Cash Flow Forecast, Budget, or Financial Strategy? You Need All Three.
Cash flow forecast, budget, and financial strategy each answer a different question. Here is what each one does, the mistake most businesses make, and the order to build them.
Stop Explaining Variances. Start Making Decisions.
Most monthly finance meetings explain the past. Here are seven questions, a simple forecast formula, and when a rolling forecast is worth it.
How to Build a Budget You’ll Actually Use to Decide
A budget is not a report card. It is a decision tool. Here is how to build one in ten steps and three phases, with a decision at every step.
The Budget Conversation to Have Before the Numbers
Most budget fights are not about numbers. They are about expectations nobody agreed on. Make these three decisions before you open the spreadsheet.
Ten Ways to Move Cash (Working Capital Part 4)
Ten practical levers finance leaders can pull to move cash, from invoicing speed to payment terms to trapped work in progress. Part 4 of the Working Capital series.
Your Bank Balance Is Not a Forecast (Working Capital Part 3)
Growth challenges cash flow, and that is normal. A bank balance cannot forecast cash. Part 3 of the Working Capital series on why cash forecasting is a strategic tool, not a reporting chore.
Working Capital is a Team Sport (Working Capital - Part 2)
CFOs and their teams have a growing responsibility around financial literacy. Each function and leader has an impact on working capital and the financial strategy, yet most are not educated to understand what that means for the organization.
Working Capital is Cool Again (Working Capital Part 1)
Working capital is important for businesses because money is no longer cheap. CFOs need to focus on liquidity and cashflow differently.
Profit Takes the Chair (Part 3: Profit, and a Friendly Fight About a Dollar)
When does profit become the KPI? Part 3 of the Equation Series, including why a dollar saved is not more than a dollar earned.
The Messy Middle Is a Margin Game (Part 2: Gross Margin)
Past a million in revenue, the KPI shifts. Gross margin is the scalable variable. Part 2 of the Equation Series on financial strategy by stage.
The Equation Is Simple. Your Stage Is Not. (Part 1: Revenue)
Revenue less Expenses equals Profit. Simple equation, wrong focus for most early-stage CEOs. Part 1 of the Equation Series on financial strategy by stage.
Former Auditors Are a Step Ahead As AI-enabled Leaders
Do you know what’s funny about AI and financial strategy?
Those of us that are traditionally trained CAs - did our years in audit - are ready!
Because with AI 🤖 you can lead and direct. And then you can (and SHOULD) audit hard of the output. The critical thinking that has served us our whole career is now on fire 🔥 in the best of ways.
And that is so much more fun and close to the heart 💜 then plugging in formulas and manually creating spreadsheets.
The Most Expensive Decisions Are the Ones You Feel.
Money is emotional regardless of your financial literacy, experience or title.
I Couldn’t Stop Writing About Financial Strategy.
There’s lots to say on the topic of financial strategy and Jamie L. Smith, CPA loves to research and share on the topic.
Data Doesn’t Create Value. Decisions Do.
Data does not create value. If never did. And now it’s plenty so even more so. Value comes from the insights and action we take - data driven impact.
Why CFOcoaching.com?
Many CFOs are exceptional finance professionals but fail to show up as business leaders first. In this inaugural CFO Coaching article, Jamie L. Smith, CPA explores why the future CFO must evolve beyond accounting, budgeting, and reporting to lead strategy, AI adoption, growth, and organizational change.