Articles
Who Is Your Minister of Digital Transformation?
During the Payments Keynote address at AFP 2024, Kelvin Coleman, who formerly served as Executive Director for TIC Council Americas and CEO and Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, urged treasury and finance professionals to identify an individual — a Minister of Digital Transformation — to address unforeseen threats and challenges.
During the Payments Keynote address at AFP 2024, Kelvin Coleman, who formerly served as Executive Director for TIC Council Americas and CEO and Executive Director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance, urged treasury and finance professionals to identify an individual — a Minister of Digital Transformation — to address unforeseen threats and challenges.
10/31/2024
4 Tips to Future-Proof Treasury
The current rapid pace of innovation in treasury technology offers plenty of opportunities for treasurers to improve operational efficiency.
The current rapid pace of innovation in treasury technology offers plenty of opportunities for treasurers to improve operational efficiency.
10/30/2024
Bonds vs. Stocks: What’s the Difference?
Stocks and bonds are two of the most common investment vehicles. Both can be beneficial to your organization’s investment portfolio. How much you invest and where depends on your risk tolerance, timeline and investment goals.
Stocks and bonds are two of the most common investment vehicles. Both can be beneficial to your organization’s investment portfolio. How much you invest and where depends on your risk tolerance, timeline and investment goals.
10/30/2024
Getting Paid Faster: How AI-Driven Automation Can Expedite and Enhance Accounts Receivable
Of the processes related to accounts receivable (AR), matching payments data to remittance data can be one of the most tedious and time-consuming, especially when it’s manual.
Of the processes related to accounts receivable (AR), matching payments data to remittance data can be one of the most tedious and time-consuming, especially when it’s manual.
10/28/2024
IBM Corporation Wins the AFP 2024 Pinnacle Awards
IBM Corporation was named the winner of the AFP 2024 Pinnacle Awards Grand Prize for excellence in treasury and finance.
IBM Corporation was named the winner of the AFP 2024 Pinnacle Awards Grand Prize for excellence in treasury and finance.
10/21/2024
Best Practices for Onboarding a New Hire in FP&A
Investing in a planned and comprehensive onboarding strategy can foster a sense of belonging, reduce the time it takes for new hires to become productive, and minimize the risk of errors.
Investing in a planned and comprehensive onboarding strategy can foster a sense of belonging, reduce the time it takes for new hires to become productive, and minimize the risk of errors.
10/18/2024
New Hire Onboarding Checklist for FP&A
An onboarding checklist for FP&A should cover the three main dimensions of FP&A skills, as described in the FP&A Maturity Model: personal & team effectiveness, finance & financial processes, and technology & data.
An onboarding checklist for FP&A should cover the three main dimensions of FP&A skills, as described in the FP&A Maturity Model: personal & team effectiveness, finance & financial processes, and technology & data.
10/18/2024
Create a Treasury Policy in 5 Steps
A treasury policy is a set of clear guidelines that helps your organization manage key risks, set limits and define accountabilities within treasury operations. It serves as a roadmap, outlining essential risk management practices and establishing how performance should be evaluated.
A treasury policy is a set of clear guidelines that helps your organization manage key risks, set limits and define accountabilities within treasury operations. It serves as a roadmap, outlining essential risk management practices and establishing how performance should be evaluated.
10/15/2024
Ready Your Finance Team for the AI Era
Now that AI is becoming a fixture of many finance teams' operations, leaders are wondering how its involvement will fundamentally improve their decision-making processes. Although finance organizations are adapting AI to enhance operations and streamline processes, leveraging it for improved decision-making is still fairly new.
Now that AI is becoming a fixture of many finance teams' operations, leaders are wondering how its involvement will fundamentally improve their decision-making processes. Although finance organizations are adapting AI to enhance operations and streamline processes, leveraging it for improved decision-making is still fairly new.
10/07/2024
4 Insights for Effective Communication in Finance
Beyond balance sheets and market trends lies a powerful tool that can make or break financial endeavors: effective communication. While data drives decisions, it's effective communication that propels understanding and action.
Beyond balance sheets and market trends lies a powerful tool that can make or break financial endeavors: effective communication. While data drives decisions, it's effective communication that propels understanding and action.
10/07/2024
Building Resilience in Working Capital
Prudent companies will always look to build resilience in their working capital to develop some protection against the vagaries of the market.
Prudent companies will always look to build resilience in their working capital to develop some protection against the vagaries of the market.
10/02/2024
Two Treasurers Share Their TMS Implementation Journeys
Two treasurers who work for companies in different industries share their ongoing treasury management system (TMS) implementation journeys and the lessons learned along the way.
Two treasurers who work for companies in different industries share their ongoing treasury management system (TMS) implementation journeys and the lessons learned along the way.
09/19/2024
Cost Optimization: Building Sustainable Advantage
An empowered FP&A team that builds relationships with the business, looks at data in a new context and creates a disciplined structure can change the business mindset to own cost optimization activities.
An empowered FP&A team that builds relationships with the business, looks at data in a new context and creates a disciplined structure can change the business mindset to own cost optimization activities.
09/18/2024
Financial Stability Is Top Consideration for Treasury Professionals When Choosing a Primary Relationship Bank
A bank’s financial stability is of utmost importance to 98% of organizations when choosing a primary relationship bank, according to the 2024 AFP Bank Relationship Management Survey.
A bank’s financial stability is of utmost importance to 98% of organizations when choosing a primary relationship bank, according to the 2024 AFP Bank Relationship Management Survey.
09/17/2024
AFP Board Chair on Developing Resilience and the Importance of Upskilling
Michael High, FPAC, has had a nearly 20-year career in finance. He currently works as the Vice President of Finance at Parkland Fuel Corporation and is Chair of the AFP Board of Directors.
Michael High, FPAC, has had a nearly 20-year career in finance. He currently works as the Vice President of Finance at Parkland Fuel Corporation and is Chair of the AFP Board of Directors.
09/09/2024
AFP 2024 Pinnacle Awards Finalists: ASML, Clarion Partners, IBM Corporation
Finalists were selected by a jury of treasury and finance professionals. Decisions were based on forward-looking solutions that progress the efficiency and effectiveness of their organization’s treasury and financial operations.
Finalists were selected by a jury of treasury and finance professionals. Decisions were based on forward-looking solutions that progress the efficiency and effectiveness of their organization’s treasury and financial operations.
09/09/2024
Finance Leads Cost Optimization Through Transformation
This case study explores a strategic approach focused on value efficiency. The company’s initiative aimed to maximize the benefits and value derived from its existing resources and focus on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of its operations to create a comprehensive, cost-optimization strategy that delivers sustained value over time.
This case study explores a strategic approach focused on value efficiency. The company’s initiative aimed to maximize the benefits and value derived from its existing resources and focus on the overall efficiency and effectiveness of its operations to create a comprehensive, cost-optimization strategy that delivers sustained value over time.
09/06/2024
Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Strategic Role of Today’s CFO
There are several best practices CFOs can implement to balance financial stewardship with a focus on profit maximization.
There are several best practices CFOs can implement to balance financial stewardship with a focus on profit maximization.
08/30/2024
Experts from the MEA Region Discuss Centralized vs. Decentralized Treasury Functions
Recently, experts from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region were brought together to discuss the pros and cons of centralized versus decentralized treasury functions.
Recently, experts from the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region were brought together to discuss the pros and cons of centralized versus decentralized treasury functions.
08/28/2024
What Treasury Professionals Need to Know About Check Fraud
Three in four organizations are still using checks, according to the 2024 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist.
Three in four organizations are still using checks, according to the 2024 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist.
08/26/2024
TMS Hunt: Out-of-the-Box vs. Custom Solution to Track Promissory Notes
Manually tracking promissory notes was time-consuming and burdensome, so it became clear that the The Heritage Group treasury team needed to switch to a new treasury management system (TMS) that could automate the process.
Manually tracking promissory notes was time-consuming and burdensome, so it became clear that the The Heritage Group treasury team needed to switch to a new treasury management system (TMS) that could automate the process.
08/23/2024
IBM’s Enterprise Transformation — Finance Technology
The finance domain is ripe for data science and automation solutions to improve efficiency, productivity and reliability.
The finance domain is ripe for data science and automation solutions to improve efficiency, productivity and reliability.
08/20/2024
Use Cases for Generative AI
A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence that can process and produce natural language texts.
A large language model (LLM) is a type of artificial intelligence that can process and produce natural language texts.
08/20/2024
Applying AI to an EPM System
If you truly are doing a transformation, don’t put the effort into a detailed forecasting process and then turn around and have machine learning come back with better answers. Start with AI and try to skip some of that grinding work.
If you truly are doing a transformation, don’t put the effort into a detailed forecasting process and then turn around and have machine learning come back with better answers. Start with AI and try to skip some of that grinding work.
08/20/2024
Is Now the Time to Focus on Working Capital?
Constant threats to the economy’s health provide an ongoing incentive for companies to build working capital resilience as protection against potential problems.
Constant threats to the economy’s health provide an ongoing incentive for companies to build working capital resilience as protection against potential problems.
08/09/2024
Ask the Experts: Best Practices for Preventing Payments Fraud
At an AFP Member Meet-Up, Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Services and Payments, discussed a wide range of payments fraud questions with a panel of payments experts.
At an AFP Member Meet-Up, Tom Hunt, CTP, Director of Treasury Services and Payments, discussed a wide range of payments fraud questions with a panel of payments experts.
08/08/2024
5 Ways to Improve Your Verbal Communication Skills in Finance
Effective communication is the foundation on which strong business relationships are built.
Effective communication is the foundation on which strong business relationships are built.
07/29/2024
Boost Your Financial Analysis Skills with These 4 Tips
Financial analysis helps the business answer three important questions: What happened? So what does it mean? Now, what do we do?
Financial analysis helps the business answer three important questions: What happened? So what does it mean? Now, what do we do?
07/29/2024
What Is the Ideal Number of Banking Relationships?
An important part of treasury management is maintaining the optimal number of banking relationships for an organization.
An important part of treasury management is maintaining the optimal number of banking relationships for an organization.
07/26/2024
How Digitization Can Ease the RFP Process for Treasury
RFP software streamlines the RFP process by allowing organizations to upload all the necessary details for an RFP.
RFP software streamlines the RFP process by allowing organizations to upload all the necessary details for an RFP.
07/25/2024
The Importance of Inclusive Language in the Workplace
What we say — and how we say it — has the power to shape our culture, both societally and in the workplace.
What we say — and how we say it — has the power to shape our culture, both societally and in the workplace.
07/23/2024
Cash Segmentation: The Key to Successful Cash Investing
Cash segmentation is the classification of cash according to the likely future needs of the business and is done by using a cash forecast to categorize cash into virtual “buckets,” with each bucket representing a different time horizon and tolerance for risk.
Cash segmentation is the classification of cash according to the likely future needs of the business and is done by using a cash forecast to categorize cash into virtual “buckets,” with each bucket representing a different time horizon and tolerance for risk.
07/11/2024
Choosing the Right Payment Method: The Pros and Cons of Each
Even amid the widespread digitization of business operations, many companies still use checks to make B2B (business-to-business) payments. But paying and accepting more than one payment method — especially digital payments — is a better approach.
Even amid the widespread digitization of business operations, many companies still use checks to make B2B (business-to-business) payments. But paying and accepting more than one payment method — especially digital payments — is a better approach.
07/08/2024
What Is Variance Analysis?
Variance analysis is a quantitative method used to assess the difference between planned and actual financial outcomes.
Variance analysis is a quantitative method used to assess the difference between planned and actual financial outcomes.
07/03/2024
You’ve Discovered Payments Fraud. Now What?
Has your organization been hit by payments fraud? First, know you are not alone. According to the AFP 2024 Payments Fraud Survey, underwritten by Truist, 80% of organizations were targets of either actual or attempted payments fraud in 2023 — a 15-percentage point increase from the previous year.
Has your organization been hit by payments fraud? First, know you are not alone. According to the AFP 2024 Payments Fraud Survey, underwritten by Truist, 80% of organizations were targets of either actual or attempted payments fraud in 2023 — a 15-percentage point increase from the previous year.
07/01/2024
3 AI and Machine Learning Use Cases in Finance
Data is everywhere, and it’s critical to the work of treasury and FP&A. Some of the ways treasury and FP&A professionals are trying to manage data more efficiently include automation, generative AI and machine learning.
Data is everywhere, and it’s critical to the work of treasury and FP&A. Some of the ways treasury and FP&A professionals are trying to manage data more efficiently include automation, generative AI and machine learning.
07/01/2024
5 Tips to Improve Your Financial Charts and Graphs
An effective chart or graph is more than just getting the numbers right. Many small decisions go into a chart, and they add up to have a big impact on your effectiveness as a finance professional in communicating the data.
An effective chart or graph is more than just getting the numbers right. Many small decisions go into a chart, and they add up to have a big impact on your effectiveness as a finance professional in communicating the data.
06/27/2024
AFP Survey Finds 45% of Organizations Moved Deposits to Large Banks, Proactively Adapting to Challenging Environment
Forty-five percent of organizations moved deposits to large banks, seeking safety in systemically important financial institutions, according to the 2024 AFP Liquidity Survey, underwritten by Invesco.
Forty-five percent of organizations moved deposits to large banks, seeking safety in systemically important financial institutions, according to the 2024 AFP Liquidity Survey, underwritten by Invesco.
06/18/2024
What the U.S. Money Market Fund Reform Means for Treasury Professionals
While the precise impact of the U.S. Money Market Fund Reform is, as yet, unknown, treasury practitioners should try to understand the potential implications for their organizations.
While the precise impact of the U.S. Money Market Fund Reform is, as yet, unknown, treasury practitioners should try to understand the potential implications for their organizations.
06/14/2024
Numbers and Narratives: Where Story Meets Valuation
From an early age, people are divided into two camps: the number crunchers and the storytellers.
From an early age, people are divided into two camps: the number crunchers and the storytellers.
06/12/2024
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.