Challenges Faced by Chief Financial Officers in the Modern Business Environment
CFOs are expected to go far beyond the traditional tasks of bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting, and statutory compliance. They are expected to help drive business strategy and influence operational decision-making with economic context as an essential driver.
For example, they connect plans across the workforce, sales, and supply chain teams to give executives a holistic view of company data and improve decision-making.
CFOs and Technological Disruption
CFOs must be able to build out a team of like-minded people who are flexible enough to adapt to new programs and processes as needed. This requires a high level of knowledge and expertise in data and analytics on top of the traditional accounting, auditing, and compliance skills needed for the position.
As a result, the CFO of tomorrow needs to be able to quickly interpret varied and complex data streams to deliver real-time decision-making support to the company. They also need to be able to support the business growth objectives of their commercial and operational teams while ensuring these goals are grounded in financial reality.
Forecasting, budgeting, analyzing financial strengths and weaknesses, taking corrective action in response to issues, and achieving long-term goal achievement are some of the tasks that CFOs must take regularly. The COVID-19 pandemic and shift to remote work environments have added further complexity to these responsibilities as companies attempt to refocus their operations. As a result, understanding new technologies has become a significant priority for CFOs. In fact, before the pandemic, 42% of respondents from a survey by Allianz Trade said that it was vital for them to understand emerging technology and that it was their top technical skill, ahead of risk management and compliance – both of which are typically considered core functions for finance professionals.
The CFO’s Role in Crisis Management
CFOs have a pivotal role to play in crisis management. They must ensure the organization has processes to monitor whether strategic milestones are being met and that management information, objectives, and incentives align with the strategy. If these do not, CFOs must be able to initiate a review of strategic planning and forecasting processes promptly.
This is why the CFO should have a strong network of external experts that can help them assess and mitigate risk, such as lawyers, insurance agents, and bankers. A good network should also cover those risks that can have non-financial impacts, such as loss of revenue, reputation damage, or employee turnover.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, CFOs need to be able to set up a cash war room and implement aggressive curbs on spending throughout the business in real-time. They must also be able to set up new revenue streams and establish clear reporting metrics that track liquidity in real-time. Similarly, when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, it will be necessary for CFOs to quickly implement strategies and business models to capture a new earnings reality.
CFOs are expected to have their finger on the pulse regarding commercial and operational risk. They should be able to interpret and provide analytics that helps the commercial and operations teams make informed decisions and take calculated risks that support company growth.
Another challenge is navigating economic uncertainty caused by volatile markets and global conflicts. This has increased uncertainty around pricing, taxes, and general supply/demand dynamics. It has also impacted budgeting and forecasting, making it more difficult to anticipate future expenses and revenue.
To manage this, CFOs must develop flexible finance processes and systems that adjust to changing market conditions. Data-guided decision-making, automation tools, and efficient processes can help them remain agile.
For example, many CFOs now use AP automation tools to reduce manual processing tasks and speed up invoice payments. This can free up staff to focus on more strategic work and increase team output while reducing turnover and cost. Ultimately, this approach can help a business avoid costly mistakes and stay ahead of financial regulatory changes and changes to accounting policies.
The CFO’s Role in Talent Management
One of the critical challenges CFOs face is finding talent. Rather than just being the number-crunching gatekeepers they’ve been known for, today’s CFOs need to be strategic and forward-looking. They need to help the organization plan and budget for a pipeline that can be as competitive as possible.
This includes identifying capabilities to create significant value and ensuring talent goes to these areas. It also involves creating a space and culture where people can suggest and explore strategic ideas.
CFOs need to quickly identify threats to sustainability, failing aspects of the business model, declines in funding, and macroeconomic forces that might negatively impact their organization. This requires a deeper understanding of the business and a willingness to go beyond accounting skills and embrace analytics.
The pandemic has inspired more interest in how people metrics shape the top and bottom line and how to improve them through innovative approaches such as flexible work arrangements. And it’s catalyzed more discussion about diversity, equity and inclusion, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
In a business environment that’s constantly changing, CFOS must understand the big picture of what they are trying to accomplish. It’s also essential for them to design financial strategies supporting the company’s objectives.
CFOs must also consider the economic environment when they plan their budget and other investments. This may include forecasting the return of a full-time workforce or remote work, interest rate assumptions, stock market gyrations, and donor behavior that affect government contract renewals.
Having access to the correct information helps CFOs navigate these challenges. In 2023, this means leveraging technology to automate and improve cash flow reporting and visibility. This can help reduce expenses while improving liquidity. It also involves using a predictive analytics solution to identify and understand the positive or negative impacts of current and future market trends and conditions.
The CFO’s Role in Sustainability Challenges
CFOs are essential in establishing sustainability goals and strategies and leveraging new technologies to improve data management and handle environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. They also need to collaborate with risk leaders to ensure ESG strategies align with overall enterprise risk management.
Managing cash flow is another challenging aspect of the job. A healthy balance between incoming revenue and accounts receivable and short- and long-term liabilities is crucial to financial health. CFOs must also be adept at analyzing and modeling the impacts of various economic conditions on revenue, and they must use forecasting tools that allow them to rapidly adjust to changing market trends.
A key challenge is educating the board and other top-management team members on the financial implications of their business decisions. This can be achieved by avoiding financial jargon and speaking in terms that non-financial people can understand. For example, putting off capital investments or switching to lower-quality vendors may seem like cost-control measures, but these might have negative long-term consequences.
CFOs and Globalization
CFOs must contend with a world that is more complex than ever before. Fluctuating markets, a potential economic recession, and political instability create uncertainty that affects operations and the ability to fund programs. CFOs need to adapt quickly and efficiently in the face of these changes. They must rely on tools like predictive analytics and scenario planning to help them anticipate future financial challenges and opportunities.
In addition, not-for-profit organizations are now grappling with issues that have never before impacted them. These include the need to reduce expenses and the impact of increased taxes, a more unpredictable fundraising environment, and a new set of donor expectations.
The CFO’s emerging role as a chief frontier officer is fitting because finance leaders are the only executives who can look at data on a global basis and evaluate its impact on different business segments and markets. This is a unique perspective that can help to drive business transformation initiatives and ensure their success. Moreover, CFOS must invest in its staff and foster a culture of continuous learning. This can be done by investing in training budgets and exposing staff to experiences outside their regular duties through job rotation and special projects.
The CFO’s Role in Innovation Challenges
In an era of COVID-19-inspired uncertainty, global conflicts, altered operations, and new consumer behaviors, CFOs face several innovation challenges. These challenges include forecasting with data that may not be reliable due to constantly changing assumptions, assessing risk in new ways, and finding staff members who are curious about technology, open to learning, and have strong communication skills.
As they navigate these challenges, finance leaders must be able to provide accurate and timely reporting paired with strategic flexibility aligned tightly with business goals. These efforts include optimizing internal processes, forging strong bonds with vendors, and implementing new business models prioritizing innovation, collaboration, communication, resilience, and flexibility.
These challenges include improving data management to handle unpredictable economic scenarios, ensuring robust ESG compliance, and investing in cybersecurity to avoid fraud and other costs. It is also essential that finance leaders develop a network of professionals with expertise in insurance, attorneys, bankers, and accountants to support these efforts. Ultimately, effective CFOs are those who can find innovative solutions to today’s most pressing challenges and drive sustainable growth.
Challenges Faced by Chief Financial Officers in the Modern Business Environment CFOs are expected to go far beyond the traditional tasks of bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting, and statutory compliance. They are expected to help drive business strategy and influence operational decision-making with economic context as an essential driver. For example, they connect plans across the…
