Articles
Planning the 2016 AFP Annual Conference: Everybody Helps
AFP's Annual Conference Planning Task Force shares their involvement and proposals in planning the 2016 AFP Annual Conference.
AFP's Annual Conference Planning Task Force shares their involvement and proposals in planning the 2016 AFP Annual Conference.
04/12/2016
Paradigm Shift: Addressing Environmental and Social Issues
Learn about PNC's environmental and social risk officer and the shift in addressing environmental concerns and social responsibility.
Learn about PNC's environmental and social risk officer and the shift in addressing environmental concerns and social responsibility.
04/08/2016
Never Heard of ESG? It’s Time for Finance Execs to Listen Up
If the phone call inquiring about your company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria has yet to arrive, it likely will soon.
If the phone call inquiring about your company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria has yet to arrive, it likely will soon.
04/06/2016
The Seven Reasons to Adopt Beyond Budgeting Principles
According to the Beyond Budgeting Round Table (BBRT), abandoning a traditional budget yields a number of key benefits.
According to the Beyond Budgeting Round Table (BBRT), abandoning a traditional budget yields a number of key benefits.
04/05/2016
Your Funds in Seconds: Allstate Speeds Up Claim Payments
Faced with a check-heavy claims payment process, Allstate implemented a service that routes payments to customer bank accounts using mobile phone numbers and email addresses as identifiers.
Faced with a check-heavy claims payment process, Allstate implemented a service that routes payments to customer bank accounts using mobile phone numbers and email addresses as identifiers.
04/04/2016
Beyond Budgeting Keeps Statoil Agile During a Downturn
Norway-based energy company Statoil exemplifies the agility provided by the Beyond Budgeting methodology during an oil market downturn.
Norway-based energy company Statoil exemplifies the agility provided by the Beyond Budgeting methodology during an oil market downturn.
03/31/2016
FP&A Presentation Tips: Making Your Data Make Sense
Big data, predictive analytics and data visualization are immensely powerful tools for understanding a complex world and making better decisions. But they’re useless if your audience can’t make sense of the information they provide.
Big data, predictive analytics and data visualization are immensely powerful tools for understanding a complex world and making better decisions. But they’re useless if your audience can’t make sense of the information they provide.
03/30/2016
Where Treasury & FP&A Converge
AFP recently spoke with Tom Gallo, treasurer for ABM Industries, on how his treasury department works alongside financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Recent changes at the facility management provider has resulted in closer collaboration between both functions.
AFP recently spoke with Tom Gallo, treasurer for ABM Industries, on how his treasury department works alongside financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Recent changes at the facility management provider has resulted in closer collaboration between both functions.
03/30/2016
To Partner with the Business, FP&A Needs Business Acumen
Business acumen is the ability to look at a situation as a business manager or an entrepreneur would and provide solutions. It helps the business respond as well as transform.
Business acumen is the ability to look at a situation as a business manager or an entrepreneur would and provide solutions. It helps the business respond as well as transform.
03/28/2016
Continuous Forecasting Keeps Companies Competitive
Adjusting your business forecast as you go calls for more than just historical records—you need real-time data from internal records and, increasingly, from external feeds.
Adjusting your business forecast as you go calls for more than just historical records—you need real-time data from internal records and, increasingly, from external feeds.
03/23/2016
CTP Exam Tips: How to Pass on Your First Attempt
Want to know the cheapest, fastest, and most effective way to study for and pass the CTP exam on the first attempt?
Want to know the cheapest, fastest, and most effective way to study for and pass the CTP exam on the first attempt?
03/23/2016
Forecasting’s Goal: Not Foresee the Future, But Plan for It
Whatever the nature of your forecast, there are a few principles that, if applied in the beginning of your forecasting exercise, will give you a step ahead of the complexity.
Whatever the nature of your forecast, there are a few principles that, if applied in the beginning of your forecasting exercise, will give you a step ahead of the complexity.
03/22/2016
Become a Treasury Superhero by Improving Bank Relationships
Discover how treasury professionals can improve their banking relationships by investing a few hours to systematically work through their banking relationships for greater control and efficiency.
Discover how treasury professionals can improve their banking relationships by investing a few hours to systematically work through their banking relationships for greater control and efficiency.
03/15/2016
Case Study: The Value of Communication at Tiffany & Co.
A geographically diverse company with operations across approximately 30 countries, Tiffany & Co. is constantly adding new locations in new regions. Therefore, effective communication is essential.
A geographically diverse company with operations across approximately 30 countries, Tiffany & Co. is constantly adding new locations in new regions. Therefore, effective communication is essential.
03/15/2016
CTC Forum Preview: How to Avoid a Liquidity Shortfall
AFP recently spoke with Mack Makode of Mylan Pharmaceuticals about his upcoming session on liquidity at the CTC Corporate Treasurers Forum, May 22-24 at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay.
AFP recently spoke with Mack Makode of Mylan Pharmaceuticals about his upcoming session on liquidity at the CTC Corporate Treasurers Forum, May 22-24 at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay.
03/09/2016
Managing Communications: Key for Coca Cola’s Global Treasury
Coca-Cola has over 300 legal entities and is present in nearly every country. Managing communications is a key condition for success.
Coca-Cola has over 300 legal entities and is present in nearly every country. Managing communications is a key condition for success.
03/08/2016
Want to Measure Your Firm’s FP&A ROI? Here’s How to Do It.
Measuring the performance of your financial planning and analysis (FP&A) efforts is complicated by three factors.
Measuring the performance of your financial planning and analysis (FP&A) efforts is complicated by three factors.
03/07/2016
AFP Launches FP&A Benchmarking Survey
AFP launches the FP&A Benchmarking Survey, providing financial professionals with valuable data and insights for performance measurement and improvement.
AFP launches the FP&A Benchmarking Survey, providing financial professionals with valuable data and insights for performance measurement and improvement.
03/02/2016
Treasurers, Time to Develop Your Interest Rate Strategies
Be proactive in developing your interest rate hedging strategy and recognize that the interest rate derivatives market has changed significantly in the last several years.
Be proactive in developing your interest rate hedging strategy and recognize that the interest rate derivatives market has changed significantly in the last several years.
03/01/2016
ACH Tokenization: NACHA Mulls Three Possible Options
The latest meeting of NACHA’s Payments Innovation Alliance began with a roundtable discussion on a new tokenization strategy for the ACH Network.
The latest meeting of NACHA’s Payments Innovation Alliance began with a roundtable discussion on a new tokenization strategy for the ACH Network.
02/24/2016
Seeing the Big Picture: Key for Finance Professionals
When it comes to financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professionals understanding their organization, Peter Geiler, FP&A, has some simple advice: “You don’t want to look at one little piece of the pie.”
When it comes to financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professionals understanding their organization, Peter Geiler, FP&A, has some simple advice: “You don’t want to look at one little piece of the pie.”
02/18/2016
Treasury Controls: 4 Tips to Help You Put Them in Place
Treasury consultant Fiona Crisp shares four tips on implementing effective treasury controls, drawing from her experience as a corporate treasurer.
Treasury consultant Fiona Crisp shares four tips on implementing effective treasury controls, drawing from her experience as a corporate treasurer.
02/11/2016
Bank Services Billing Standards Group Shares Latest Update
The latest BSB Newsletter is out, covering bank services billing standard market adoption—ISO 20022, TWIST and AFP Global Service Codes.
The latest BSB Newsletter is out, covering bank services billing standard market adoption—ISO 20022, TWIST and AFP Global Service Codes.
02/10/2016
Supply Chain Finance: Building the Treasury Business Case
James Marshall, Virgin Media's head of treasury, shares tips on engaging stakeholders and the board in implementing a supply chain finance program.
James Marshall, Virgin Media's head of treasury, shares tips on engaging stakeholders and the board in implementing a supply chain finance program.
02/10/2016
The Bachelorette Effect: Selecting the Right TMS Vendor
When selecting a treasury workstation vendor, treasury’s ongoing relationship, post-selection, should factor heavily into that decision. Like all relationships, it takes work.
When selecting a treasury workstation vendor, treasury’s ongoing relationship, post-selection, should factor heavily into that decision. Like all relationships, it takes work.
02/08/2016
A Treasurer’s Guide to RFPs
Requests for Proposal (RFPs) are something that almost every treasury department has to deal with at some point.
Requests for Proposal (RFPs) are something that almost every treasury department has to deal with at some point.
02/08/2016
It’s Time for the FASB to Revisit FAS 52
Given the changes to treasury and technology over the past 30-plus years, it would be to companies’ benefit for the FASB to reopen FAS 52.
Given the changes to treasury and technology over the past 30-plus years, it would be to companies’ benefit for the FASB to reopen FAS 52.
02/05/2016
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
Connect with your FP&A peers and industry leaders in Austin March 17-19 at the AFP FP&A Forum. Register by January 15 to save $400.