Articles
How Treasury Teams Are Rethinking Their TMS Strategy
At an AFP Member Meet-Up, Tracey Knight and Tim Schultz, Co-founders and Principal Consultants of Real Treasury, examined how the TMS landscape has grown more sophisticated — and more fragmented — pushing treasury teams to rethink their TMS strategy.
At an AFP Member Meet-Up, Tracey Knight and Tim Schultz, Co-founders and Principal Consultants of Real Treasury, examined how the TMS landscape has grown more sophisticated — and more fragmented — pushing treasury teams to rethink their TMS strategy.
05/04/2026
Building Trust in AI-Driven Revenue Forecasts
Finance teams are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to forecast at the individual customer level and better understand how individual customers ramp, expand, contract and respond to incentives. These models promise greater precision and earlier signals, but precision is not the same as reliability. This introduces a new challenge: governance.
Finance teams are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to forecast at the individual customer level and better understand how individual customers ramp, expand, contract and respond to incentives. These models promise greater precision and earlier signals, but precision is not the same as reliability. This introduces a new challenge: governance.
05/04/2026
The 2026 Payments Fraud Outlook: Lessons from Real-World Fraud Scenarios
What are the payments fraud trends to watch for in 2026? Email-based fraud continues to rise, check fraud remains stubbornly persistent and newer tactics, such as deepfake impersonation, are beginning to emerge.
What are the payments fraud trends to watch for in 2026? Email-based fraud continues to rise, check fraud remains stubbornly persistent and newer tactics, such as deepfake impersonation, are beginning to emerge.
05/01/2026
The 90 Days After a PE Deal Closes: How Finance Teams Build Credibility and Capture Value
The 90 days immediately after a PE deal closes define sponsor relationships, capture or lose value, and set the foundation for exit success. During this time, sponsors look at how the finance team communicates, how quickly it escalates issues and whether it understands the investment thesis.
The 90 days immediately after a PE deal closes define sponsor relationships, capture or lose value, and set the foundation for exit success. During this time, sponsors look at how the finance team communicates, how quickly it escalates issues and whether it understands the investment thesis.
04/28/2026
The 90 Days Before a PE Deal Closes: What Finance Teams Must Do Before Day 1
The finance leader who uses the pre-close window intentionally arrives close with a functioning 13-week cash model, a realistic assessment of their team's gaps, a working knowledge of the debt covenants and a clear understanding of what the sponsor needs to see in the first board package.
The finance leader who uses the pre-close window intentionally arrives close with a functioning 13-week cash model, a realistic assessment of their team's gaps, a working knowledge of the debt covenants and a clear understanding of what the sponsor needs to see in the first board package.
04/28/2026
Your Forecast Doesn’t Have a Score. It Should.
The 2026 AFP FP&A Benchmarking Survey found that only 14% of finance teams formally track forecast accuracy. Eighty-six percent have no structured measurement of how reliable their forecasts actually are. This article proposes a simple change: give every forecast a score.
The 2026 AFP FP&A Benchmarking Survey found that only 14% of finance teams formally track forecast accuracy. Eighty-six percent have no structured measurement of how reliable their forecasts actually are. This article proposes a simple change: give every forecast a score.
04/28/2026
Middle East and Africa Finance Leaders on Budgeting During Extreme Uncertainty
At an AFP MEA FP&A Advisory Council meeting, members discussed how they are shortening planning horizons, tightening cash controls and focusing on flexibility over fixed annual targets.
At an AFP MEA FP&A Advisory Council meeting, members discussed how they are shortening planning horizons, tightening cash controls and focusing on flexibility over fixed annual targets.
04/27/2026
How Finance Can Help Department Managers Become Better Stewards of Their Budgets
There is a disconnect between what the budget is meant to do and how it’s actually used. So, how can finance close that gap? A handful of practical shifts can make budgets more actionable, more relevant and, ultimately, more effective.
There is a disconnect between what the budget is meant to do and how it’s actually used. So, how can finance close that gap? A handful of practical shifts can make budgets more actionable, more relevant and, ultimately, more effective.
04/10/2026
Calibrate Your Hurdle Rate with the Latest Research on Cost of Capital
Cost of capital remains one of the most important benchmarks in corporate finance, shaping how organizations evaluate investments, allocate capital and measure value creation. In stable environments, the calculation remains stable; however, in times of change, the inputs behind that calculation — from interest rates to geopolitical risk — can shift rapidly.
Cost of capital remains one of the most important benchmarks in corporate finance, shaping how organizations evaluate investments, allocate capital and measure value creation. In stable environments, the calculation remains stable; however, in times of change, the inputs behind that calculation — from interest rates to geopolitical risk — can shift rapidly.
03/24/2026
7 Valuation Metrics Financial Professionals Use to Evaluate Investments
When organizations evaluate major investments — whether a new project, acquisition or strategic initiative — they rely on valuation metrics to determine whether the expected returns justify the capital required.
When organizations evaluate major investments — whether a new project, acquisition or strategic initiative — they rely on valuation metrics to determine whether the expected returns justify the capital required.
03/19/2026
Scenario Planning: Peloton and the Cost of Linear Thinking
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