Articles
Why Four Companies Use Driver Based Modeling
To address CFOs’ demands, more FP&A teams are incorporating driver-based modeling into their methodology.
To address CFOs’ demands, more FP&A teams are incorporating driver-based modeling into their methodology.
02/04/2016
Six Tips to Improve Your Firm’s Capital Allocation Process
How can financial planning and analysis (FP&A) help make sure companies make the right investment choices?
How can financial planning and analysis (FP&A) help make sure companies make the right investment choices?
02/03/2016
Building a Finance Team from the Ground Up
When Johnnie Goodner, CTP, joined JP Energy Partners four years ago, there was no finance team in place. So he had to build one from the ground up.
When Johnnie Goodner, CTP, joined JP Energy Partners four years ago, there was no finance team in place. So he had to build one from the ground up.
02/01/2016
BEC Scams: Again, Your Cyber Insurance Won’t Cover Them
A Houston-based oil and energy company learned the hard way that cyber insurance does not cover business email compromise (BEC) scams—but they aren’t taking it lying down.
A Houston-based oil and energy company learned the hard way that cyber insurance does not cover business email compromise (BEC) scams—but they aren’t taking it lying down.
01/26/2016
8 Ways FP&A Professionals Can Enhance Business Collaboration
As financial planning and analysis professionals increasingly shift their attention from everyday budgeting and forecasting to more strategic duties, the need to build strong business partnerships within the organization is growing.
As financial planning and analysis professionals increasingly shift their attention from everyday budgeting and forecasting to more strategic duties, the need to build strong business partnerships within the organization is growing.
01/25/2016
Working Cross-Functionally: A Must for Finance Pros
For today’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professional, working cross-functionally is a key part of the job. Just ask Gaileon Thompson, CTP, FP&A.
For today’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professional, working cross-functionally is a key part of the job. Just ask Gaileon Thompson, CTP, FP&A.
01/22/2016
Ten Things FP&A Can Do to Help the M&A Process
Most FP&A teams are involved in M&A, often working both with the deals’ sponsors and senior management to assess business and financial assumptions. Here are 10 ways FP&A can improve their companies’ M&A process.
Most FP&A teams are involved in M&A, often working both with the deals’ sponsors and senior management to assess business and financial assumptions. Here are 10 ways FP&A can improve their companies’ M&A process.
01/21/2016
It’s Time for Treasury to Treat Banks Like Any Other Vendor
Understand the importance of treating banks as any other corporate vendor in the context of cash management services, eliminating unnecessary differentiation.
Understand the importance of treating banks as any other corporate vendor in the context of cash management services, eliminating unnecessary differentiation.
01/20/2016
New Advisory Council to Help Guide AFP’s FP&A Efforts
The new FP&A Advisory Council will aid AFP’s staff in understanding current and developing areas of focus pertinent to FP&A.
The new FP&A Advisory Council will aid AFP’s staff in understanding current and developing areas of focus pertinent to FP&A.
01/14/2016
Two Innovative Ways Treasurers Can Expand Their Role
If you’re like most ambitious treasury professionals, you want to grow your career, expand your areas of responsibilities, and prove you can make a bigger impact on your company. But how?
If you’re like most ambitious treasury professionals, you want to grow your career, expand your areas of responsibilities, and prove you can make a bigger impact on your company. But how?
01/13/2016
CTP Exam Tips: Handling the Three Question Levels
An important fact to keep in mind about the CTP Exam questions is that there are three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced.
An important fact to keep in mind about the CTP Exam questions is that there are three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced.
01/12/2016
Treasurers: Here Are Two Strategies for Paying Bank Fees
There are two strategies a treasury department can pursue when determining how to pay their bank fees—fee or balance compensation.
There are two strategies a treasury department can pursue when determining how to pay their bank fees—fee or balance compensation.
01/08/2016
Three Considerations for Your Hedging Program
Entering into a hedge is, in effect, a pricing decision; so, too, is the decision not to enter a hedge.
Entering into a hedge is, in effect, a pricing decision; so, too, is the decision not to enter a hedge.
01/05/2016
Seven Ways Finance Can Counter Forecast Bias
While more companies are trying to perfect the science of forecasting with techniques like driver-based modeling and technology, there’s one thing that stands in the way of making pure data-driven decisions: human nature.
While more companies are trying to perfect the science of forecasting with techniques like driver-based modeling and technology, there’s one thing that stands in the way of making pure data-driven decisions: human nature.
12/31/2015
CTP Exam Tips: Taking the Test
Prepare for the CTP exam with valuable tips for the final weeks of study and what to expect during that period, ensuring optimal readiness.
Prepare for the CTP exam with valuable tips for the final weeks of study and what to expect during that period, ensuring optimal readiness.
12/30/2015
Why Same-Day ACH Will Change the Billing Game
At Verizon, ACH is a reliable play for collecting payments. But sometimes customers don't choose this option, and payment becomes less consistent and certain. This is when speed becomes critical.
At Verizon, ACH is a reliable play for collecting payments. But sometimes customers don't choose this option, and payment becomes less consistent and certain. This is when speed becomes critical.
12/29/2015
Best Practices in Driver-Based Modeling
Explore the adoption of driver-based modeling (DBM) by FP&A teams as a response to market volatility and the need for improved planning processes.
Explore the adoption of driver-based modeling (DBM) by FP&A teams as a response to market volatility and the need for improved planning processes.
12/17/2015
How to Hedge Exposure to the South African Rand
South Africa has become an attractive market for companies. Given how volatile the South African Rand (ZAR) can be, the impact on a company with ZAR exposure can be significant.
South Africa has become an attractive market for companies. Given how volatile the South African Rand (ZAR) can be, the impact on a company with ZAR exposure can be significant.
12/17/2015
Business Forecasting: The Real Pathway Toward Accuracy
Forecasts deal with the future, and in particular, the future expectations of people. So forecasting is not a mathematical process; it is a matter of humanities.
Forecasts deal with the future, and in particular, the future expectations of people. So forecasting is not a mathematical process; it is a matter of humanities.
12/16/2015
Finance: A Strategic Partner to Operations
Financial planning and analysis groups are increasingly called on to help operations achieve better process efficiency and make better investment decisions.
Financial planning and analysis groups are increasingly called on to help operations achieve better process efficiency and make better investment decisions.
12/16/2015
CTP Exam Tips: Studying for the Test
So you’ve committed to taking the CTP exam and created a learning plan to get through the chapters of the AFP Treasury Learning System. Now what?
So you’ve committed to taking the CTP exam and created a learning plan to get through the chapters of the AFP Treasury Learning System. Now what?
12/11/2015
Corporates Move to Repos in Response to Negative Rates
The ECB's decision to push deposit rates even further into negative territory is making short-term investment alternatives such as repurchase agreements more attractive.
The ECB's decision to push deposit rates even further into negative territory is making short-term investment alternatives such as repurchase agreements more attractive.
12/10/2015
Receivables Financing: Eliminating the Pain for Treasurers
Financing receivables can be an arduous administrative exercise for corporates. Yet the days of such troubles may soon be at an end.
Financing receivables can be an arduous administrative exercise for corporates. Yet the days of such troubles may soon be at an end.
12/09/2015
BEC Scams: What Treasurers Need to Know
In the new Treasury in Practice Guide, AFP provides you with the tools you need to stop business email compromise (BEC) scams before they start.
In the new Treasury in Practice Guide, AFP provides you with the tools you need to stop business email compromise (BEC) scams before they start.
12/08/2015
3 Principles to Help Treasurers Manage Volatile Cash Flows
Managing a company with volatile cash flows presents unique challenges. There are three key principles that treasury must consider.
Managing a company with volatile cash flows presents unique challenges. There are three key principles that treasury must consider.
12/07/2015
Keys to Negotiating Credit Facilities
Gain valuable insights and tips on securing and negotiating credit facilities from treasury executives at the 2015 AFP Annual Conference.
Gain valuable insights and tips on securing and negotiating credit facilities from treasury executives at the 2015 AFP Annual Conference.
12/07/2015
KYC: An Invasion of Privacy for Treasury and Finance
Banks are going to extremes over KYC regulations. Corporate treasury and finance professionals obviously want to comply, but are banks going too far?
Banks are going to extremes over KYC regulations. Corporate treasury and finance professionals obviously want to comply, but are banks going too far?
12/04/2015
Driver-Based Models: Defining the Mathematical Link
Learn about driver-based models and their role in expressing the mathematical link between key business drivers and financial performance.
Learn about driver-based models and their role in expressing the mathematical link between key business drivers and financial performance.
12/04/2015
Forecasting Tomorrow: 3 Challenges FP&A will Face in 2016
Explore the challenges that FP&A professionals will face in the areas of forecasting, business partnership, and talent management in the upcoming year.
Explore the challenges that FP&A professionals will face in the areas of forecasting, business partnership, and talent management in the upcoming year.
12/03/2015
A CFO’s Lament: ‘The 5 Mistakes I Would Not Repeat’
The best companies reward employees who share their mistakes, so that others don’t commit the same errors. You first need to make mistakes to learn from them.
The best companies reward employees who share their mistakes, so that others don’t commit the same errors. You first need to make mistakes to learn from them.
12/02/2015
CTP Exam Tips: Laying the Groundwork
When studying for the CTP Exam, it is crucial to create a plan of attack.
When studying for the CTP Exam, it is crucial to create a plan of attack.
12/02/2015
Dividend or Not? A Collaboration Between FP&A and Treasury
Oil companies insist on keeping their dividends untouched, despite a mega drop in their earnings. With investors reeling, at least this way they get income from their holdings.
Oil companies insist on keeping their dividends untouched, despite a mega drop in their earnings. With investors reeling, at least this way they get income from their holdings.
11/30/2015
EMIR Swap Requirements: Corporates Coalesce to Make Change
Stay informed about the concerns expressed by multinational corporations regarding current swap regulations and the potential elimination of their clearing exemption.
Stay informed about the concerns expressed by multinational corporations regarding current swap regulations and the potential elimination of their clearing exemption.
11/30/2015
Driver-Based Modeling: How to Build the Perfect Relationship
A driver-based model is only as good as the relationship between the input and the outcome. More companies are adopting this approach in their forecasting and planning processes.
A driver-based model is only as good as the relationship between the input and the outcome. More companies are adopting this approach in their forecasting and planning processes.
11/30/2015
Today’s Treasurer: The ‘Co-CFO’
Today's treasurers are required to work across all areas of the business—in a sense, acting like an alternate chief financial officer.
Today's treasurers are required to work across all areas of the business—in a sense, acting like an alternate chief financial officer.
11/24/2015
Accounting Challenges for Nonprofit Treasury and Finance
Treasury and finance professionals for nonprofits have to work with stakeholders who are often far more active and diverse than corporate stakeholders.
Treasury and finance professionals for nonprofits have to work with stakeholders who are often far more active and diverse than corporate stakeholders.
11/24/2015
Case Study: A True Global Notional Cash Pool
Discover how Marsh & McLennan Companies implemented a global multicurrency notional cash pool to centralize treasury management and enhance cash efficiency.
Discover how Marsh & McLennan Companies implemented a global multicurrency notional cash pool to centralize treasury management and enhance cash efficiency.
11/24/2015
How One Tech Giant Revamped its Treasury Infrastructure
With multiple bank accounts and treasury outposts, South African tech giant Altron knew it needed to change its treasury operating model.
With multiple bank accounts and treasury outposts, South African tech giant Altron knew it needed to change its treasury operating model.
11/23/2015
Negotiating Credit Agreements: Tips from Scotts Miracle-Gro
Scotts Miracle-Gro's assistant treasurer offers some best practices for negotiating and complying with credit agreements.
Scotts Miracle-Gro's assistant treasurer offers some best practices for negotiating and complying with credit agreements.
11/23/2015
How Hilton Improved its Liquidity Forecasting Capabilities
Learn how Hilton Worldwide improved its liquidity forecasting capabilities and won AFP's 2015 Pinnacle Grand Prize.
Learn how Hilton Worldwide improved its liquidity forecasting capabilities and won AFP's 2015 Pinnacle Grand Prize.
11/20/2015
Upskill, reskill and earn résumé-worthy competencies you can leverage throughout your career. Get started.