Pandemic planning: The CFO's role translating vision into strategy, execution

In today's environment, is it better to bundle a value-added service or to discount heavily to keep income up? This is the kind of question CFOs must answer to keep their companies nimble. 

By Jason Maynard • July 5, 2020

NetApp investing in go-to-market engine despite uncertainty

The cloud data services company is reallocating its resources to bolster its sales ranks and grow market share. 

By Robert Freedman • July 1, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Spend management innovation yields equity value

Spend management technology is about attracting talented staff, reducing compliance problems and scaling back-office operations in a way that creates value. 

By CFO Dive staff

Trading platform equips SaaS companies to sell subscriptions to investors

L.A.-based start-up Pipe says it provides software firms with an alternative to equity and debt by treating annualized customer contracts as tradable assets.

By Robert Freedman • June 30, 2020

How often should CFOs speak with the board?

Planful CEO Grant Halloran recommends CFOs update their company's board several times a week as financial planning becomes all the more fraught.

By Jane Thier • June 27, 2020

Will closing the books this quarter be harder than last?

Omar Choucair, CFO of financial close software provider Trintech, knows why his clients are struggling and how they can mitigate the difficulties.

By Jane Thier • June 25, 2020

Tech firms face tax bite after Supreme Court lets IRS allocation rule stand

Facebook, others were hoping the top court would end an IRS practice that forces more stock compensation to be allocated to foreign subsidiaries. 

By Robert Freedman • June 23, 2020

CFO brings repeat-business mindset, honed at Amazon Prime, to cancer-testing startup

Laboratory for Advanced Medicine finance chief Aarif Nakhooda said customer experience is as important for colon cancer testing as it is for streaming online music or videos.

By Robert Freedman • June 14, 2020

CFO in the Know: Bright spots for biopharma IPOs, but COVID-19 still lurks

The pandemic has helped the atmosphere for biopharma IPOs by changing the focus of drugs from the downside of their pricing to the benefits they offer of better diagnostics and potential cures.

By Ted Knutson • June 8, 2020

How to improve operating leverage without impeding growth

Tech can help keep operating costs down as a percentage of profits, but first, it helps to differentiate which expenses should, and shouldn't, grow with revenue.  

By Robert Freedman • June 8, 2020

CFOs positioned to lead supply chain retooling as economic slowdown abates

It’s not enough to find one or two cheaper suppliers. Global disruptions show the need for an integrated overhaul of supply chains, a specialist in the field says.

By Jane Thier • June 4, 2020

For SaaS CFO, success is seeing everything through FP&A lens

Computational functions are best left to software systems, allowing finance staff to focus on the meaning behind the numbers, tech CFO John Bonney says.

By Robert Freedman • June 3, 2020

Unpacking the cloud with Zuora's new CFO

Todd McElhatton spoke with CFO Dive about his priorities and the future of cloud-based software for finance teams.

By Jane Thier • June 2, 2020

Fast CFO action equipped residential builder to survive downturn

Putting land deals on hiatus, improving cash visibility and understanding buyer concerns has helped the finance chief of Meritage Homes keep the company on an ambitious growth track.  

By Robert Freedman • May 31, 2020

Using real-time data to set contract worker pay

As shutdowns lift, companies are relying heavily on expensive contract workers without knowing what other companies are paying.

By Jesse Levin • May 27, 2020

Sony CFO: 'We're concerned this might continue for a long time'

The company reported an 86% plunge in quarterly net profit this year, but its CFO said, even amid operating losses, "with a high degree of financial discipline," it can still manage an effective balance sheet.

By Jane Thier • May 14, 2020

Small-business specialist sees coronavirus crisis as way to help customers, retool financially

The CFO of payroll software provider Gusto sees the downturn as an opportunity to reevaluate costs, vendor relations and investment choices.

By Robert Freedman • May 13, 2020

CFO in the Know: Are CFOs ready to go with the EU's medical device regulations?

Requiring fewer applications to submit for approval, the new process could ultimately cost companies less.

By Ed McCarthy • May 12, 2020

Gusto took steps to control its financial destiny, CFO says

Facing devastation among its small-business clients, the SaaS-based payroll company cut costs despite its healthy balance sheet.  

By Robert Freedman • May 7, 2020

CFO's challenge: Balancing fast growth with controls

As data governance start-up PeerNova prepares to resume expansion after the shutdown, its CFO brings hard-won lessons to head off its accounting problems.

By Robert Freedman • May 6, 2020

As transactions move online, handling fraud, friction become key

Too much fraud protection means too few sales. CFOs need to decide what balance they're willing to accept as e-commerce increases. 

By Robert Freedman • May 5, 2020

In crisis, not enough for processes to be on cloud; they need to be unified

Stay-at-home mandates have shown how crucial cloud systems are for maintaining one's finance and accounting operations. But using a variety of systems will hinder your agility. 

By John O'Rourke • April 24, 2020

Post-pandemic M&A: Remote-work, med-tech deals to fuel recovery

Low interest rates will lure acquirers; they're using the downturn to reassess valuations and deal structures. 

By Ted Knutson • April 20, 2020

A CFO whose big spending paid off

When trying to grow a recurring-revenue company, bookings are more important than revenue, a veteran SaaS finance executive says.

By Robert Freedman • April 19, 2020

CFOs' challenge: Anticipating the new normal

As you try modeling what the world will look like post-COVID, don't assume a return to the past, planning specialists say.

By Robert Freedman • April 16, 2020

COVID-19 'first real test' of digitization for office of CFO

"All the older stuff was just feel-good," said Genpact's Sanjay Srivastava, as CFOs have to manage significant declines in finance teams' productivity.

By Jane Thier • April 14, 2020