Articles
Top Treasury Tasks: Handling Debt and Capital Markets
As treasury’s role has become more strategic, functions such as debt issuance and conducting capital markets activities, which traditionally are under the purview of the CFO, have now fallen to treasury, according to the Strategic Role of Treasury Survey.
As treasury’s role has become more strategic, functions such as debt issuance and conducting capital markets activities, which traditionally are under the purview of the CFO, have now fallen to treasury, according to the Strategic Role of Treasury Survey.
03/19/2018
Understanding APIs and the Need for Standards
Much of the discussion at the NACHA Payments Innovation Alliance meeting in San Francisco focused on application programming interfaces (APIs), including standards.
Much of the discussion at the NACHA Payments Innovation Alliance meeting in San Francisco focused on application programming interfaces (APIs), including standards.
03/15/2018
4 Steps to Building a Gauge Diagram in Excel
Among the different ways to chart and visualize data, gauge indicators can show how a single measure compares against a set standard. Excel does not offer a ready-made gauge chart, so here is how you can make one yourself.
Among the different ways to chart and visualize data, gauge indicators can show how a single measure compares against a set standard. Excel does not offer a ready-made gauge chart, so here is how you can make one yourself.
03/14/2018
Blockchain May Have Weaknesses that Proponents Overlook
The attribute blockchain proponents consistently emphasize is its immutability. In reality, the technology is more mutable than advertised and carries unique risks.
The attribute blockchain proponents consistently emphasize is its immutability. In reality, the technology is more mutable than advertised and carries unique risks.
03/12/2018
Does Your Risk Management Strategy Address U.S. Sanctions?
When thinking about risk management strategies for your company in 2018, don’t forget about risks associated with U.S. sanctions compliance.
When thinking about risk management strategies for your company in 2018, don’t forget about risks associated with U.S. sanctions compliance.
03/12/2018
6 Steps to an Effective Financial Statement Analysis
For any financial professional, it is important to know how to effectively analyze the financial statements of a firm. There are generally six steps to developing an effective analysis of financial statements.
For any financial professional, it is important to know how to effectively analyze the financial statements of a firm. There are generally six steps to developing an effective analysis of financial statements.
03/09/2018
How to Build an Atmosphere of Fraud Prevention
Fraud prevention must be a team effort, involving payment and non-payment areas alike. No one can predict which angle, function, or individual will be the vulnerable area.
Fraud prevention must be a team effort, involving payment and non-payment areas alike. No one can predict which angle, function, or individual will be the vulnerable area.
03/08/2018
Vaporized: FP&A’s Role in Sizing the Downsized Company
The main question for FP&A is whether the perceived benefits of the conglomerate can be achieved in other ways without giving up strategic benefits.
The main question for FP&A is whether the perceived benefits of the conglomerate can be achieved in other ways without giving up strategic benefits.
03/07/2018
How Marsh & McLennan Strategically Invests in Its Finance Team
How Marsh & McLennan strategically invests in its finance team.
How Marsh & McLennan strategically invests in its finance team.
03/06/2018
Navigating the Top Tasks in Treasury
The latest Treasury in Practice guide, underwritten by GTreasury, explores the most crucial tasks in treasury at three key levels—assistant treasurer, treasury manager and treasury analyst.
The latest Treasury in Practice guide, underwritten by GTreasury, explores the most crucial tasks in treasury at three key levels—assistant treasurer, treasury manager and treasury analyst.
03/06/2018
Focus on the Strategic with a Self-Correcting Team
Executive Coach and BreakThrough Treasury & Finance keynote Sarah Levitt spoke to the AFP Conversations podcast about high-performing teams.
Executive Coach and BreakThrough Treasury & Finance keynote Sarah Levitt spoke to the AFP Conversations podcast about high-performing teams.
03/05/2018
NACHA Teaming With IFX to Create Standardized, Global APIs
NACHA and the IFX Forum are teaming up to further the development of standardized APIs that would support the global financial services industry.
NACHA and the IFX Forum are teaming up to further the development of standardized APIs that would support the global financial services industry.
03/01/2018
How the Beige Book's Trove of Anecdotal Evidence Can Help FP&A Pros
Patrick Harker, president of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, put it best: “Survey data is historical, while anecdotes give you a trend and insight to future.”
Patrick Harker, president of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, put it best: “Survey data is historical, while anecdotes give you a trend and insight to future.”
02/28/2018
The Traditional Budget: Dinosaur or Do-Over?
What role does the traditional budget, the antithesis of agile & flexible planning, play in the modern world of market disruption and volatility? Corporates shared their opinions at a recent industry event.
What role does the traditional budget, the antithesis of agile & flexible planning, play in the modern world of market disruption and volatility? Corporates shared their opinions at a recent industry event.
02/26/2018
Corporates Make Slow Return to Prime Money Funds
Treasury departments appear to be gradually warming up again to prime money market funds. But the funds may have lost their status as a primary vehicle for corporates to stash cash.
Treasury departments appear to be gradually warming up again to prime money market funds. But the funds may have lost their status as a primary vehicle for corporates to stash cash.
02/23/2018
Corporates Shouldn’t Sleep on PSD2
Europe has seen a lot of buzz and discussions around the Revised Payments Services Directive, or PSD2. It hasn’t received a whole lot of attention in the United States—but that soon may change. And it needs to.
Europe has seen a lot of buzz and discussions around the Revised Payments Services Directive, or PSD2. It hasn’t received a whole lot of attention in the United States—but that soon may change. And it needs to.
02/21/2018
Australia’s Real Time Payments System Released to the Public
Last week, real-time, data-rich payments were released to the public in Australia. With this launch, corporates and consumers all across Australia can now transfer funds instantly.
Last week, real-time, data-rich payments were released to the public in Australia. With this launch, corporates and consumers all across Australia can now transfer funds instantly.
02/20/2018
How FP&A and Investor Relations Intersect in Work and Career Pathways
FP&A and investor relations share a similar family tree, have elements that look the same, but maintain separate identities. They each have good information to offer each other that can make both parties better at their responsibilities. They also represent potential intertwining career paths and potentially broadening career development for the finance professional.
FP&A and investor relations share a similar family tree, have elements that look the same, but maintain separate identities. They each have good information to offer each other that can make both parties better at their responsibilities. They also represent potential intertwining career paths and potentially broadening career development for the finance professional.
02/20/2018
Treasurers, Who Is Your Amazon?
Who is your Amazon? What do you need to do to step up to the operational challenge and compete with the major players in your industry?
Who is your Amazon? What do you need to do to step up to the operational challenge and compete with the major players in your industry?
02/14/2018
Managing Gray Swan Events
AFP's new Executive Guide, underwritten by OpenLink, provides insights on how treasury and finance executives can address gray swan events.
AFP's new Executive Guide, underwritten by OpenLink, provides insights on how treasury and finance executives can address gray swan events.
02/13/2018
Shark Tank’s Daymond John to Keynote AFP 2018
Fans of ABC’s hit TV series Shark Tank won’t want to miss AFP 2018, as Daymond John is set to keynote the event.
Fans of ABC’s hit TV series Shark Tank won’t want to miss AFP 2018, as Daymond John is set to keynote the event.
02/12/2018
12 Practical Steps FP&A Can Take to Reduce Volatility
In times of volatility and stress, one role of FP&A is to lower the blood pressure of the organization.
In times of volatility and stress, one role of FP&A is to lower the blood pressure of the organization.
02/09/2018
How Effective is Data Visualization?
Are we presenting information in a way that enables decision-makers to instantly absorb the key points from the data we’ve amassed and make better decisions?
Are we presenting information in a way that enables decision-makers to instantly absorb the key points from the data we’ve amassed and make better decisions?
02/09/2018
The Equifax Breach Is a Wake-Up Call for Corporates
With the CFPB scaling back its probe of the Equifax breach, it's clear that the corporations themselves must be the ones to be proactive about protecting data.
With the CFPB scaling back its probe of the Equifax breach, it's clear that the corporations themselves must be the ones to be proactive about protecting data.
02/08/2018
How Can FP&A Assemble Its A-Team?
How can FP&A leaders identify, attract and hire the best talent?
How can FP&A leaders identify, attract and hire the best talent?
02/07/2018
Beyond the Huddle: Peyton Manning to Keynote AFP 2018
Five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning has been announced as a keynote speaker at AFP 2018.
Five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning has been announced as a keynote speaker at AFP 2018.
02/06/2018
NACHA, Accenture Team Up for API Standardization
NACHA and Accenture have joined forces to support API standardization across the U.S. payments system.
NACHA and Accenture have joined forces to support API standardization across the U.S. payments system.
02/05/2018
To Fly Like the Eagles, FP&A Professionals Must Trust Their Analytics
The Philadelphia Eagles' approach has significant implications for finance. We live in a time of new data and analytical techniques that can provide advantages if we know how to use them, and are brave enough to use them.
The Philadelphia Eagles' approach has significant implications for finance. We live in a time of new data and analytical techniques that can provide advantages if we know how to use them, and are brave enough to use them.
02/05/2018
Study: U.S. Firms May Be Willing to Deploy Cash
U.S. corporates may finally be ready to deploy cash, according to the latest AFP Corporate Cash Indicators®.
U.S. corporates may finally be ready to deploy cash, according to the latest AFP Corporate Cash Indicators®.
01/30/2018
What is the Key to FP&A and Winning the Super Bowl? Don't Beat Yourself.
How can your FP&A team make sure that your organization does not lose in the marketplace by beating itself or making unforced errors that lead to excess effort, time, cost, or sacrificed revenue?
How can your FP&A team make sure that your organization does not lose in the marketplace by beating itself or making unforced errors that lead to excess effort, time, cost, or sacrificed revenue?
01/30/2018
KYC: It’s Time to Put All Your Data in One Place
What would a centralized KYC repository look like and what problems could its implementation run into? Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Services at AFP dives into this idea.
What would a centralized KYC repository look like and what problems could its implementation run into? Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Services at AFP dives into this idea.
01/29/2018
Excel: Finance's Universal Language
Since the lates 1980s Excel has dominated the financial reporting landscape and the software shows no signs of wearing down.
Since the lates 1980s Excel has dominated the financial reporting landscape and the software shows no signs of wearing down.
01/29/2018
5 Ways FP&A Professionals Can Be Better Data Consumers
We ingest data, analyze and interpret it, then apply our business savvy to make it more useful, and then deliver that to the next person. But are we doing this well?
We ingest data, analyze and interpret it, then apply our business savvy to make it more useful, and then deliver that to the next person. But are we doing this well?
01/29/2018
3 Ways Budgets Guide and Reflect Your Organization’s Culture
A webinar discussing the results of the 2017 FP&A survey, How Relevant is Your Budget?, found that the budgeting process shapes and reflects the organizational culture in which it operates.
A webinar discussing the results of the 2017 FP&A survey, How Relevant is Your Budget?, found that the budgeting process shapes and reflects the organizational culture in which it operates.
01/26/2018
AFP Makes Recommendations for Same Day ACH Expansion
AFP has responded to NACHA’s request for comment on expanding Same Day ACH. AFP supports the expansion overall, but made some recommendations for how it could best benefit corporate end-users.
AFP has responded to NACHA’s request for comment on expanding Same Day ACH. AFP supports the expansion overall, but made some recommendations for how it could best benefit corporate end-users.
01/26/2018
Business Risk: A Top Concern for Finance Professionals
Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Service for AFP, discusses the results of the 2018 AFP Risk Survey, supported by Marsh & McLennan Companies’ Global Risk Center. Respondents to this year's survey were concerned with business risk.
Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Service for AFP, discusses the results of the 2018 AFP Risk Survey, supported by Marsh & McLennan Companies’ Global Risk Center. Respondents to this year's survey were concerned with business risk.
01/26/2018
IFRS 9 Offers Treasurers New Hedging Opportunities
With the New Year comes the new accounting standard for financial instruments, IFRS 9, which replaces the IAS 39 regulations.
With the New Year comes the new accounting standard for financial instruments, IFRS 9, which replaces the IAS 39 regulations.
01/25/2018
CTP Body of Knowledge Committee: Volunteers Needed
AFP is seeking experts to participate on the CTP Body of Knowledge Committee. The Committee has a vital role in the editorial process of The Essentials of Treasury Management.
AFP is seeking experts to participate on the CTP Body of Knowledge Committee. The Committee has a vital role in the editorial process of The Essentials of Treasury Management.
01/25/2018
Setting Your Risk Appetite Amid High Volatility
Organizations must establish their risk appetite as they plan around volatility. All businesses incur a degree of risk, but how much they want to take on varies heavily.
Organizations must establish their risk appetite as they plan around volatility. All businesses incur a degree of risk, but how much they want to take on varies heavily.
01/24/2018
Survey: Few Finance Pros Are Fully Prepared for Tech Risk
The 2018 AFP Risk Survey, supported by Marsh & McLennan Companies’ Global Risk Center, found that few finance professionals are preparing for technology risk.
The 2018 AFP Risk Survey, supported by Marsh & McLennan Companies’ Global Risk Center, found that few finance professionals are preparing for technology risk.
01/23/2018
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