Articles
Budgeting and forecasting is always a challenge—even in a stable environment. But it’s doubly difficult for organizations that are experiencing rapid growth.
09/06/2016
FP&A teams should spend more time advising management on strategy and less on lost-value work, according to new research from Adaptive Insights.
09/01/2016
By working closely with operations, FP&A can identify key business drivers, help pinpoint savings and growth opportunities, and ensure business leaders execute the plan.
09/01/2016
Employee retirement plans have some hidden risks that aren’t always obvious. What’s a CFO or treasurer to do?
09/01/2016
SWIFT has revealed that there have been more successful cyberattacks on its member banks, resulting in fraudulent payments instructions being sent across its network. Could corporations be next?
08/31/2016
The confluence of external pressures, technological advances and the shifting role of FP&A is bringing the function to an inflection point.
08/31/2016
Markets have recovered since the Brexit referendum vote. But treasury and finance executives must be prepared for the worst -- especially those with business in the EU, says economist Nouriel Roubini.
08/30/2016
AFP's latest Executive Guide, underwritten by Chatham Financial, aims to support treasury practitioners in developing a strategy and policy to manage foreign exchange risk.
08/30/2016
Emerging market currencies are often more volatile than their G7 counterparts and their exchange rates are typically more sensitive to geopolitical and economic events.
08/29/2016
Although both instant payments and blockchain may seem to complement one another, their processes are more or less at odds.
08/29/2016
While more companies are trying to perfect the science of forecasting, there’s one thing that continues to stand in the way of making pure data-driven decisions: human nature.
08/26/2016
One word to describe today and tomorrow’s environment for treasurers might be chaotic. It’s such a negative word! If that’s too harsh, perhaps fragile will do.
08/25/2016
Mastering uncertainty is critical for finance executives. But is it even possible? AFP spoke with risk expert Nader Mousavizadeh.
08/24/2016
Computer scientist and AFP Annual Conference speaker Dr. Jennifer Golbeck explains why changing your passwords every six months is a bad idea -- and what treasury and finance professionals can do to improve their cybersecurity.
08/24/2016
It just got more expensive for corporate treasurers to keep their organization’s money in the UK. Royal Bank of Scotland announced last week that it would begin charging some corporate customers for holding their cash.
08/23/2016
Hyundai Capital America, Intellectual Ventures and World Vision International are finalists for the AFP 2016 Pinnacle Award, sponsored by Wells Fargo & Company.
08/23/2016
There’s constant pressure on the CFO from the CEO to do better. To Innovate. To transform the finance organization into both a leaner and a more forward looking analytics hub that provides insight and foresight to the enterprise.
08/22/2016
Analytics and big data provide many new opportunities for working capital optimization. But three key obstacles must be addressed to get your working capital analytics efforts on track.
08/18/2016
Finance transformation is making a fast comeback. According to new research conducted by APQC, CFOs are keenly aware of the need to improve the finance function.
08/18/2016
With money market fund reform less than two months away, the chances that the floating net asset value (NAV) could still be repealed are slim. Nevertheless, with the cost of funding steadily increasing for U.S. businesses, AFP is making one final push.
08/17/2016
It wouldn’t be the Annual Conference without AFPAware Community Service Day, sponsored by BBVA Compass. Every year, AFP partners with organizations committed to corporate and social responsibility.
08/17/2016
Eight of the world’s largest banks announced have formed a group to combat cyberthreats. Meanwhile, SWIFT is launching a new campaign aimed at increasing awareness of the existing security features in its interface products.
08/16/2016
While there has been a lot of talk about how much cash will move out of prime money market funds before October 15, talking about exiting prime funds and actually doing it are different things.
08/15/2016
Growing volatility in the business environment, cost pressures and a new focus on enterprise performance is sparking a renewed interest in how to best organize the FP&A function.
08/11/2016
Ask Gideon Rachman for his thoughts on the Brexit vote and he’ll give you an earful. The London-based journalist also has plenty to say about Donald Trump, geopolitical risk and more. That should come as no surprise, given that Rachman is chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times.
08/11/2016
Introducing an innovative cash flow funding and forecasting model, which can improve management focus on cash. It’s the kind of detail that should be used as a common language between the group CFO and the business units.
08/10/2016
How much cash will move out of prime money market funds before October? It's hard to say, but it is unlikely that there will be a large change in balances from prime from our short-term/operating cash investors.
08/09/2016
Why are finance professionals being asked to do more? Because of finance’s connection to business results, it is increasingly seen as strategic business partner.
08/09/2016
At the Executive Institute at the 2016 AFP Annual Conference, experts will provide attendees with insights into how they can obtain an optimal capital structure.
08/08/2016
Considering sending your team to AFP Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, this October? Anthony Scaglione, CTP, EVP and CFO of ABM Industries, already has signed up several members of his team. That’s because he believes AFP Annual is a great investment on training and education.
08/08/2016
ISO 20022 appears to be the gateway to achieving universal standardization for payments. However, there are currently different versions of it in use all over the world. That’s clearly not a standard.
08/04/2016
Treasurers are constantly seeking new ways to improve operations and streamline workflows. One of the most effective solutions, multilateral netting, actually is an ageless classic that can add real economic value.
08/04/2016
Many treasurers are breathing a collective sigh of relief with the news that the Treasury Department is working to carve out cash pooling arrangements from its proposed changes to section 385 of the Internal Revenue Code.
08/03/2016
It’s not easy moderating a panel of high-powered global thinkers and leaders. But that’s the task at hand for David Gregory, author, ex-White House political correspondent and former host of Meet the Press. Gregory will moderate the Sunday keynote session at the AFP Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., on October 23.
08/02/2016
Sweetgreen has gone cashless at some of its locations. If the move is successful, more retailers could follow suit, potentially making life easier for their treasury groups.
08/01/2016
Treasury should not only be measured by looking at P&L statements or balance sheet figures. The best way to measure treasury’s day-to-day activities is by using key performance indicators (KPIs).
07/29/2016
AFP recently interviewed Ron Dimon, a director with Deloitte and an expert on enterprise performance management. Dimon and FP&A Manager Bradley Page of Archer Daniels Midland will lead a session about EPM and value mapping at AFP Annual Conference.
07/28/2016
Mariam Lamech, director, survey research for AFP, discusses the results of the July 2016 AFP Corporate Cash Indicators® (AFP CCI). The latest results show American businesses hoarding cash at a far quicker pace than previous quarters.
07/28/2016
The impact of the Brexit vote in the U.K. continues to roil treasury. This time, treasury professionals feeling the pain work for non-governmental organizations, or NGOs.
07/27/2016
As the role of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) expands, and the importance of soft skills rises, there should be some official recognition that technical skills only go so far. If executives cannot tell their story and influence decisions, they are not doing their jobs.
07/26/2016