Online articles
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Displaying 1-40 of 45 results
Exclusive
How can managers help teams combat change exhaustion?
- Article
- 01 Mar 2024
- Mollie West Duffy, Liz Fosslien
Advice on what managers should be doing to handle employee 'change fatigue' from too many organizational changes. The authors suggest acknowledging the discomfort that comes with change, devising a plan in the face of uncertainty, and adopting set rituals as a team.
Exclusive
Managing financial services relationships
- Article
- 01 Dec 2023
- Daniel Butcher
The CFOs of 180 Life Sciences and Healthcare Triangle offer tips for working well with banking partners and navigating M&A. They suggest ways of conducting due diligence when choosing an investment banker to partner with. They also cover M&A best practices and pitfalls to avoid and recommend questions the CFO needs to ask banking/financial services partners.
Exclusive
The power of storytelling in the finance function
- Article
- 01 Jun 2023
- Daniel Butcher
The CFOs of RGP and Paychex provide tips for finance professionals to improve their communication skills through storytelling. Start with analysis and interpretation to get an accurate view of the data, then weave an insightful financial narrative adapted to your audience. A storytelling sklll set can be used many ways - within presentations, meetings, reports or just everyday interactions.
Exclusive
Exploring the future of controllership
- Article
- 01 May 2023
- Kate Gates, Katie Glynn, Beth Kaplan
Find the right path to transformation to realize the full value from the evolving role of the controllership function. The article reports on insights from an IMA and Deloitte report, 'Stepping into the Future of Controllership', which involved a global survey and interviews with experienced finance and accounting leaders.
Exclusive
Changing environment
- Article
- 01 May 2023
- Antoinette Alexander
Many accounting firms are reflecting on the wins and challenges they've faced in a remote work environment and are recalibrating their operating model to effectively manage a remote, or in many cases hybrid, workforce. The article takes a look at why it is important to provide staff with remote opportunities and then dives into the best practices that firms are employing to drive success.
Exclusive
Meet the CA: Fiona Dixon CA
- Article
- 01 Apr 2023
- Hannah Tattersall
An interview with Fiona Dixon CA, advisory partner at HLB Mann Judd in Australia, where she has set up the firm's transformation division. She specialises in business transformation, using AI and bots to create efficiencies across the organisation. The article also covers software that can assist with building a bot and how accountants can go about developing their tech skills.
Exclusive
Can finance teams develop software?
- Article
- 01 Dec 2022
- Jun Liu
Solutions architect Jun Liu explains how finance professionals can be empowered to drive digital transformation and boost productivity through using low-code application platforms. Common functions in low-code app platforms include a form builder, workflow engine and data intelligence to build custom analytics. Finance professionals can now develop their own applications within days.
Exclusive
The value of connectors
- Article
- 01 Dec 2022
- Romana L. Autrey, Tim Bauer, Kevin E.Jackson, Elena Klevsky, Margaret Shackell
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
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
Becoming a trusted business partner
- Article
- 01 Nov 2022
- Rebecca G.Fay, Kenneth Herbst, Josh Lobs, Norma R.Montague
The article discusses ways accountants can build their career in management accounting. Advice is given for developing the skills of a successful salesperson, as you will potentially need to influence and persuade both internal and external stakeholders in a variety of different situations. Four types of relationships that commonly exist in business partnerships are explained - Technical professional; Business friend; Dispensable business partner; Trusted business partner.
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The tech helping firms to manage their finances
- Article
- 01 Nov 2022
- Madeline Bennett
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
- Article
- 25 Oct 2022
- Craig Le Clair
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
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
Is your finance function agile?
- Article
- 01 Oct 2021
- Loreal Jiles
Tips on how to take an Agile approach for your finance function, with examples of Agile and Scrum in action in finance and accounting.
Exclusive
Smart manufacturing: Five strategies for smashing silos
- Article
- 01 Jun 2021
- Mo Abuali, Isaac Bennett
Article on the importance for manufacturers of breaking down silo walls as part of the transition to smart factories. Strategies include focusing on the value of data, fostering a culture of innovation, establishing a smart manufacturing steering committee, empowering digital change champions and making internal communications a change management priority
Exclusive
Avoiding corporate short-termism
- Article
- 01 Apr 2021
- Mark L. Frigo, Gregory V. Milano
Drawing on research from the Return Driven Strategy Initiative, this article considers how CFOs and finance organizations can help their companies to avoid excessive focus on short-term returns, and create greater long-term value.
Exclusive
Agile and scrum-based value delivery
- Article
- 01 Jan 2021
- Loreal Jiles
Strategic Finance magazine investigates how finance and accounting teams are adapting the agile scrum framework to quickly and efficiently develop projects and products of all kinds. Examples include financial planning and budgeting, finance operations and project management and analytics.
Exclusive
Managing and building remote finance teams
- Article
- 01 Oct 2020
- Paul McDonald
The article looks at how many accounting and finance leaders keep their teams safe, maintain high productivity levels, and further build remote teams during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exclusive
Finance's role in recruitment
- Article
- 01 Sep 2020
- Daniel Butcher
CFOs grapple with issues such as the gender pay gap and parental leave to attract and retain skilled finance professionals. Joseph Hayek, CFO of
Worthington Industries, and Scott Haralson, CFO of Spirit Airlines, discuss the HR, recruitment, and hiring trends and challenges related to management accounting and the finance function.
Exclusive
Lessons learnt from COVID-19: Building a resilient finance function
- Article
- 20 Jul 2020
- Vaida Lapinskiene, EY
Vaida Lapinskiene of EY discusses how circumstances are forcing businesses to transform their finance function to manage the challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Exclusive
AI and the accounting function
- Article
- 01 Mar 2020
- Rossen Petkov
In this paper the authors evaluate the current ability of the accounting function to accommodate the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in an organisation. Accounting tasks that can utilise AI are looked at and a framework for AI in the accounting function is discussed.
Exclusive
The changing role of the CFO: being the leader of the finance function is more complicated than ever.
- Article
- 01 Dec 2019
- Daniel Butcher
Article looks at two CFOs who discuss how their role has changed, particularly with reference to technology and robotic process automation.
Exclusive
Lessons from CFO teams in Japan
- Article
- 01 Nov 2019
- Chie Ikegawa, Nina Michels-Kim
The article discusses the findings of a survey of Japanese CFOs, which indicated that involving CFO teams in management accounting and strategic financial planning may lead to increased profit margins.
Exclusive
Six shortcuts to the finance business partnering mindset
- Article
- 01 Aug 2019
- Andrew Jepson
The best finance business partners are able to translate the finance world into something useful for non-finance folk and help them understand, with measured and objective views, the issues facing a business.
Exclusive
CFOs: How to enable finance as a business partner
- Article
- 20 Mar 2019
- Neil James
How to use the integrated business planning (IBP) approach to support finance business partnering in your organisation. IBP can be used in various elements of performance appraisal by the finance business partner, such as budgetary control, alignment of KPIs and risk management.
Exclusive
Maintaining relevance in the digital age
- Article
- 30 Apr 2018
- Raef Lawson, Larry R White
The article discusses the need for the management accounting profession to refocus on providing actionable cost information to support internal decision making, or risk becoming obsolete, in the face of technological change.
Exclusive
The seven deadly sins for private equity CFOs
- Article
- 01 Apr 2018
- Nick Leopard, Rishi Jain, Neel Bhatia
An exploration of the key mistakes often made by chief financial officers (CFOs) after a private equity (PE) firm acquires their company, and how these common pitfalls may be avoided.
Exclusive
The transformers
- Article
- 01 Oct 2016
- Josh Hyatt
The article discusses how finance executives can lead a technology-driven transformation within the finance of businesses. A recent study of 156 senior finance executives at U.S. companies, titled "The Finance Function's Readiness for Change," conducted by CFO Research in collaboration with WNS, found how far companies have to go before they can consider key aspects of their finance function worthy of being labeled as developed.
Exclusive
Action plan for CFO with new PE owner
- Article
- 01 Oct 2016
- Nick Leopard
The article presents five steps that a portfolio company chief financial officer (CFO) should take during the first year with a new private equity (PE) sponsor, to ensure financial efficiency.
Exclusive
More strategic CFOs?
- Article
- 01 Apr 2016
- Paul A. Sharman
Chief financial officers can use corporate performance management software to make informed strategic decisions.
Exclusive
Get in gear
- Article
- 01 Apr 2016
- Allen Schiff, Jonathan Schiff
Team up with HR and IT to transform the future of finance, suggest the authors. They look at examples of businesses who have taken a functional integration approach, and provide a list of steps towards increased cross-skilling and communication between the Finance, HR and IT functions.
Exclusive
Everyday masterpiece
- Article
- 01 May 2015
- Anand Patel
Anand Patel, retail finance director at Halfords, shares his team's vision to be the best finance team in Britain, which led to the team being awarded Best Blue Chip Finance team of 2015 at Financial Director's Business Finance Awards.
Exclusive
Lean leadership: Coaching to connect the dots
- Article
- 01 May 2015
- Joseph Casey, Denis Wuestman
Using Lean leadership techniques to offer coaching to your employees can deliver measurable business results, giving staff a continuous improvement mind-set towards their work.
Exclusive
Special operations
- Article
- 01 Mar 2015
- Chris Schmidt
Results from a CFO Research Survey investigating how a high-performing finance operations function can add value throughout a company.
Exclusive
What's in your leadership toolbox?
- Article
- 01 Mar 2015
- Barbara Tarasovich
Finance teams have been moving from counting wealth and policing compliance to creating wealth and strategy, so they need to broaden and upgrade some of their skills. The authors present their framework to help finance executives develop their leadership abilities.
Exclusive
Market cues
- Article
- 01 Dec 2013
- Tim Gacsal
It's time the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) took a cue from the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), says Tim Gascal. He gives tips for finance-marketing function collaboration.
Exclusive
Business partnering is a state of mind
- Article
- 01 Jun 2012
The finance function in Whitehall is coming out of the back office and into the board room. Anat Arkin reports on a Deloitte/Public Finance magazine round table event discussing business partnering in the public sector.
Exclusive
Transforming talent at Whirlpool
- Article
- 01 May 2011
- Mark L.Frigo, John D.Rapp, Roy W.Templin
How Whirlpool CFO Roy Templin set out to build a world-class finance function by focusing on talent development and employee engagement. He began by hiring J.D.Rapp, a senior finance employee with a strong background in Six Sigma.
Exclusive
Finance flies high
- Article
- 01 Oct 2009
- Bridget Lyons, Barbara Tarasovich
How Unilever redesigned its finance function to build brand value and drive growth.
Exclusive
Partnering for success
- Article
- 01 Oct 2009
Finance professionals should be embedded in the business and can influence successful outcomes to the business. Finance business partners are moving out of the finance arena and working alongside operational managers to understand the business.
Displaying 1-40 of 45 results
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