the audit process easier?
  • Article
  • 25 Nov 2022
What steps can local government finance teams take to cut the pain points in audit and pave the way for a smooth, productive process? Three experts provide their thoughts.
ICAEW: Cuts to public sector finance teams are “false economies”
  • Article
  • 22 Nov 2022
ICAEW describes investment in strong finance functions as “critical” to spending public money effectively amidst tight spending settlements for public bodies
The case for a local government simplified statement
  • Article
  • 17 Nov 2022
Sir Tony Redmond first recommended the idea of a simplified statement two years ago in his government-commissioned independent review. He explains why the concept is as valid now as it was then.
How small actions can lead to big results
  • Article
  • 15 Nov 2022
The principles of ‘everyday actions’ can transform business performance and help teams through financial challenges. Mitali Kelly ACA explains how.
International Stress Awareness Week: managing stress at work
  • Article
  • 10 Nov 2022
Experts in management, leadership and business transformation share the best practice for accountants when it comes to handling stress management.
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Topics in depth

Teamwork groups inclusive
Business partnering
Practical advice for those considering business partnering. Read our latest features and articles on business partnering.
Shoes and arrow
Change management
Our selection of books, articles and guides can help you implement change, get your team on board and create a culture of innovation.
Team meeting
Finance function effectiveness
Produce an efficient finance team.

Reports

Exclusive Special Report 69 - Effective collaboration
  • Report
  • 2020
Collaboration has been a trendy buzz word in business lexicon for some time now, but, as the pandemic has done with many other ‘nice-to-have’ skills, it has now become absolutely necessary to master. With your colleagues, business partners, suppliers and all other stakeholders more than likely working from home, and maybe even across different locations and time zones, effective collaboration is essential.
Exclusive Special Report 68 - Commercial insight
  • Report
  • 2020
This special report explores how to be more commercial to add value and generate profit for your firm.
Exclusive Special Report 66 - Managing change
  • Report
  • 2019
Change is inevitable, it is all around us. Brexit, political upheaval, increasing regulation and a growing protectionist agenda make it incredibly difficult to run your business. BAM are here to help, with our special report on managing change, we can help successfully guide you through inevitable change with our practical tips and hands on approach.
Special Report 66: Managing change
  • Report
  • 2019
Change is inevitable, it is all around us. Brexit, political upheaval, increasing regulation and a growing protectionist agenda make it incredibly difficult to run your business. BAM are here to help, with our special report on managing change, we can help successfully guide you through inevitable change with our practical tips and hands on approach.
The finance function: A framework for analysis
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2017
How does your finance function compare and how do you deal with the inherent tensions we highlight?
Finance in the broadest sense
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2016
Building effective finance functions is a key concern of organisations and finance professionals. At a time when many claim we face unprecedented challenges, Stanley Harding's 1963 lecture on the finance function reminds us that there are many lessons we can learn from history. This report reproduces the lecture in full and complements it with expert commentary.
Finance business partnering guide
  • Thought leadership report
  • 2014
Practical advice for those considering business partnering initiatives and those looking to improve their approach.
Approach to budgeting and forecasting
  • Helpsheets and support
  • 2014
Most organisations spend significant time and resources on budgeting and forecasting activities.
More reports

Webinars

The role of finance in achieving net zero
  • Video
  • 08 Dec 2022
Kevin Berryman, CFO of professional technical services company Jacobs discusses his passion for sustainability, and the role of the finance function in addressing climate change.
Maintaining agility post coronavirus
  • Video
  • 22 Jul 2020
22 July 2020: Many businesses want to maintain their newly found agility as we emerge from the pandemic. How can they achieve this?
Manage change effectively
  • Webinar
  • 01 May 2019
This webinar explores how a reaction to change can impact an individual’s wellbeing and the difference having a positive mindset can make. It provides an opportunity to discuss how to accept or adjust to change and how to be open to the opportunities that change can bring.
Future proof your finance function
  • Webinar
  • 21 Mar 2017
How will engagement with technology and process automation affect the finance function in future?
Exclusive Effective business partnering
  • Webinar
  • 20 Nov 2013
A webinar for business partners on the finance function and how to contribute more to your company.
More webinars

eBooks

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.

Exclusive Changing your group structures
  • eBook
  • 2014
  • Gareth Miles, Paul Mudie, Nilufer von Bismarck
  • ICSA Publishing
Looks at the challenges involved in corporate restructuring, recapitalisation and large-scale change management.
Exclusive Woman's place is in the boardroom, A: the roadmap
  • eBook
  • 2008
  • Peninah Thomson, Jacey Graham, Tom Lloyd
  • Palgrave MacMillan
Guide to promoting women in the workplace.
Exclusive Complete CFO handbook: from accounting to accountability, The
  • eBook
  • 2008
  • Frank J. Fabozzi | Pamela Peterson Drake | Ralph S. Polimeni
  • John Wiley and Sons
An overview of cost accounting for financial executives.
Exclusive Women in business: the changing face of leadership
  • eBook
  • 2008
  • Patricia Werhane, Margaret Posig, Lisa Gundry, Laureal Ofstein, Elizabeth Powell
  • Greeenwood
Describes the process of increasing gender diversity in leadership positions.
Exclusive Change 2.0: beyond organisational transformation
  • eBook
  • 2008
  • Joachim Klewes, Ralf Langen
  • Springer
Consultants, managers and academics share their experience and insights on change communication.
Exclusive Finance director's handbook
  • eBook
  • 2007
  • Glynis Morris | Sonia McKay | Andrea Oates
  • CIMA Publishing
Guide to the duties of modern finance directors.
Terms of use

You are permitted to access, download, copy, or print out content from eBooks for your own research or study only, subject to the terms of use set by our suppliers and any restrictions imposed by individual publishers. Please see individual supplier pages for full terms of use.

More eBooks

Business press

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Exclusive The value of connectors
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2022
  • Romana L. Autrey, Tim Bauer, Kevin E.Jackson, Elena Klevsky, Margaret Shackell
  • Strategic Finance
Team members who act as 'connectors' can help reduce employee turnover, according to a new research study. The authors take a look at the traits and skills of connectors and the implications for teamwork in the finance function.
Exclusive Why automating finance is just an integration game
  • Article
  • 08 Nov 2022
  • Marc Ambasna-Jones
  • Computer Weekly
Marc Ambasna-Jones looks at how the software that powers finance departments can help businesses navigate the worsening economic climate. The article discusses 'hyperautomation', an approach involving rapidly automating as many processes as possible using technology such as robotic process automation (RPA), low-code application platforms (LCAP), artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual assistants.
Exclusive The tech helping firms to mange their finances
  • Article
  • 01 Nov 2022
  • Madeline Bennett
  • Computer Weekly
The article discusses how, with a worsening economic climate, software has an important role in helping finance departments control budgets with technology that helps CFOs not only predict, forecast and plan, but also apply automation to reduce manual finance tasks. Artificial intelligence and Machine Learning plays a big part in this.
Exclusive Improving finance and accounting software software
  • Article
  • 25 Oct 2022
  • Craig Le Clair
  • Computer Weekly
Article explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving operations in finance and accounting (F&A). The F&A processes that may be empowered by AI technology include audit analytics, order to cash, procure to pay and financial planning. The areas in which AI in F&A needs further development include contract analytics, accounts reconciliation, automated closing and expense management.
Exclusive Three mindset shifts to achieve autonomous finance
  • Article
  • 01 Oct 2022
  • Dennis Gannon
  • Strategic Finance
CFOs need to adjust their thinking in three key ways to fully embrace the set of technologies needed for autonomous finance, says Dennis Gannon. He explains the technology use cases in autonomous (rather than automated) finance and how CFOs can 'lead from the front' in digital upskilling.
Exclusive Q&A: Four business leaders on their 4-day workweek pilot plans
  • Article
  • 22 Jun 2022
  • Matthew Finnegan
  • Computerworld Digital Magazine
Seventy UK SMEs are experimenting with a four-day work week, as part of a six-month trial coordinated by the non-profit 4 Day Week Global and think tank Autonomy. Executives from four of the firms talk to Computerworld magazine about their aims, how they will manage the change, and potential challenges they expect to face.
More articles

External resources

Being the best: Inside the intelligent finance function
  • KPMG International
For its 2013 survey, KPMG surveyed approximately 440 CFOs and other senior finance executives on how finance functions are adapting to emerging business challenges.
Business partnering: Optimising corporate performance
  • Robert Half
To investigate how companies are benefiting from business partnering, Robert Half surveyed 1,000 Finance Directors across the UK and Europe. The resulting 2013 report covers three areas: finance in transformation, the finance skills gap and business partnering in action.
Change management and agility
  • CIPD
A collection of resources on change management from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which includes practical advice, research reports and podcasts.
Finance business partnering: Less than the sum of the parts
  • Deloitte
Deloitte 2014 report investigating the challenges and opportunities faced by CFOs in relation to decision support and business partnering, using input from 75 senior UK finance executives.
Finance matters: Finance function of the future
  • PwC
PWC paper from 2013 considering how to prepare finance teams for the future. The paper examines existing trends in the sector and looks forward to 2030.
Key competencies for finance business partnering
  • Financial Management
Article providing advice for aspiring finance business partners, covering key competencies and skills to learn. Raju Venkataraman, former CFO and Head of Strategy and Business Development for Disney in Southeast Asia, shares his experience of finance business partnering with sales.
Managing change
  • Atom Content Management
A guide to managing change for businesses, covering driving change, prioritising change, preparing for change, selling the change, implementing change and creating a culture of change.
The Deloitte Finance Benchmark: Getting back to growth
  • Deloitte
Deloitte's Finance Benchmark survey, conducted with 216 organisations in 2015. The survey identifies important opportunities for the finance function and highlights examples of current good practice.
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