Confidence among CFOs, accountants falls to record low: survey

Rising operating costs and persistent supply chain bottlenecks clouded CFOs’ outlook during the three months ending in June.

By Jim Tyson • July 19, 2022

Nearly one-third of workers plan to quit: Conference Board

Many CFOs are raising wages in order to curb near-record attrition in a highly competitive labor market.

By Jim Tyson • July 18, 2022

The ABCs and IRCs of cannabis accounting

From cash control issues to inadequate reporting and point of sale (POS) software, accounting for cannabis dispensaries is no easy feat and the wrong move can land a company in serious legal trouble.

By Andrew Hunzicker • July 14, 2022

Prices surge 9.1% as Fed girds for tougher inflation fight

The jump last month in “core prices” — excluding volatile food and energy — signals that inflation was widespread. 

By Jim Tyson • July 13, 2022

Inflation knocks small business expectations to record low: NFIB

Small businesses — a bellwether for U.S. economic trends — face persistent hiring challenges in a tight labor market.

By Jim Tyson • July 12, 2022

Cloud computing adds value well beyond agility, efficiency: Deloitte

Companies excelling in the use of cloud computing work with three or four cloud providers rather than only one or two and do not spend much more on cloud platforms and services than their rivals, Deloitte found in a survey.

By Jim Tyson • July 11, 2022

Auditors see inflation plaguing economy for at least 12 months: CAQ

High inflation and tight labor markets have compelled many CFOs to revise business plans during the past several months. Most audit partners see the two challenges persisting.

By Jim Tyson • July 8, 2022

Tapping the cloud can help CFOs craft data-driven ESG strategies

CFOs should look to the cloud and other data-driven technologies to help them build out holistic, long-term ESG strategies in the face of changing regulatory and social pressures.

By Grace Noto • July 8, 2022

M&A falls 21% during first half 2022 amid global turmoil: Refinitiv

As the M&A market shrinks following a banner year in 2021, CFOs eager to pursue a deal can still draw from abundant capital.

By Jim Tyson • July 7, 2022

Binance.US snares former PayPal CFO for future IPO

PayPal alum Jasmine Lee will head up the financial team for cryptocurrency exchange Binance.US as it continues to chart a course to an IPO among a roiled market.

By Grace Noto • July 7, 2022

'Gray-zone aggression' may make some business uninsurable: AEI

CFOs face growing difficulty in curbing risk as geopolitical tensions rise and hostile governments harm global companies with headquarters in rival nations.

By Jim Tyson • July 1, 2022

IPOs worldwide plunged 46% during first half 2022: EY

Many CFOs have held off on IPOs this year as high inflation, a pullback in monetary stimulus and sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine roiled equity markets.

By Jim Tyson • June 30, 2022

Cutting commodities as inflation hedge now 'team sport': Chatham

Companies are moving to reduce their commodities exposure to hedge against spiking inflation and recession fears, but doing so successfully means thinking about this as a “team sport,” Amol Dhargalkar, chairman of the board for Chatham Financial, said.

By Grace Noto • June 30, 2022

Fed inflation fight 'highly likely to involve some pain': Powell

Powell committed the Fed to hitting its 2% inflation target as rising prices undermined consumer expectations and increased the odds of a recession.

By Jim Tyson • June 29, 2022

Dobbs decision will cause worker retention challenges for CFOs

The overturning of Roe v. Wade will likely lead to sweeping logistical and worker retention challenges for CFOs and employers operating across state lines, experts say. 

By Grace Noto • June 29, 2022

SEC fines EY $100M for ethics exam cheating

The SEC penalty against EY follows a $50 million fine against KPMG in 2019 for cheating on internal training exams.

By Jim Tyson • June 28, 2022

PCAOB strengthens requirements for lead auditors

The new requirements come as many companies have expanded their operations globally, leading to an increase in audits executed by multiple accounting firms. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • June 22, 2022

Just one in three CFOs have appetite for more risk: Deloitte

Finance chiefs in the technology, financial services, and manufacturing industries were the least inclined to take on more risk, according to the Deloitte survey.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • June 21, 2022

Icahn sues, questions 'basic integrity' of trillion-dollar CMBS market

The suit comes as the pandemic accelerated changes in shopping and work habits that drive how retail and offices are used and valued, leaving financial executives to grapple with rising uncertainty around how to assess commercial real estate holdings. 

By Maura Webber Sadovi • June 17, 2022

Practical tips for forging a stronger CFO-COO partnership

The duo needn’t be good friends, but the CFO and COO do need to trust each other as transparency and accountability are key.

By Julie Iskow and Jill Klindt • June 16, 2022

Fed failure in fighting inflation 'not an option,' Powell says

The Federal Reserve announced a 0.75 percentage point increase in the main interest rate and indicated that policymakers plan more aggressive tightening in coming months.

By Jim Tyson • June 15, 2022

Gensler sees limit to SEC rule on carbon emissions disclosure

The SEC would only require disclosure on carbon emissions across a supply chain from companies that have publicly committed to revealing such information, Gensler said.

By Jim Tyson • June 14, 2022

AI yields 30% of revenue at tech-savvy companies: Accenture

Despite a big potential boost in profits, most companies fail to seize on the full benefits from artificial intelligence, Accenture found in a survey.

By Jim Tyson • June 13, 2022

How SEC ESG disclosure rules will impact private companies

The responsibility for overseeing how environmental impacts are tracked and measured is expected to fall mainly on CFOs.

By Robert Freedman • June 10, 2022

IKEA finance chief busts four ESG 'myths'

C-suite executives stymied by misperceptions about sustainability are slow to gain from shrinking their companies’ carbon footprints, according to Ingka Group-IKEA CFO Juvencio Maeztu.

By Jim Tyson • June 8, 2022