Articles
Business Financial Reports: How Should They Look?
Financial reports often do not get the message across to the decision-makers. The International Business Communication Standards (IBCS) might be able to fix all of that.
Financial reports often do not get the message across to the decision-makers. The International Business Communication Standards (IBCS) might be able to fix all of that.
09/16/2015
New AFP Guide Helps Treasurers Evaluate TMS
Evaluate treasury management systems (TMS) effectively using the 2015 AFP Buyer's Guide. Benefit from corporate practitioners' experiences.
Evaluate treasury management systems (TMS) effectively using the 2015 AFP Buyer's Guide. Benefit from corporate practitioners' experiences.
09/14/2015
5 Reasons to Build a Strong FP&A Unit
At the heart of sound business decision-making is a strong FP&A function. Here are five reasons why a strong FP&A bench is a must for any organization focusing on economic growth.
At the heart of sound business decision-making is a strong FP&A function. Here are five reasons why a strong FP&A bench is a must for any organization focusing on economic growth.
09/03/2015
Market Volatility: Driving Interest in Rolling Forecasts
Market volatility highlights the importance of rolling forecasts. Adopt a dynamic forecasting approach beyond the fiscal year.
Market volatility highlights the importance of rolling forecasts. Adopt a dynamic forecasting approach beyond the fiscal year.
09/02/2015
BEC Scams: A $1.2 Billion Threat to Treasury & Finance
Discover the threat posed by business email compromise (BEC) scams, leading to significant financial losses for treasury and finance professionals.
Discover the threat posed by business email compromise (BEC) scams, leading to significant financial losses for treasury and finance professionals.
08/31/2015
4 Ways to Grow the Business in Times of Capital Constraint
Discover four ways to grow your business in times of capital constraint, emphasizing operational excellence, storytelling, and flexibility.
Discover four ways to grow your business in times of capital constraint, emphasizing operational excellence, storytelling, and flexibility.
08/31/2015
10 Crucial Skills All FP&A Professionals Must Possess
The financial planning and analysis (FP&A) role is quickly evolving. According to many experts, there are 10 critical skills FP&A professionals must possess.
The financial planning and analysis (FP&A) role is quickly evolving. According to many experts, there are 10 critical skills FP&A professionals must possess.
08/28/2015
RMB Internationalization: How Treasurers Stand to Gain
European treasurers have much to gain from renminbi internationalization—if they can cope with a volatile currency.
European treasurers have much to gain from renminbi internationalization—if they can cope with a volatile currency.
08/28/2015
How NGO Treasury Functions Manage Currency Risk
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) face added complexities in managing currency risk amidst U.S. dollar strengthening.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) face added complexities in managing currency risk amidst U.S. dollar strengthening.
08/26/2015
The Point of Business Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
The planning, budgeting and forecasting (PBF) process is a finance department function that is time consuming, often misunderstood, and generally disliked. So, why is it needed and what is it supposed to accomplish? The answer varies depending on who you are talking to and to what aspect of PBF you are referring to.
The planning, budgeting and forecasting (PBF) process is a finance department function that is time consuming, often misunderstood, and generally disliked. So, why is it needed and what is it supposed to accomplish? The answer varies depending on who you are talking to and to what aspect of PBF you are referring to.
08/25/2015
The Business Case for Zero-Based Budgeting in Manufacturing
Discover the business case for zero-based budgeting in manufacturing, particularly in managing warranty-related expenditures for U.S.-based product manufacturers.
Discover the business case for zero-based budgeting in manufacturing, particularly in managing warranty-related expenditures for U.S.-based product manufacturers.
08/24/2015
Components of Effective Capex Management
Treasury departments expand their focus to include capital deployment alongside capital markets, cash management, and risk management.
Treasury departments expand their focus to include capital deployment alongside capital markets, cash management, and risk management.
08/21/2015
Implementation & Centralization: Why Cigna Adopted SWIFT
Scott Lambert, treasury senior director for global health service organization Cigna, provided AFP with a glimpse into how implementing SWIFT is helping his organization handle international payments and centralize treasury operations.
Scott Lambert, treasury senior director for global health service organization Cigna, provided AFP with a glimpse into how implementing SWIFT is helping his organization handle international payments and centralize treasury operations.
08/21/2015
FP&A: Creating Value Through Insight
Uncertainty is becoming the norm, and companies are struggling to be nimble. How can FP&A professionals help their companies navigate these uncertain times?
Uncertainty is becoming the norm, and companies are struggling to be nimble. How can FP&A professionals help their companies navigate these uncertain times?
08/19/2015
4 Key Tips for Treasury as its Role Continues to Expand
The financial crisis had an impact on corporate treasury in terms of increased responsibilities and higher expectations. Treasury is now more likely to be consulted on strategic issues, which means that the required skillset has to be broader.
The financial crisis had an impact on corporate treasury in terms of increased responsibilities and higher expectations. Treasury is now more likely to be consulted on strategic issues, which means that the required skillset has to be broader.
08/18/2015
Treasurer’s Choice: Alliance Lite2 or SWIFT Service Bureaus?
Explore the advantages of adopting Alliance Lite2 (AL2) and Alliance Remote Gateway (ARG) from SWIFT, as corporate treasury departments make their choice.
Explore the advantages of adopting Alliance Lite2 (AL2) and Alliance Remote Gateway (ARG) from SWIFT, as corporate treasury departments make their choice.
08/17/2015
How to Develop a Risk-Based Debt Covenant Checklist
As many treasury and finance professionals will attest, organizing covenants by the legal categories of affirmative, negative, financial and nonfinancial is not very helpful. A better approach is to classify covenants by lender objective and risk.
As many treasury and finance professionals will attest, organizing covenants by the legal categories of affirmative, negative, financial and nonfinancial is not very helpful. A better approach is to classify covenants by lender objective and risk.
08/14/2015
SWIFT Buyer’s Guide: How Are Today’s Treasurers Connecting?
Gain insights into how corporate treasurers connect to SWIFT through the 2015 AFP SWIFT Buyer's Guide.
Gain insights into how corporate treasurers connect to SWIFT through the 2015 AFP SWIFT Buyer's Guide.
08/14/2015
Bank Relationship Management, Post-Basel III
Basel III requirements pose unquantified implications for CFOs and treasurers in a changing banking landscape.
Basel III requirements pose unquantified implications for CFOs and treasurers in a changing banking landscape.
08/13/2015
BEC Scams: The Threats, and the Dollar Amounts, Increase
Business email compromise (BEC) scams pose a growing threat to corporate treasury, leading to increased attempts and losses.
Business email compromise (BEC) scams pose a growing threat to corporate treasury, leading to increased attempts and losses.
08/12/2015
Treasury Insights and Best Practices: A New Resource
Each of AFP's six recent Treasury in Practice pieces has been compiled into a new guide: Treasury in Practice: Insights and Best Practices, Vol. 1, underwritten by KeyBank.
Each of AFP's six recent Treasury in Practice pieces has been compiled into a new guide: Treasury in Practice: Insights and Best Practices, Vol. 1, underwritten by KeyBank.
08/07/2015
Bitcoin Tech: Catching On With Treasurers?
Bitcoin's software advancements tested by global banks for practical uses in unique data chains.
Bitcoin's software advancements tested by global banks for practical uses in unique data chains.
08/07/2015
Basel III: Not a Death Knell for Notional Pooling
Notional pooling is the most elegant tool available to treasurers for intercompany balance management. It causes no substantive problems for corporates—other than misunderstanding.
Notional pooling is the most elegant tool available to treasurers for intercompany balance management. It causes no substantive problems for corporates—other than misunderstanding.
08/06/2015
FP&A & CFOs Agree: Finding Talent is a Big Challenge
Understand the challenges faced by CFOs in hiring and developing talent, hindered by skill gaps and the expanding needs of businesses, as revealed in a Deloitte survey.
Understand the challenges faced by CFOs in hiring and developing talent, hindered by skill gaps and the expanding needs of businesses, as revealed in a Deloitte survey.
08/05/2015
11 Factors to Consider for Optimal Overseas Financing
When identifying overseas funding sources there are several quantitative and qualitative issues to consider.
When identifying overseas funding sources there are several quantitative and qualitative issues to consider.
08/03/2015
Treasury System Selection: In Need of an Overhaul?
Explore quicker and less costly alternatives to traditional treasury management system (TMS) selection processes. Save time and resources.
Explore quicker and less costly alternatives to traditional treasury management system (TMS) selection processes. Save time and resources.
07/31/2015
5 Key Tactics for Hedging in a Volatile Market
Multiple and diverse factors which are interconnected are exacerbating volatility—finance, fuel, food, environment, geopolitics and regulations. Corporates have to grapple with these factors and events, which exacerbate volatility into corporate business models.
Multiple and diverse factors which are interconnected are exacerbating volatility—finance, fuel, food, environment, geopolitics and regulations. Corporates have to grapple with these factors and events, which exacerbate volatility into corporate business models.
07/31/2015
How Treasurers Can Manage their Banks in the Basel III Era
While Basel III seems like it may primarily affect banks, corporates will also feel the impact. Treasurers need to understand how to leverage Basel III to their own advantage.
While Basel III seems like it may primarily affect banks, corporates will also feel the impact. Treasurers need to understand how to leverage Basel III to their own advantage.
07/30/2015
Peer Review: What FP&A Pros Can Learn From Colleagues
Tim Green, FP&A head at Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford, emphasizes the value of peer learning for career advancement in FP&A.
Tim Green, FP&A head at Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford, emphasizes the value of peer learning for career advancement in FP&A.
07/30/2015
Opportunity Knocks: How One FP&A Professional Got Started
Jessica Cullinan never intended to get into financial planning and analysis (FP&A)—but things change. An unexpected work opportunity led her to alter her career path.
Jessica Cullinan never intended to get into financial planning and analysis (FP&A)—but things change. An unexpected work opportunity led her to alter her career path.
07/29/2015
AFP In-Depth: Setting a Target Liquidity Position
Gain insights from James Gilligan, Assistant Treasurer at Great Plains Energy, as he discusses the important factors to consider when setting a target liquidity position in AFP's In-Depth video.
Gain insights from James Gilligan, Assistant Treasurer at Great Plains Energy, as he discusses the important factors to consider when setting a target liquidity position in AFP's In-Depth video.
07/28/2015
The Four Fundamentals of Cybersecurity
Understand the four fundamentals of cybersecurity and how treasury departments can engage staff in using IT security technology effectively.
Understand the four fundamentals of cybersecurity and how treasury departments can engage staff in using IT security technology effectively.
07/27/2015
AFP In-Depth: The Keys to Enterprise Performance Management
Gain insights into enterprise performance management and whether it is a practice adopted by every company, as discussed by Gary Cokins, founder of Analytics Based Performance Management.
Gain insights into enterprise performance management and whether it is a practice adopted by every company, as discussed by Gary Cokins, founder of Analytics Based Performance Management.
07/21/2015
12 Tips for Treasurers Making Capital Structure Decisions
Gain valuable tips for treasury professionals making capital structure decisions, aiding in effective financial planning and risk management.
Gain valuable tips for treasury professionals making capital structure decisions, aiding in effective financial planning and risk management.
07/21/2015
How FP&A Can Add Value to Cash Allocation Decisions
Today’s CFOs face big decisions when putting cash to use, and this is when FP&A professionals can be valuable partners to senior management.
Today’s CFOs face big decisions when putting cash to use, and this is when FP&A professionals can be valuable partners to senior management.
07/17/2015
Armored Car Issues: Retail Treasurers Face Slim Pickings
Armored-car usage is a top concern for retail treasurers. But many retail treasurers face significant problems with their armored-car carriers.
Armored-car usage is a top concern for retail treasurers. But many retail treasurers face significant problems with their armored-car carriers.
07/17/2015
Will Basel III Kill Notional Pooling for Corporate Treasury?
Notional pooling has been an effective liquidity management tool for many multinational corporations. Basel III threatens all that, particularly in Europe.
Notional pooling has been an effective liquidity management tool for many multinational corporations. Basel III threatens all that, particularly in Europe.
07/16/2015
Why Majid Al Futtaim Moved to a Payments Factory Model
One of the largest corporate entities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai-based holding company Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates retail and leisure properties in 13 countries. Majid Al Futtaim’s treasury function saw an opportunity to improve its financial management systems and become more efficient by moving to a payments factory model.
One of the largest corporate entities in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai-based holding company Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates retail and leisure properties in 13 countries. Majid Al Futtaim’s treasury function saw an opportunity to improve its financial management systems and become more efficient by moving to a payments factory model.
07/16/2015
How Treasury & Finance Should Interact With Board Members
Interacting effectively with board members is a competence that develops over time, with experience.
Interacting effectively with board members is a competence that develops over time, with experience.
07/15/2015
Treasury’s Role in Spin-Offs: Five Keys for Success
Companies are increasingly going the spin-off route to boost shareholder value. A spin-off of a division of a business is a difficult process for a CFO to handle -- and by default a major challenge for the company’s treasury operation.
Companies are increasingly going the spin-off route to boost shareholder value. A spin-off of a division of a business is a difficult process for a CFO to handle -- and by default a major challenge for the company’s treasury operation.
07/14/2015
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