Articles
Peloton and the Cost of Linear Thinking: A Scenario Planning Case Study
In volatile environments, linear thinking is dangerous. The challenge for leadership is not the avoidance of uncertainty, but rather the designing of strategies that remain resilient and opportunistic as conditions change.
In volatile environments, linear thinking is dangerous. The challenge for leadership is not the avoidance of uncertainty, but rather the designing of strategies that remain resilient and opportunistic as conditions change.
03/03/2026
Scenario Planning: Moving Finance from Bottleneck to Business Partner
Scenario planning is taking steps to prepare for a multitude of different futures. This case study looks at tactical scenarios at the point where the business meets the customer, and finance wants to support business flexibility while maintaining financial discipline.
Scenario planning is taking steps to prepare for a multitude of different futures. This case study looks at tactical scenarios at the point where the business meets the customer, and finance wants to support business flexibility while maintaining financial discipline.
03/02/2026
Planning for an Uncertain Future: Why FP&A Must Let Go of False Precision
The real opportunity for FP&A is not to forecast perfectly but to help the business navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. When planning reflects how the world actually works, it becomes more relevant, more trusted and ultimately more valuable.
The real opportunity for FP&A is not to forecast perfectly but to help the business navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. When planning reflects how the world actually works, it becomes more relevant, more trusted and ultimately more valuable.
02/25/2026
4 Insights to Boost Your Annual Payments Checkup
AFP Enterprise Payments Virtual Series: Your Annual Payments Checkup, sponsored by Boost Payment Solutions, explored how leading organizations are strengthening controls, clarifying ownership and modernizing processes to reduce risk while keeping payments moving efficiently.
AFP Enterprise Payments Virtual Series: Your Annual Payments Checkup, sponsored by Boost Payment Solutions, explored how leading organizations are strengthening controls, clarifying ownership and modernizing processes to reduce risk while keeping payments moving efficiently.
02/23/2026
Career Profile: Michelle Murdock, Credit & Accounts Receivable Manager, Mitutoyo America Corporation
For Michelle Murdock, a career in payments didn’t begin with a single defining moment. It developed gradually, through years spent in accounts receivable (AR), where payments aren’t abstract concepts but rather the daily mechanism that keeps the business moving.
For Michelle Murdock, a career in payments didn’t begin with a single defining moment. It developed gradually, through years spent in accounts receivable (AR), where payments aren’t abstract concepts but rather the daily mechanism that keeps the business moving.
02/19/2026
Career Profile: George Uko, Senior Territory Credit Manager, Kubota Tractor Corporation
Like many financial professionals, George Uko’s career in payments and credit didn’t follow a straight line. But it did consistently return to one core focus: managing risk.
Like many financial professionals, George Uko’s career in payments and credit didn’t follow a straight line. But it did consistently return to one core focus: managing risk.
02/19/2026
Career Profile: Rich Shively, Credit Manager, Williams Distributing
Rich Shively’s career expanded across industries, each adding a new dimension to how he thinks about payments and credit risk. His career advice is to stay curious and adaptable.
Rich Shively’s career expanded across industries, each adding a new dimension to how he thinks about payments and credit risk. His career advice is to stay curious and adaptable.
02/19/2026
The Essential Skills for Today’s Finance Professionals
The skills that finance professionals need have evolved significantly over the past decade. While foundational accounting and financial knowledge remain critical, success in today’s world of finance requires a broader, more strategic skill set.
The skills that finance professionals need have evolved significantly over the past decade. While foundational accounting and financial knowledge remain critical, success in today’s world of finance requires a broader, more strategic skill set.
02/18/2026
7 Working Capital Metrics Every Treasury Team Should Track
Monitoring the right metrics is key to managing working capital effectively. This article explains seven metrics that every treasury team should track, along with best practices for ensuring they drive action.
Monitoring the right metrics is key to managing working capital effectively. This article explains seven metrics that every treasury team should track, along with best practices for ensuring they drive action.
01/30/2026
Introducing the 2026 AFP FP&A Advisory Councils
The AFP North America, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) FP&A Advisory Councils (FPAACs) play a critical role in helping AFP provide relevant, timely insights to finance professionals worldwide.
The AFP North America, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) FP&A Advisory Councils (FPAACs) play a critical role in helping AFP provide relevant, timely insights to finance professionals worldwide.
01/29/2026
How Finance Teams Navigate Change and Build Momentum
Finance professionals discuss how teams assess their readiness for change, rally around new initiatives and select rollout strategies that align with their culture and constraints
Finance professionals discuss how teams assess their readiness for change, rally around new initiatives and select rollout strategies that align with their culture and constraints
01/28/2026
How to Choose the Right Rollout Strategy for a Transformation Initiative
At a recent AFP Tech & Change Management Meet-Up, finance leaders discussed how to decide on a rollout strategy for a transformation initiative and evaluate when a pilot has done its job.
At a recent AFP Tech & Change Management Meet-Up, finance leaders discussed how to decide on a rollout strategy for a transformation initiative and evaluate when a pilot has done its job.
01/27/2026
The Role of Prompt Engineering in Finance and Where It Falls Short
Many early adopters of AI raced to master “prompt engineering,” assuming that the key to unlocking AI’s value lay in crafting better, more creative prompts. However, as systems evolve, that mindset is proving insufficient.
Many early adopters of AI raced to master “prompt engineering,” assuming that the key to unlocking AI’s value lay in crafting better, more creative prompts. However, as systems evolve, that mindset is proving insufficient.
01/09/2026
In Memoriam: George Andrew Deichler
AFP mourns the loss of Andrew Deichler, who passed away suddenly due to an illness. Andrew was AFP’s Director of Enterprise Payments Practice and a valued, beloved member of the team.
AFP mourns the loss of Andrew Deichler, who passed away suddenly due to an illness. Andrew was AFP’s Director of Enterprise Payments Practice and a valued, beloved member of the team.
12/23/2025
The Top Treasury, Payments and FP&A Resources from 2025
From revisiting the fundamentals to upskilling for AI, what financial professionals read and watched most in 2025 signals their outlook for 2026. These are the AFP resources that defined the year.
From revisiting the fundamentals to upskilling for AI, what financial professionals read and watched most in 2025 signals their outlook for 2026. These are the AFP resources that defined the year.
12/19/2025
Benchmarks for Financial Professionals: 20 Key Stats on Salaries, Fraud and Tech
Whether you are looking at payments fraud trends or building a long-term business case for automation, these 20 statistics serve as essential benchmarks for financial professionals.
Whether you are looking at payments fraud trends or building a long-term business case for automation, these 20 statistics serve as essential benchmarks for financial professionals.
12/17/2025
Fraud Is Moving Fast — Treasury Needs to Move Faster
During the second companion webinar to the AFP 2025 Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist, AFP gathered industry experts to weigh in on the critical question of why treasury teams aren’t moving faster to close the widening gap between fraud tactics and operational realities.
During the second companion webinar to the AFP 2025 Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist, AFP gathered industry experts to weigh in on the critical question of why treasury teams aren’t moving faster to close the widening gap between fraud tactics and operational realities.
12/10/2025
Cross-Border Payments Trends to Watch: Faster Settlement, ISO 20022 Expansion and Regional Shifts
Advances in instant payment networks, the expansion of ISO 20022, regional realignment of payment systems and the rise of new fraud channels are all coming together in a perfect storm that is redefining cross-border operations.
Advances in instant payment networks, the expansion of ISO 20022, regional realignment of payment systems and the rise of new fraud channels are all coming together in a perfect storm that is redefining cross-border operations.
11/25/2025
Finance Professionals Share Their Goals for 2026: Workflow Automation, Strategic Influence and Upskilling
Get inspiration for your 2026 career goals. Members of AFP’s global FP&A Advisory Councils share what they are hoping to achieve in 2026.
Get inspiration for your 2026 career goals. Members of AFP’s global FP&A Advisory Councils share what they are hoping to achieve in 2026.
11/24/2025
How to Set SMART Goals for Finance Professionals (2026)
Setting goals is a useful practice that provides a roadmap for meaningful growth. A common framework for goals is SMART, an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
Setting goals is a useful practice that provides a roadmap for meaningful growth. A common framework for goals is SMART, an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
11/24/2025
AI Prompts for Finance: 15 Real-World Examples
Finance professionals on the AFP FP&A Advisory Councils share examples of AI prompts that they use in their work.
Finance professionals on the AFP FP&A Advisory Councils share examples of AI prompts that they use in their work.
11/13/2025
Career Advice from Finance Professionals: 6 Strategies to Advance from Entry-Level
When you’re starting out in finance, the path forward in your career can feel anything but clear. That’s where guidance from those who’ve already navigated their career path becomes invaluable. Finance professionals on AFP’s FP&A Advisory Councils share essential strategies for building a successful career in finance today.
When you’re starting out in finance, the path forward in your career can feel anything but clear. That’s where guidance from those who’ve already navigated their career path becomes invaluable. Finance professionals on AFP’s FP&A Advisory Councils share essential strategies for building a successful career in finance today.
11/07/2025
Scaling for Growth: The CFO’s Balancing Act
When industry leaders and innovative thinkers from companies of every size gathered in New York for AFP’s “Scaling for Growth” roundtable, one theme quickly emerged: Regardless of industry or stage of maturity, everyone is grappling with the same core challenge of how to grow effectively without losing control.
When industry leaders and innovative thinkers from companies of every size gathered in New York for AFP’s “Scaling for Growth” roundtable, one theme quickly emerged: Regardless of industry or stage of maturity, everyone is grappling with the same core challenge of how to grow effectively without losing control.
11/05/2025
Virtual Account Management in Practice
Virtual account management (VAM) has swiftly moved from concept to practice as more organizations look for ways to modernize their treasury operations. A virtual account provides a reporting layer within a physical account, allowing treasury teams to track activity without multiplying bank relationships.
Virtual account management (VAM) has swiftly moved from concept to practice as more organizations look for ways to modernize their treasury operations. A virtual account provides a reporting layer within a physical account, allowing treasury teams to track activity without multiplying bank relationships.
11/04/2025
What Treasury and Payments Professionals Need to Know About Stablecoins After the GENIUS Act
Stablecoins have been generating significant interest, particularly with the passage of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act). Jason Ekberg, Partner at Oliver Wyman, shared practical considerations for treasury and payments professionals to keep in mind when considering stablecoin adoption.
Stablecoins have been generating significant interest, particularly with the passage of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act). Jason Ekberg, Partner at Oliver Wyman, shared practical considerations for treasury and payments professionals to keep in mind when considering stablecoin adoption.
11/03/2025
Stanford University Wins the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards
Stanford University was named the winner of the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards Grant Prize for excellence in treasury and finance. Sponsored by Truist, the Pinnacle Awards were presented during AFP 2025 in Boston.
Stanford University was named the winner of the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards Grant Prize for excellence in treasury and finance. Sponsored by Truist, the Pinnacle Awards were presented during AFP 2025 in Boston.
10/27/2025
Embracing AR Automation: What It Is, How It Helps and How to Get Started
Accounts receivable (AR) automation is just what it sounds like: using data from a business’s financial systems to automatically generate and send digital invoices to customers, and then matching the resulting payments automatically to invoices and remittance data.
Accounts receivable (AR) automation is just what it sounds like: using data from a business’s financial systems to automatically generate and send digital invoices to customers, and then matching the resulting payments automatically to invoices and remittance data.
10/20/2025
5 Insights on Next-Level Treasury Operations
In a world where treasury teams are expected to deliver clarity, agility and strategic value faster than ever before, AFP Treasury Connect: Next-Level Treasury Operations, exclusively sponsored by Trovata, showed how treasury can step beyond its back-office boundaries to become a driver of business success.
In a world where treasury teams are expected to deliver clarity, agility and strategic value faster than ever before, AFP Treasury Connect: Next-Level Treasury Operations, exclusively sponsored by Trovata, showed how treasury can step beyond its back-office boundaries to become a driver of business success.
10/16/2025
Useful Excel Functions for Financial Planning and Analysis
Excel remains the go-to tool for FP&A professionals, thanks to its flexibility, analytical power and familiarity across finance teams. Mastering key functions can help streamline reporting, improve model accuracy and support better data-driven decisions.
Excel remains the go-to tool for FP&A professionals, thanks to its flexibility, analytical power and familiarity across finance teams. Mastering key functions can help streamline reporting, improve model accuracy and support better data-driven decisions.
10/08/2025
Stablecoin’s Role in Cross-Border Payments
Viewed as both a payment solution and a potential instrument on the balance sheet, treasury teams are seeing a lot of promise in stablecoins.
Viewed as both a payment solution and a potential instrument on the balance sheet, treasury teams are seeing a lot of promise in stablecoins.
09/25/2025
Model Breakdown: How FP&A Averted a Liquidity Crisis
Across the company, the key functions involved in a real estate development project were convinced that the financial model they had been working from for the past four years was correct. An examination of the model by the new director showed that, in fact, they were headed for a liquidity crisis.
Across the company, the key functions involved in a real estate development project were convinced that the financial model they had been working from for the past four years was correct. An examination of the model by the new director showed that, in fact, they were headed for a liquidity crisis.
09/24/2025
Opportunity Exists to Raise Awareness of Tokenization Among Financial Professionals
Approximately one-third of organizations are now familiar with tokenized purchases within emerging digital payments, according to the 2025 AFP Digital Payments Survey.
Approximately one-third of organizations are now familiar with tokenized purchases within emerging digital payments, according to the 2025 AFP Digital Payments Survey.
09/23/2025
Liquidity in Flux: Prioritizing Safety in Uncertainty
How are companies responding to today’s uncertainties? According to the 2025 AFP Liquidity Survey, underwritten by Invesco, organizations managing short-term investments are keeping safety a top priority.
How are companies responding to today’s uncertainties? According to the 2025 AFP Liquidity Survey, underwritten by Invesco, organizations managing short-term investments are keeping safety a top priority.
09/08/2025
Finalists Named for the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards: American Airlines, Stanford University, The World Bank
American Airlines, Stanford University and The World Bank are finalists for the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards, sponsored by Truist.
American Airlines, Stanford University and The World Bank are finalists for the AFP 2025 Pinnacle Awards, sponsored by Truist.
09/08/2025
How to Evaluate a Treasury Management System Provider
A TMS provider's long-term viability, product roadmap and interpersonal interactions are important considerations during the TMS selection process.
A TMS provider's long-term viability, product roadmap and interpersonal interactions are important considerations during the TMS selection process.
08/29/2025
What Treasury Professionals Need to Know About Business Email Compromise in 2025
According to the 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist, business email compromise (BEC) was the most common method used in attempted or actual payments fraud in 2024. Despite growing awareness, these scams remain remarkably effective.
According to the 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey, underwritten by Truist, business email compromise (BEC) was the most common method used in attempted or actual payments fraud in 2024. Despite growing awareness, these scams remain remarkably effective.
08/26/2025
7 Critical Factors When Benchmarking Your Retirement Plan Provider
Benchmarking your retirement plan provider isn’t just a best practice — it’s a fiduciary obligation. Whether you're evaluating fees, exploring new service options or responding to a provider consolidation, understanding how and when to launch a request for proposal (RFP) or request for information (RFI) is essential.
Benchmarking your retirement plan provider isn’t just a best practice — it’s a fiduciary obligation. Whether you're evaluating fees, exploring new service options or responding to a provider consolidation, understanding how and when to launch a request for proposal (RFP) or request for information (RFI) is essential.
08/22/2025
9 Tips for Ensuring Onboarding Success — From Both Sides of the Desk
Great onboarding isn’t a checklist; it’s a shared commitment between the organization and the new hire that sets the stage for long-term success. At an AFP Member Meet-Up, finance professionals and career development experts shared their best onboarding advice for managers and new hires.
Great onboarding isn’t a checklist; it’s a shared commitment between the organization and the new hire that sets the stage for long-term success. At an AFP Member Meet-Up, finance professionals and career development experts shared their best onboarding advice for managers and new hires.
08/22/2025
Accounts Payable Job Descriptions
A list of AP job titles and responsibilities, as well as reporting relationships and necessary skills and qualifications.
A list of AP job titles and responsibilities, as well as reporting relationships and necessary skills and qualifications.
08/18/2025
Accounts Receivable Job Descriptions
A list of AR job titles and responsibilities, as well as reporting relationships and necessary skills and qualifications.
A list of AR job titles and responsibilities, as well as reporting relationships and necessary skills and qualifications.
08/18/2025
AFP FP&A Guide to
Navigating Business Turbulence
Organizations that embed risk‑ready processes react faster, spend less time scrambling for information and protect strategic priorities even under pressure. How do CFOs and finance teams shift from a growth‑focused partner to a protector of financial stability during turbulence? Read the Guide.
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