Most CEOs and CFOs are presented with multiple opportunities during the course of a year to embark on new projects. One of the biggest challenges they face is deciding which proposed projects will deliver adequate value to justify moving forward.
As noted in a recent CFO.com...
Despite the recent stock market slump, the broader economic picture for the country remains strong. Revenue growth has been an especially welcome sign of the times. But revenue, of course, is just one side of the financial equation. Costs are the other side and controlling...
How important do you think that cultivating trust in business is to the big-picture success of a firm? It’s probably more important than you think, based on the results of a new study that was recently conducted by Accenture Strategy. This is true not just...
You’ve no doubt heard of the 80-20 rule. Also known as the Pareto Principle after its late-19th century founder William Pareto, the 80-20 rule can be applied to many different things including time management, productivity, investing, the distribution of labor, and sales. It states that...
With much of the recent economic news positive and upbeat, the Federal Reserve has embarked on a rate-rising campaign to combat concerns about inflation. Unfortunately, higher interest rates translate into higher costs for many mid-sized businesses.
Of course, interest rates are just one cost that must...
Economic optimism has been rampant in the U.S. over the past year or so, with leading economic indicators rising and consumer confidence levels soaring. But healthcare organizations are a glaring exception to all the economic blue sky and sunshine. Uncertainty and frustration due in large...
Owners of seasonal businesses often face unique financial challenges when it comes to managing the business. This is especially true for retail businesses, many of which rely on sales made during the last quarter of the year to ensure a profit for the entire year.
The...
At first glance, the finance and production planning functions in a mid-sized business don’t seem to have a lot to do with each other. They are separated functionally and don’t often communicate with each other directly. Also, production planning reports to an operations director or supervisor while finance reports...
As we near the midpoint of 2017, both the business and economic environments in the U.S. remain relatively healthy and strong. This is reflected in the high levels of optimism among small business owners. The most recent National Federation of Independent Business Index of Small Business Optimism stood at...
Standard financial accounting systems don’t always meet the accounting needs of all small and mid-sized firms. This is especially true for project-based businesses that provide professional services and companies in the construction and manufacturing industries who have long project lead times, as well as companies that work with government entities...