#FinanceMaster

We can assume some basic principles will apply even further into the future. One of these is that there’s a finance function to serve a business. What the services are and how they’re delivered, though, is constantly evolving. In this week’s show we will look more closely at the finance function value chain and what service business leaders can expect to receive from finance in the future. We will...

How does an AI-first finance function operate? This is THE key question to answer when trying to predict how the finance function will look in 2035. In this week’s show, we will start making more granular predictions to draw a concrete picture of how we see the finance function will operate in 2035. Listen to this week's #FinanceMaster Show to share your predictions and help us build a finance fun...

We’ve set out on the ambitious mission to predict what the finance function will look like in 2035. Part of this work is also to help you create a concrete plan to get there. In this week’s show we discuss how you could shape up a new finance transformation strategy to embark on the journey. We do this with the outset in the new vision for Finance 2035, “Think “AI first” to realize the people pote...

A lot can happen in a decade and especially with the advances within artificial intelligence it’s very exciting to look ahead. We will formulate a vision for the finance function in 2035. It will cover what a finance strategy should include, a new operating and service delivery model, the technology landscape, a capability deep-dive, and a re-imagined culture. In this week’s episode of the #Financ...

We're almost halfway into the 2020 decade and it's time for a status of the predictions made by McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte, and others about the finance function at the beginning of the decade. This is the first show in our new series "Finance 2035" where we make our predictions of what Finance will look like ten years from now. Are we making enough progress or do we need to pick up the pace? What ba...

Finance Business Partnering is top of the agenda for most CFO’s It’s time for Finance to transform from a cost center to a profit driver. We do so by elevating ourselves from transactional activities to becoming value-adding business partners. In this episode, Syed Zeeshan Pervez, CFO of FLOW Progressive Logistics in KSA, Bahrain and UAE will discuss with leading advisor to senior finance and FP&a...

It’s easy to predict what work needs to be done in the finance function. We can just look at the annual wheel. It includes annual reporting, month-end close, quarterly forecasting, budgeting, and strategic planning. It should prompt us to imagine life in a futuristic finance function where work is done very differently. In this final #FinanceMaster Show about the annual wheel in Finance we will th...

The annual wheel doesn’t allow for much free time regardless if you’re in accounting or finance. Still, it’s important to carve out time for improvement projects and in this week’s show we’ll look at when and how. If you don’t improve the processes in your annual wheel you might as well buy a hamster wheel and run it day and night – it’ll be the same feeling.

Strategic planning happens at least once per year but mostly finance teams just consolidate the data. In this episode, Anders presents a process for how to get involved in strategic planning. It’s much more than just an update to your strategy – it’s a chance to change course or emphasize on actions that are working. Finance should bring the insights to the table and drive the right strategic choi...

Most companies have started to do quarterly forecasting as they recognize the budget won’t work as a forecast for long. The challenge is that in some companies the forecasting process has become almost as lengthy as budgeting. Let’s explore how to do it differently as you should be able to do it in a week in this week's episode of #FinanceMaster. 

Enough bad has been said about budgeting – let’s explore the good parts. You can use it to drive in-depth dialogues about business developments with business leaders. Don’t use it as the ultimate truth about the future, nor should you allocate 100% of your resources. In this week’s show we will discuss how to optimize the process by ensuring management guidance and buy-in upfront to avoid changing...

Month-end reporting is a never-ending cycle but what’s the purpose? In this week’s #FinanceMaster Show Anders explores that further. At the core it’s about informing management about past performance and discussing actions for future performance. Too often we’re stuck in the past though so we’ll give you some hacks to improve the process by breaking down the process into atoms and discuss how to m...

If you’re as old as me, you probably remember the song “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer. Another thing we cannot touch, at least in finance and accounting, is the Annual Report. It’s almost like the Holy Grail or pinnacle of the work we do in the finance function. If we were to suggest any radical changes to the notion of publishing an annual report, the finance profession would likely bring out...

Finance is a function of traditions. Every year we repeat the same old processes. Annual reporting, budgeting, month-end close, etc. We try to do things more efficiently, utilize technology where possible, and move our time spent to more value-adding activities. Yet, fundamentally we’re still doing the same as we’ve done for decades.  In this episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders dives into how we can...

The application of AI in business is long gone as a philosophical question. AI is driving business decisions daily worldwide and there’s much to gain by AI-enabling your business processes. However, in many finance functions, the application of AI is still in its infancy. This leaves finance professionals frustrated as they are overworked running countless manual spreadsheet-driven processes that...

This episode of #FinanceMaster, sponsored by Jedox, uncovers different frameworks and approaches finance teams can use to boost collaboration with other functions. Whatever their current opinion of Finance, we see an open-door invitation to come and contribute to driving the business. Business leaders want to make the best possible decisions, so why wouldn’t they want Finance’s help? 

CFOs need to do company planning and forecast the future. CEOs need this and are willing to accept best guesses and reprioritization whenever necessary. However, it has proven challenging for CFOs to accept the new reality. In this episode of #FinanceMaster, joined by Jan-Philipp Menke, Principle Value Architect at Jedox, the sponsor of today’s show, focuses on tangible shifts CFOs should make to...

Companies have struggled with their data infrastructure for years, and the CFO and CIO are often at the center of it. Why is it important to get on top of the data challenge? There are two main challenges. First, with the advent of Generative AI and an increasing amount of AI applications, they must be built on quality data. Second, we use data to drive performance management across the company. T...

The world of work is changing. Automation and AI are taking over many tasks previously done by humans. That’s particularly true in Finance, where much transactional work is rule-based and can be done faster and better by machines. This could lead you to think that abundant talented finance professionals would be available. That is not the case. In this week’s episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders disc...

It’s been a popular saying for the past 20 years that the CFO should become the co-pilot of the business. With Generative AI, the game is changing.  In this episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders explores the capabilities of Generative AI for CFOs and discusses what comes next since the co-pilot role is now spoken for. 

In recent years, low or negative interest rates led to increased company debt levels, with CFOs enjoying plentiful resources for funding investments. However, the current environment sees rising interest rates and tighter capital markets, necessitating CFOs to act swiftly. With debt reduction, enhanced productivity, and optimized resources key drivers of strategic value creation, and debt reductio...

CSR was a topic for the Sustainability and Communication departments five to ten years ago. Now, Finance is moving into this space as well. But why is that important for CFOs?  In this week’s episode of #FinanceMaster, sponsored by Jedox, Anders is joined by Wolfgang von Loeper Jedox’s Solutions Advisory Consultant, to delve into how CFOs can leverage ESG metrics to create value, going beyond mere...

In the past, the role of CFO has been associated with optimizing profitability rather than driving company growth. Many believe that CFOs have actually hindered growth within organizations, focusing more on risk mitigation and cost-cutting rather than building the business. In this episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders explores the growing need for CFOs to change their approach and embrace a new minds...

In this week’s episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders discusses the pivotal role of CFOs in driving strategic decision-making and value realization within companies. While the CEO typically oversees strategy formulation and execution, the CFO plays a crucial role in facilitating these processes. Listen now to discover how CFOs can step into the role of strategic leaders in navigating the evolving busin...

In a world of rapid change and unprecedented scenarios, businesses struggle to predict and navigate the future. Business leaders seek insights to support decision-making, placing a heavy responsibility on CFOs and finance teams. In this episode of #FinanceMaster, Anders addresses the uncertainties of the ‘Next Normal’ and explores how CFOs can be prepared and take actionable next steps.