Finance-related Articles

Here’s the latest list of Finance-related articles that can be previewed and are available for purchase via Stripe. Following card payment and payment confirmation, the ones you have ordered will be emailed to you as individual PDF files. See also the Pricing and Terms page.

Stock code 1 Finance – Integrated Models (c1,400 words excluding quotations)

Year-to-date financial information is barely worth a glance by the board. As with driving a vehicle, it’s mostly about what’s ahead of you, not driving using the rear-vision mirror. If your organisation doesn’t already have a high level, integrated financial model for the next five or ten years, here’s some issues and advice to consider. Article covers: advantages of developing a ten year plan, top-down and bottom-up flow, integrated I&E, Cashflow and Balance Sheet models, tips on presentation and a diagram of how self-reinforcing loops and self-balancing loops drive the progress towards the long term plan.

Stock code 2A Finance – Choosing KPIs Part 1 of 2 (c2,100 words, excluding quotations)

Organisations typically struggle in selecting their KPIs. They believe they should have some. But cannot agree the ideal set and confuse key performance indicators and performance indicators as well. If your organisation doesn’t do KPI reporting well, perhaps there’s a career-enhancing opportunity for you to step in to help them? Here are some tips and insights. Article covers: Difference between KPIs and KRIs, Business Flexibility KPIs leading to KPIs with examples, Resource Utilisation KPIs leading to KPIs with examples, Innovation KPIs leading to KPIs with examples, Service Quality KPIs leading to KPIs with examples. It also covers a generic set of KPIs and KRIs and the difference between a KPI and a Performance Indicator, with three sets of PI examples.

Stock code 2B Finance – Choosing KPIs Part 2 of 2 (c1,200 words, excluding quotations)

Organisations typically struggle in selecting their KPIs. They believe they should have some. But cannot agree the ideal set and confuse key performance indicators and performance indicators as well. If your organisation doesn’t do KPI reporting well, perhaps there’s a career-enhancing opportunity for you to step in to help them? Here are some tips and insights. Article covers: Efficient ways to report on KPIs/KRIs, the links between KPIs/KRIs and business strategy, how KPIs/KRIs might differ within a sector, process indicators in efficiency-led organisations and finally, a generic set of business flexibility KPIs, relating to a portfolio of options.

Stock code 3 Finance – Benchmarking (c1,700 words, excluding quotations)

It’s human nature to compare ourselves to others. Benchmarking can sometimes be seen by businesses as an unnecessary extravagance. Here are some insights on how it can be a vital tool in your organisation’s journey. Article covers: 5 reasons to benchmark, what else can benchmarking do, is benchmarking a silver bullet in planning, where do I start, some tables of suggested benchmarks, charity sector case study and benchmarking growth rates.

Stock code 4 Finance – Entity Structure Reporting (c2,000 words, excluding quotations)

Entity reporting is key to structural reporting in organisations of any size. Here are some things to consider on the path to national, international and global growth. Article covers: Entity definition, why set up subsidiary entities, aligning the financial entity coding structure to growth plans, foreign company or branch, suppliers for the foreign entity, internal control measures, foreign jurisdiction funds transfer restrictions, central recharges to subsidiary entities, financing for growth and expansion, treasury and investment funds management, optimal number of subsidiary entities, governance control, strategic alliances and joint ventures.

Stock code 5 Finance – Resource Capacity and Usage (c1,400 words, excluding quotations)

Resource capacity and usage management present organisations with opportunities to improve performance and realise their mission. Here are some things to help. Article covers: What is a resource, key resources in use in most companies and charities, difference between a resource and an asset, difference between resource capacity and resource usage and resource utilisation, including resource efficiency and resource effectiveness.

Stock code 6 Finance – Business Cases (c1,200 words, excluding quotations)

Business cases form an important foundation for business decision-making. What are some of the things to consider? Article covers: What’s the value of a business case, what should a business case contain, when should you prepare a business case, generic decisions relying on a business case, discount rate to use, business case timeframe, real options value, business case culture, security and infrastructure projects, efficiency and innovation projects and final thoughts.

Stock code 7 Finance – Forecasting (c2,200 words, excluding quotations)

Forecasting is arguably one of the most valuable things a Finance Business Partner (FBP) can spend time on. Yet as a finance function, how skilled are we as forecasters and scenario planners? Here are some tips and guidance to help you improve the forecasting at your organisation. Article covers: key drivers of good forecasts, forecast ownership and forecast realism, forecasting biases, how do options impact forecasts, internal logic and linkages, not for profit forecasting example, story telling and final thoughts.

Stock code 10 Finance – Internal Recharges including staff to projects (c1,100 words, excluding quotations)

Transfer prices and internal cost recharges become important as organisations become more complex in their structures. Here are some issues to consider. Article covers: Transfer prices, transfer costs, staff cost recharges, charging estimates and licensing the use of IP across international borders.

Stock code 13 Finance – Fixed Assets and Building Resources (c1,800 words, excluding quotations)

Fixed assets isn’t the most glamorous of subjects, even in the accounting world. However, it pays to understand how some kinds of changes in your organisation will affect fixed assets, with a knock-on effect for your I&E. Building resources with their capacity and usage features also tell an interesting story. Here are some things to look out for. Article covers: case study, opex and capex, building repairs and renovations, fixed assets registers & custody equipment registers, business case tracking, building resources capacity and usage, steps to take to improve building asset return on investment.

Stock code 15 Finance – Risk Management (c2,500 words, excluding quotations)

Risk management remains an enduring requirement for organisations to remain a going concern, participate in a merger and be credible to their stakeholders. Here are some things to consider. Article covers: Risk capacity, risk position & risk appetite, risk assessment & risk management, risk mitigations with examples, three lines of defense model and examples of how trial lawyers & military forces use defence tactics, with the business organisational equivalents.

Stock code 16 Finance – Scaling Up versus Controls, and Internationalisation (c2,200 words, excluding quotations)

There’s a natural tension that develops when organisations try scale too quickly. But don’t get their controls right – ‘growing pains’ can result. The opposite problem is excessive red-tape and risk aversion stifling growth ambitions. Meanwhile, a significant mindset change is needed at board level to make the shift from regional and national to international and even global in scale. This article examines the issues. Article covers: Scaling up while maintaining internal control, how does complexity ‘creep’ into the organisational structure as organisations scale up, what do successful international or global companies have in common, seven ways to help achieve a balance of fast growth while retaining adequate internal controls, growth and business strategy, growth, control and courage, growth and human mental flexibility, tips for growth by balancing growth with controls and finally, internationalisation and globalisation.

Stock code 17 Finance – Stakeholder Relationships and Key Decisions (c1,800 words, excluding quotations)

Stakeholder relations are a key ingredient for organisational success. Here are some things to consider and some tips for success. Article covers: Who are the key stakeholders in most organisations, why are they key stakeholders, board composition, who are some of the other stakeholder groups, Investment Committees & decisions, key decisions needed with a table of examples, the relationship between Board & Executive, the relationship between the Board & the Council and finally, the relationship between the Executive & the staff,

Stock code 18 Finance – Time as a Strategic Resource Part 1 of 2 (c1,100 words, excluding quotations)

Time needs to be managed as a strategic resource in organisations. Here are some approaches to support this. Article covers: Introduction to time as a strategic resource, buying time examples, playing for time examples, re-inventing time examples.

Stock code 19 Finance – Time as a Strategic Resource Part 2 of 2 (c1,100 words, excluding quotations)

Time needs to be managed as a strategic resource in organisations. Here are some approaches to support this. Article covers: The value of business time is relative, time in competitive business is a race, time KPIs, how time impacts your organisation’s balance sheet, time & business flexibility, time horizons & cost behaviour, opportunity cost of time, diminishing returns, progress is uneven over time.

Stock code 20 Finance – Business Strategy (c1,600 words, excluding quotations)

Business strategy is key to organisational success. What are some of the issues to consider? Article covers: Business strategy & functional strategy, business strategy, strategic focus, international business strategy and the links between business strategy & business flexibility.

Stock code 21 Finance – Counter-Balance Demand and Counter-Balance Supply (c1,300 words, excluding quotations)

Counter-balance demand is the counter approach to seeking out and servicing business demand. Counter-balance supply is the counter approach to providing a supply. Both can be exploited to improve business flexibility and deliver economic benefit. Here are some ways to do that. Article covers: What are three ways that a counter-balance demand approach can be put to good use in business, final comments on counter-balance demand and finally, what are five ways that a counter-balance supply approach can be put to good use in business.

Stock code 22 Finance – Leveraging Intellectual Property for Income (c1,200 words, excluding quotations)

Leveraging Intellectual Property as an income stream is well worth looking at, whether your organisation is commercially based, or charitable in nature. This article explores some of the ways that you can generate additional income streams from IP. Article covers: IP and business strategy, distinctive history IP opportunities, sizeable collection IP opportunities, links to external brand IP opportunities, peer associations generating IP income and finally, how does IP development aid business flexibility?

Stock code 24 Finance – Major Change Programmes (c2,200 words, excluding quotations)

Major change programmes are a growing business theme, accelerated by the proliferation of AI. Here are some things to consider, to make your major change programme a success. Article covers: Programmes and projects, business cases – why, when and how much, 8 threats to change programme success, funding options, programme governance, programme control, and lastly, system and design limitations.

Stock code 28 Finance – Business Flexibility in an AI age Part 1 of 2 (c1,300 words, excluding quotations)

We are early in the AI age, with mounting uncertainty on multiple fronts about how Ai will change our lives. Business flexibility (BFL) is a tool to manage business uncertainty. So what role will BFL increasingly play in the AI age? This article explores some of the issues. Article covers: AI and its impact on future uncertainty, and lastly, blending business flexibility with the digital journey.

Stock code 29 Finance – Business Flexibility in an AI age Part 2 of 2 (c1,400 words, excluding quotations)

We are early in the AI age, with mounting uncertainty on multiple fronts about how Ai will change our lives. Business flexibility (BFL) is a tool to manage business uncertainty. So what role will BFL increasingly play in the AI age? This article explores some of the issues. Article covers: How might AI create uncertainty, flexibility-AI matrix, a recap on business flexibility and uncertainty, what might an options portfolio look like (with examples), can we expect to see flexibility exhibited on AI ethics, is there a psychology associated with flexibility and finally, what more can I do?

Stock code 32 Finance – Business Resilience Part 1 of 2 (c1,700 words, excluding quotations)

Resilience is a key element of business flexibility. What are some of the aspects of resilience that will help our organisations endure and thrive? Article covers: Protection (6 kinds of threats management), durability (things that influence it), grit (human determination and how we handle setbacks) and healing rate, with examples from military settings and how to speed up the healing rate in a business setting.

Stock code 36 Finance – Career Management (c2,100 words, excluding quotations)

Career management in the AI age is tricky and involves progressive skills development and personal growth. This article provides some advice and tips on what to consider. Article covers: Career management ownership, mushroom & pyramid-shaped career paths, professional membership body benefits, developing wider corporate services line oversight, building reputation & transferable skills, best efforts & mentors, career management & risk management, career management & direction and lastly, some common reasons why people leave their jobs.

Stock code 37 Finance – Office Politics and Business Values Part 1 of 2 (c1,200 words, excluding quotations)

Office politics and business values are the backbeat to our professional work. Let’s delve further into some of the issues surrounding both things. Article covers: Office politics & generic types, office politics, culture & strategy, mindsets & observed behaviour and finally, checks & balances.

Stock code 38 Finance – Office Politics and Business Values Part 2 of 2 (c1,100 words, excluding quotations)

Office politics and business values are the backbeat to our professional work. Let’s delve further into some of the issues surrounding both things. Article covers: Office politics in large organisations, office politics, good governance & succession planning, how do ‘office politicians’ react to bad news, changing systems versus changing staff cultures, things in short supply & things in plentiful supply, business values, business values, diversity & inclusion,

Stock code 39 Finance – Leadership Part 1 of 2 (c1,600 words, excluding quotations)

Leadership is a big subject. What are some fresh and insightful ways to think about leadership, grounded in years of finance leadership and management experience? Article covers: Soft & hard skills of leadership, leadership & management-what’s the difference, leaders as innovators, leaders as pioneers.

Stock code 40 Finance – Leadership Part 2 of 2 (c1,800 words, excluding quotations)

Leadership is a big subject. What are some fresh and insightful ways to think about leadership, grounded in years of finance leadership and management experience? Article covers: How does leadership relate to business vision & business mission, is there a need for leadership upwards, leadership in a crisis -what can you do (with case study), 7 qualities of today & tomorrow’s leaders, leadership & empowerment, leadership & succession planning and lastly, mentoring.

Stock code 51 Finance – AI and the Finance Function Part 1 of 2 (c2,100 words, excluding quotations)

AI remains one of the biggest technological changes of our times and will in time, put various issues about human leadership into the trivial issues box. What are some of the AI issues, including for the finance function? Article covers: AI & robotics – setting the scene, structured data development, finance staff-AI partnerships, implications for finance teams, what role can AI play in delivering organisational growth, technology strategy, systems to data emphasis, mass customisation and lastly, how soon can we expect to see significant AI management in our sector?

Stock code 52 Finance – AI and the Finance Function Part 2 of 2 (c1,500 words, excluding quotations)

AI remains one of the biggest technological changes of our times and will in time, put various issues about human leadership into the trivial issues box. What are some of the AI issues, including for the finance function? Article covers: How will AI transform the economics of your sector and your business, AI economics, phase 1 & phase 2 time periods, charity planning, what’s the future of the finance function in an AI-dominated world and finally, business flexibility in an AI world.

HR-related Articles

Here’s the latest list of HR-related articles that can be previewed and are available for purchase via Stripe. Following card payment and payment confirmation, they will be emailed to you as individual PDF files.

Stock code 104 HR – Workforce Planning & Talent Recruitment (c1,600 words excluding quotations)

Workforce planning and talent recruitment remain a significant challenge in many organisations. What are some of the issues and HR KPIs to consider? Article covers: Some economic realities – the employment contract & the labour market, human workforce resources, HR KPI review (with examples of 5 areas), workforce planning and lastly, talent recruitment.

Stock code 109 HR – Making HR more strategic in the AI age (c1,700 words excluding quotations)

HR needs a voice at the levels of the board and senior management team. What are some of the issues to consider, in order to make HR more strategic in the AI age? Article covers: The AI age – setting the scene, HR function concerns, the author’s perspective, how does the HR function need to become more strategic in the future, how could business flexibility help (with examples), sectors remaining human-relationship rich (with BFL examples), and lastly, what about federal & state labour force strategies and priorities.

Lifestyle-related Articles

Here’s the latest list of Lifestyle-related articles that can be previewed and are available for purchase via Stripe. Following card payment and payment confirmation, they will be emailed to you as individual PDF files.

Stock code 65 Lifestyle – Short and Long Term Friendships (c1,100 words, excluding quotations)

We all need friends in our lives. This article explores some of the kinds of friendships available and the ingredients of a good friendship. Article covers: Long and shorter friendships, what makes a good friendship, friends versus allies, ‘band of brothers’ friendships, opposite gender friendships and finally, romantic friendships.

Stock code 66 Lifestyle – Facing setbacks, including relationship breakups (c1,400 words, excluding quotations)

Facing failure and setbacks is a key part of character development and arguably, a rite of passage on the path to success. This article explores the issues further and links setbacks to resilience building. Article covers: What makes setbacks hard, how are setbacks related to resilience, financial setbacks, life-threatening setbacks, setbacks with significant emotional damage – betrayal, grief or rejection, setbacks that result from our own poor judgement and lastly, positive moments.

Stock code 67 Lifestyle – Parenting and Step Parenting (c1,400 words, excluding quotations)

Parenting and step-parenting isn’t for the faint-hearted. It will test your health and develop your character in a thousand unpredictable ways! Here are some insights from the author about what to expect. Article covers: What makes a good parent, step-parenting, and finally, we are family…

Stock code 69 Lifestyle – Thinking and living outside your comfort zone (c1,300 words, excluding quotations)

Venturing beyond your comfort zone isn’t just liberating and fun. It also fuels personal growth and character development. Here are some things to consider. Article covers: How does a comfort zone happen, a virtuous cycle, case studies and finally, how acting outside your comfort zone stimulates thinking outside your comfort zone.