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Payment Behavior by Big Companies Could Damage Economy
APQC is conducting research on why big companies are squeezing their small suppliers by paying invoices later and later. Nick Araco, CEO and Co-founder of The CFO Alliance, a private community of finance leaders, told APQC that small and medium-sized CFOs “are getting frustrated. They are being…
The Talent Crisis in Accounting & Finance: Part 2
Here is part two of the May 13 interview between Elissa Tucker and Mary Driscoll, APQC’s financial management senior research fellow, on her perspectives on the state of entry-level management accounting and finance talent. In part 1 one, Elissa and Mary discuss why organizationss have a hard time…
Why Should You Still Care About COSO 2013?
I was recently able to speak with Jim DeLoach, a managing director at Protiviti, about how the implemention of the updated Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Internal Control – Integrated Framework (Framework) during 2014 has been an important endeavor for many public companies in their…
Is Your FP&A Team Struggling? Here’s Why and How to Fix Things
APQC’s Financial Management research team is finishing up a study on advanced techniques in financial planning and analysis (FP&A). The following are some highlights and insights into what we’ve found so far. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, join me on Wednesday, March…
Are You Ready For New FASB and IASB Finance Rules?
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) have issued their long-awaited converged standard on revenue recognition. The rule governs how and when revenues can be recognized in different industries. In essence, the new rule will do away…
Better Financial Management Process for Shared Services Starts With GPO
I was recently able to talk to Susie West, founder and CEO of sharedserviceslink.com, about role of Global Process Owner (GPO) at large multi-national companies, the challenges the face, and how they are charged with improving financial management processes. Susie West will be speaking on our…
Business Intelligence, Big Data, FP&A Leaders, and the Uncertain Future
I recently talked to Steve Williams, president of DecisionPath Consulting, about the risks and rewards business executives face when trying to understand and use analytics, big data, and business intelligence. What’s the basic argument you would make to a CFO who doesn’t yet know how…
Why Big Data Needs to Speak a Language Executives Understand
Big Data is all the rage, with more and more companies drawing on burgeoning data streams to better understand their customers and make better business decisions. But it can be tricky when you’re trying to turn data into insights and actions that provide a competitive advantage. And both data…
How Financial Shared Services Can Reduce FTE Numbers
I recently spoke with Brad DeMent and Trey Robinson, partners in ScottMadden’s Corporate & Shared Services practice, about the benefits, challenges, and future of financial shared services. They will both be joining me for our September 25th Webinar—Finance Shared Services: New Metrics and Best…
5 Lessons from Walgreen’s Financial Forecasting Blunder
The headline in The Wall Street Journal said: “Walgreen Shakeup Followed Bad Projection.” The buzz in the financial executive community was loud. The CFO at Walgreen Co., Wade Miquelon, had in April of this year told Wall Street that the nation’s largest drugstore chain would generate $8.5…