Articles
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
Building an FP&A Function: Instilling Financial Accountability Through Processes at a Newly Public Company
For the company to move from a cost focus to an ROI and market focus, it needs an FP&A function that can hold management accountable.
For the company to move from a cost focus to an ROI and market focus, it needs an FP&A function that can hold management accountable.
08/05/2025
Building an FP&A Function: Managing the Team Through a Transitional Period at a LargeCap
Bringing in the right talent and managing the existing team requires alignment with the FP&A vision and attention to team needs.
Bringing in the right talent and managing the existing team requires alignment with the FP&A vision and attention to team needs.
08/05/2025
Building an FP&A Function: Aligning Team Structure to Focus on Business Advisory Roles at a MidCap
The interrelation among team structure, roles and hiring the right people can lead to FP&A’s success in becoming advisors to the business.
The interrelation among team structure, roles and hiring the right people can lead to FP&A’s success in becoming advisors to the business.
08/05/2025
Building an FP&A Function: Driving Accountability at a Venture-Stage Company
A new FP&A function must build its capabilities and establish itself as a strategic business partner by driving accountability through effective performance measurement.
A new FP&A function must build its capabilities and establish itself as a strategic business partner by driving accountability through effective performance measurement.
08/05/2025
Is Your CFO Using AI?
Transformation only happens when behavior shifts. And one of the quietest, most powerful signals is whether the person in charge of the company’s money, your CFO, is using AI in their day-to-day work.
Transformation only happens when behavior shifts. And one of the quietest, most powerful signals is whether the person in charge of the company’s money, your CFO, is using AI in their day-to-day work.
08/05/2025
Choosing the Right Statistical Method for Cash Forecasting
This article explores some of the most common statistical methods used in cash forecasting, including time series forecasting methods and causal forecasting methods, and explains how to apply them correctly to both stationary and non-stationary data.
This article explores some of the most common statistical methods used in cash forecasting, including time series forecasting methods and causal forecasting methods, and explains how to apply them correctly to both stationary and non-stationary data.
07/28/2025
Community Banks: A Safe Haven for Corporate Cash
As market volatility continues to test assumptions, these institutions are showing once again that stability doesn’t require size; it requires discipline. For corporate finance leaders navigating today’s risk environment, community banks offer a compelling case for rethinking where cash belongs.
As market volatility continues to test assumptions, these institutions are showing once again that stability doesn’t require size; it requires discipline. For corporate finance leaders navigating today’s risk environment, community banks offer a compelling case for rethinking where cash belongs.
07/18/2025
The Skills Revolution in Finance: Why CFO Organizations Are Abandoning Traditional Career Ladders
The traditional career ladder — with its predictable progression through predefined roles — is rapidly giving way to dynamic, skills-focused frameworks that better serve both individual aspirations and organizational needs.
The traditional career ladder — with its predictable progression through predefined roles — is rapidly giving way to dynamic, skills-focused frameworks that better serve both individual aspirations and organizational needs.
07/14/2025
No More Delays — the ISO 20022 Fedwire Deadline Is Here
After much speculation about further delays, the Federal Reserve announced in June that it is sticking to its plans to adopt the ISO 20022 standard for the Fedwire® Funds Service on July 14, 2025.
After much speculation about further delays, the Federal Reserve announced in June that it is sticking to its plans to adopt the ISO 20022 standard for the Fedwire® Funds Service on July 14, 2025.
07/10/2025
4 Statistics to Inform Your ACH Payments Strategy
As part of AFP’s Best of AFP 2024 webinar series, industry leaders from Nacha and the corporate community came together to share the latest insights on ACH adoption, innovation and strategy.
As part of AFP’s Best of AFP 2024 webinar series, industry leaders from Nacha and the corporate community came together to share the latest insights on ACH adoption, innovation and strategy.
07/09/2025
Examining Benchmarks for Treasury Teams
To examine the current landscape of the treasury profession, AFP gathered a panel of experts to discuss the 2025 AFP Treasury Benchmarking Survey Report, underwritten by Wells Fargo.
To examine the current landscape of the treasury profession, AFP gathered a panel of experts to discuss the 2025 AFP Treasury Benchmarking Survey Report, underwritten by Wells Fargo.
06/24/2025
Companies Stick with Check Payments, Despite Fraud Risk
Truist shared its analysis of the 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey data around check fraud and what it could indicate for financial professionals this year and beyond.
Truist shared its analysis of the 2025 AFP Payments Fraud and Control Survey data around check fraud and what it could indicate for financial professionals this year and beyond.
06/18/2025
3 Examples of How to Handle Difficult Situations in Finance
Navigating challenging workplace situations is an unavoidable part of working in finance. With a combination of empathy, data-driven analysis and clear communication, finance professionals can resolve conflicts and improve relationships and processes.
Navigating challenging workplace situations is an unavoidable part of working in finance. With a combination of empathy, data-driven analysis and clear communication, finance professionals can resolve conflicts and improve relationships and processes.
06/17/2025
Physical Accounts and Virtual Accounts Compared
There are some key differences between traditional physical bank accounts and virtual bank accounts. Specific functionalities vary between banks and according to the jurisdictions in which the virtual accounts are being used.
There are some key differences between traditional physical bank accounts and virtual bank accounts. Specific functionalities vary between banks and according to the jurisdictions in which the virtual accounts are being used.
06/12/2025
Achieving Enhanced Efficiency Gains Through Virtual Account Management
The initial adoption of virtual accounts typically leads to major efficiency gains, as multiple physical bank accounts are rationalized into a single virtual account management (VAM) network.
The initial adoption of virtual accounts typically leads to major efficiency gains, as multiple physical bank accounts are rationalized into a single virtual account management (VAM) network.
05/30/2025
Overcoming Check Challenges for AP and AR
As both the federal government and payments industry stakeholders work to curb check usage, the days of check payments may be numbered. As new payment methods proliferate, many accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) departments would like to eliminate checks altogether to reap the benefits of more efficient digital payments.
As both the federal government and payments industry stakeholders work to curb check usage, the days of check payments may be numbered. As new payment methods proliferate, many accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) departments would like to eliminate checks altogether to reap the benefits of more efficient digital payments.
05/29/2025
Building an FP&A Function: Building Allies and Maximizing Corporate Value at The Fujitsu Group
This case study explores how Fujitsu formed a new financial planning & analysis (FP&A) function at its global headquarters in Japan and trained its staff — many of whom were from non-finance backgrounds — to become FP&A professionals.
This case study explores how Fujitsu formed a new financial planning & analysis (FP&A) function at its global headquarters in Japan and trained its staff — many of whom were from non-finance backgrounds — to become FP&A professionals.
05/27/2025
Is Your AP Function Ready for ISO 20022?
After over two decades of planning and preparation, the deadline for ISO 20022 migration has finally arrived for U.S. businesses.
After over two decades of planning and preparation, the deadline for ISO 20022 migration has finally arrived for U.S. businesses.
05/22/2025
6 Ways Finance Leaders Are Managing Uncertainty
At a roundtable in Boston hosted by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) and Robert Half, finance leaders from various industries shared how instability is playing out differently depending on industry, business model and company size.
At a roundtable in Boston hosted by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) and Robert Half, finance leaders from various industries shared how instability is playing out differently depending on industry, business model and company size.
05/16/2025
4 Best Practices for Virtual Account Management
Virtual accounts are highly flexible and are used by all types of companies, from single entity organizations through to multinational corporations. While the technology underpinning each solution is the same, the use cases vary significantly. However, there are still some best practices that all potential adopters can follow.
Virtual accounts are highly flexible and are used by all types of companies, from single entity organizations through to multinational corporations. While the technology underpinning each solution is the same, the use cases vary significantly. However, there are still some best practices that all potential adopters can follow.
05/15/2025
Beyond the Bottom Line: Strategic Cost Management in Action
True strategic cost management is not a one-time fix — it’s a cultural shift. It requires alignment across leadership, better tools and data, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
True strategic cost management is not a one-time fix — it’s a cultural shift. It requires alignment across leadership, better tools and data, and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
05/14/2025
How to Maximize Working Capital by Paying Faster
Today’s finance leaders are rethinking the traditional playbook. Through the strategic use of virtual cards, dynamic discounting and supply chain financing, they are extending days payable outstanding (DPO), generating rebates and reinvesting working capital more effectively.
Today’s finance leaders are rethinking the traditional playbook. Through the strategic use of virtual cards, dynamic discounting and supply chain financing, they are extending days payable outstanding (DPO), generating rebates and reinvesting working capital more effectively.
05/12/2025
Why Aren’t FP&A Teams Using the EPM Tools They Bought?
According to the 2025 AFP FP&A Benchmarking Survey, FP&A professionals are primarily using EPM tools for control and consolidation, not for advanced planning and forecasting.
According to the 2025 AFP FP&A Benchmarking Survey, FP&A professionals are primarily using EPM tools for control and consolidation, not for advanced planning and forecasting.
05/05/2025
5 Steps to Thriving in Your Corporate Culture
Corporate culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors within a company that shape how employees make decisions and interact with others. Understanding corporate culture is critical to communicating more effectively, reducing conflicts and choosing actions that align with your company’s priorities.
Corporate culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors within a company that shape how employees make decisions and interact with others. Understanding corporate culture is critical to communicating more effectively, reducing conflicts and choosing actions that align with your company’s priorities.
05/01/2025
All Aboard! Gaining Alignment Through the Strategic Investing Process
A prominent financial institution’s two-category approach to technology investments provided a framework for ensuring stable operations while allowing it to pursue targeted advancements. However, the company saw it had room to improve its strategic investment planning process in areas of alignment, planning, prioritization, resource allocation and execution.
A prominent financial institution’s two-category approach to technology investments provided a framework for ensuring stable operations while allowing it to pursue targeted advancements. However, the company saw it had room to improve its strategic investment planning process in areas of alignment, planning, prioritization, resource allocation and execution.
04/21/2025
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The 2026 AFP Compensation and Benefits Survey Report
Comprehensive salary data, salary benchmarks and compensation insights for treasury, finance and payments professionals.
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