Articles
In 1975, 83% of the market value of S&P 500 companies was composed of tangible assets such as PPE (property, plant and equipment), inventory, cash, land or stuff you could touch. By 2020, that was down to 10%. The intangibles include goodwill, brand equity, licensing, customer lists, R&D, and intellectual capital assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, preference rights and data capabilities. They also include the value of human capital.
05/05/2023
Drawing on both his accounting background and finance experience, Pankaj Kabra, Senior Vice President of Finance for Traveloka and AFP Asia-Pacific FP&A Advisory Council member, has been an active business partner for over a decade. Pankaj discusses the essential skills for FP&A, how to obtain those skills and how working in FP&A prepares you for a number of different careers.
05/04/2023
USD LIBOR, a floating rate benchmark, is being phased out. The original December 31, 2021 deadline was extended to June 30, 2023, as regulators were concerned with the lack of progress in amending LIBOR-based instruments. Despite that extension, regulators determined that a hard cut-off of LIBOR’s publication after June 30 could still have negative consequences for the financial markets. The solution … Synthetic LIBOR!
05/03/2023
As reported by Bloomberg, Credit Suisse “never really learned its lesson from the global financial crisis” of 2008. The effects of the crisis stirred by the missteps of this 166-year-old institution are still being calculated, but it is a fair bet that they will be felt around the world, including the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. For a frontline perspective on how this, plus the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, is affecting the region, we spoke with members of AFP’s MEA Treasury Advisory Council.
05/01/2023
Finance and treasury as a profession was the last thing on Isha Goel’s mind. As part of her MBA program, they were required to complete a two-month internship, which she did in the finance department of Apollo International Limited. But her interest was in International Business.
04/26/2023
Five years ago, after 16 years in banking, Jessie Toh made the switch to buy-side treasury. As the Global Treasurer for Coda Payments, a FinTech company headquartered in Singapore, she and her team manage the company’s FX, cash, banking relationships and credit.
04/25/2023
Preparing for an interview can go a long way toward making a good impression on an interviewer. We review seven things to do before your next interview, including questions to help prepare you for an interview.
04/24/2023
Interviewing is an important step for candidates and hiring managers to find the right match. When done well, an interview is a two-way conversation where both parties can share what they’re looking for and what they can deliver.
04/24/2023
Sixty-five percent of respondents report that their organizations were victims of attempted or actual payments fraud activity in 2022, according to the 2023 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by J.P. Morgan.
04/21/2023
Corporate finance interviews include business case or word problem questions to assess candidates' analytical thinking and grasp of business strategy.
04/21/2023
In 2017, Alex Mbuthia Karuri, FPAC, attended a finance town hall with Smollan’s Global CFO, where he heard an idea that would change his career trajectory: “As finance, we need to start focusing on how we can add value and transform into business partners.” Alex was inspired. His confidence bolstered, he began the journey to become a business partner.
04/14/2023
When leadership changes prompted a global IT company to rethink its business review process, finance helped transform the process, implementing a new framework to simplify reporting and better communicate the main message.
04/14/2023
A career path is the series of jobs or roles you have as you progress toward your ultimate career goal. It’s also about the skills and education you acquire to help you succeed in your chosen career.
04/13/2023
After the company had grown through a series of major acquisitions, Comcast Capital Corporation had to navigate cash and liquidity management structures that were complex and fragmented. To create shared liquidity and access cash in a more efficient manner, the treasury team implemented an in-house bank structure.
04/13/2023
There have been many initiatives targeting trade finance automation over the last 20 years, yet full digitalization of the core trade finance techniques (L/Cs and documentary collections) seems some way off.
04/06/2023
It was just mid-March when GPT4 blew us away with its applications and advances. Bard is moving quickly on its heels, and DeepMind is not far behind. The obvious outgrowth is that artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way companies operate in many sectors, but AI needs a solid data backbone for AI to perform its magic.
04/03/2023
David Oh, CTP, shares his journey into treasury and his role in integrating acquired companies into the group banking infrastructure on AFP Conversations.
04/03/2023
Agility has become essential as businesses face increasing complexity and dynamics. Learn how organizations need to be responsive, flexible, and resilient to adapt to environmental changes.
03/27/2023
The Head of FP&A revives and strengthens the influence of the FP&A function at an air navigation services company through proactive measures and improved financial acumen.
03/16/2023
"Green investing" stimulates investments in climate-friendly products and low-emission production.
03/14/2023
Integrating ESG into enterprise risk management programs is gaining importance for organizations and regulatory compliance.
03/10/2023
Middle East and Africa treasury professionals discuss the financial uncertainty impacting their region.
03/09/2023
Digital payments have gained popularity due to faster processing and improved security measures. Privacy and security concerns are alleviated.
03/09/2023
Reda Shousha, a finance professional in the Middle East and Africa, shares his career change story.
03/08/2023
Manish Sethia, CTP, discusses the role of a treasurer in managing liquidity effectively and highlights the importance of comprehensive financial knowledge.
03/07/2023
Nikunj N. Sinha, CTP, shares his career journey in banking and derivatives, starting with an internship in treasury and building a 17-year career in financial markets.
03/01/2023
Dorella Montanari's unconventional journey in treasury, starting with a degree in Oriental Studies.
03/01/2023
Warren Hatch, CEO of Good Judgment Inc, shares five forecasting tips to help you improve your process for filling out your March Madness bracket.
03/01/2023
Thong Nguyen transitions to treasury management in response to the financial crisis, recognizing the need for dedicated liquidity and market risk management.
02/28/2023
Treasurers are crucial in managing cash and financial assets effectively, ensuring liquidity regardless of economic conditions.
02/28/2023
Technical debt impedes agility in finance and increases costs over time.
02/28/2023
Streamline trade finance processes and enhance compliance through efficient document management.
02/23/2023
Learn how Puneeta Kapoor transitioned from accounting to finance and now focuses on how FP&A can add value to the business.
02/21/2023
The finance department plays a crucial role in tracking cash flow, profitability, compliance, and financial health in an organization.
02/17/2023
Discover the traits of highly agile companies, including flexibility, openness to change, and the ability to act in changing circumstances.
02/13/2023
Understand the fundamentals and variables involved in cash forecasting and the importance of meeting financial obligations.
02/09/2023
The SEC proposed rule changes for climate-related disclosures, inviting public comments.
02/08/2023
Core treasury knowledge and training are key to success for Stephen Poon, CTP, who leads the head office treasury function of HUTCHMED, a biopharmaceutical company based in China.
02/07/2023
Gain insights from Jason Ang, Vice President of Finance Transformation at Singapore Post Limited, on the transformation of culture, skills, technologies, and processes in finance.
02/07/2023
2023 presents challenges with market volatility, interest rates, FX rates, commodity prices, and supply chain issues.
02/02/2023