SPOTLIGHT: Audit and Advisory–Beyond the Numbers

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Smart Audits and Advisory Powered by AI

3 mins read
As a Senior Financial Executive with experience in Public Accounting and the ability to leverage data to drive insights, I see a great entrepreneurial opportunity to underscore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming audit and advisory services driving innovation and efficiency to unlock new insights. AI is increasingly being integrated into nearly every aspect of our lives and industries. So, it should not come as a surprise that AI has weaved itself into both audit and advisory platforms to significantly enhance and improve efficiency, accuracy, risk detection, and the delivery of strategic insights. This article explores some of the ways that AI can be used as a tool to elevate the audit process to deliver both operational value and strategic guidance.…

10 Business Strategies to Navigate Tariffs and Tax Uncertainty

PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES: In an environment marked by fluctuating tariff negotiations, ongoing debates in Congress over tax proposals that could significantly impact businesses and divergent views on whether a V-shaped recovery or a potential recession lies ahead, businesses are navigating considerable uncertainty. Regardless of what the future holds, it’s crucial for businesses to strategize and plan proactively. While factors like tariffs, tax policies and broader market dynamics may be beyond a company’s control, there are actionable strategies to position your business for resilience and potential growth. Here are 10 strategies to position your business for a recovery and mitigate the impact of potential economic downturns…

CFO & Leadership Catalyst

The Game-Changing Power of a CFO with Business Development Skills: Bridging Finance and Strategic Growth

6 mins read
Traditionally, the CFO’s role has been centered around core financial responsibilities such as reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and ensuring regulatory compliance. While these responsibilities remain crucial, today’s CFOs are stepping into a more strategic, forward-thinking role that drives business development, fosters growth, and fuels innovation. This article explores how combining financial expertise with a business development acumen can drive growth, optimize strategic investments, and align a company’s financial strategy with its long-term business goals.…

The Glass Cannon: Leading When Strength Is Fragile

5 mins read
Recently, I posted about the concept of a “glass cannon.” It’s a term borrowed from gaming, used to describe a character that delivers massive damage but has almost no defense. It’s powerful, yes, but fragile. High output. Low durability. Deadly, but vulnerable. I didn’t expect it to resonate the way it did. But it turns out the glass cannon isn’t…

Technology & AI

The Future of Finance Operations: Agentic AI and Evolving Service Models

5 mins read
Agentic AI in finance
Financial Operations are entering a new transformative era driven by artificial intelligence and automation. At the center of this transformative era is agentic AI. Eventually this will lead to autonomous, “self-driving” AI systems that can perceive, reason and act with very limited and in some cases no human interaction. Today we are at the embryonic stage of maturity and are just linking this technology capability to the right business processes where it will add the most value. Unlike today’s generative AI (which requires human prompts) or…

How AI is Rewriting the CFO Playbook

11 mins read
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come a long way from back-office automation. Far surpassing number crunching, it actively shapes strategy, influences boardrooms, and helps financial executives lead with insight, speed, and…

Financial Strategies & Management

Going Beyond EBIDTA: Building an Effective Cash Management Culture in 2025

3 mins read
Building a cash culture is difficult and requires team effort. Achieving this cultural change should be considered a worthy goal, especially when a company is facing an uncertain business or banking environment. After all, if you are out of cash (i.e. liquidity) you are out of business; future profits will not help when your liabilities start to exceed your assets, and your bank has said “no”. A strong cash management culture will allow companies more flexibility when unexpected demands for liquidity arise, from 3rd parties like your investors, banks or vendors. Additionally, a strong cash management culture lessens a company’s dependance…

Strengthening CMO-CFO Collaboration

3 mins read
In an important session of The Financial Executives Networking Group (FENG), two notable thought leaders, Mark Sue and Reed Berglund, unraveled transformative insights on fostering synergy between CFOs and CMOs. Given their significant expertise and background in finance and marketing,…

Acing the Financial Game in Manufacturing

2 mins read
At a recent gathering of the Manufacturing Special Interest Group (SIG) of The Financial Executives Networking Group (The FENG), financial virtuosos Mark Sue and Scott Meyers dispensed some valuable wisdom on the nitty-gritty of manufacturing, labor efficiency, and the dynamics…

The Case for Project Finance

7 mins read
Why choose project finance, over another type of financing – identifying the common elements of project finance is a worthwhile exercise to determine if project finance is really the best type of financing for your deal. If you cannot envision all of…

The Financial Executives Edge Podcast

The One Big Beautiful Bill

1 min read
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” represents a potential turning point for U.S. fiscal policy, balancing economic recovery with long-term sustainability. It is likely to shape key areas of the 2025 budget and face challenges in gaining bipartisan support. Its eventual impact on businesses, industries, and international relations could reshape the U.S. economic landscape. In this podcast, will we discuss where the bill stands, the most significant areas of the bill, explore whether the provisions are…

Global Tax Reform – Convergence or Divergence?

The global tax system is undergoing significant changes as countries wrestle with questions about who should have the right to tax income, especially in the context of multinational corporations operating across multiple jurisdictions. At the core of the debate is the question of which jurisdiction has the most legitimate claim to tax a company’s profits and how this right is determined. As countries seek to balance sovereignty with fairness, the evolving landscape of international taxation is marked…

Executive Journeys

Aroonkumar Ramachandran (Aroon)

Aroon Ramachandran: Rooted in Chennai, Reaching Worldwide

3 mins read
The latest installment of “Executive Journeys” focuses on Aroonkumar Ramachandran (Aroon), the co-chair of the FENG’s India Chapter in New Delhi. This chapter has experienced incredible growth, due in large part to the efforts of Aroon and his team. I recently sat down with Aroon and gleaned some valuable lessons from his career journey, and how it led him to…

Powered by The Financial Executives Networking Group

Letter From the Editor—June 2025

2 mins read
The Financial Executives Networking Group is pleased with the continued success of the Financial Executives Journal, an online publication dedicated to industry thought leadership, career growth, and professional development. Featured Spotlight The current edition spotlights Audit and Advisory: Beyond the Numbers – The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Smart Audits and Advisory Services…

Internship Opportunities at The FENG

1 min read
Internships are available, on a part-time basis, for college accreditation, at The Financial Executives Networking Group (The FENG). We are seeking creative and motivated marketing, graphics, communications and finance students to join our dynamic team. You will have the opportunity to apply and gain valuable experience in social media and…

Letter From The Editor–April 2025

2 mins read
The Financial Executives Networking Group is pleased with the continued success of the Financial Executives Journal, an online publication dedicated to industry thought leadership, career growth, and professional development. Featured Spotlight The current edition spotlights “Inside 2025’s Boldest Shifts in the Nonprofit Sector”, which explores the evolving landscape that mission-driven organizations…

Topics