Deep Dive
来自我们记者的行业洞察
How Should CFOs Respond as Climate Risk Drives Up US Commercial Property Insurance Costs?
Disasters such as tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes triggered by climate change are upending the cornerstone of CFO risk management. US commercial property insurance costs surged 15% last year, the largest increase in over three decades. Experts point out that CFOs need to control insurance costs during "tough times" by re-evaluating risk tolerance, strengthening cooperation with insurers, enhancing disaster prevention investment, exploring new insurance structures, and deepening data analysis.
The New Generation CFO: Reshaping Career Paths and Leadership Blueprints
Generation Z newcomers are driving the evolution of the CFO role. Experts say that future CFOs must go beyond traditional accounting backgrounds, possessing cross-disciplinary knowledge, data skills, and strategic leadership. The shortage of accounting talent is prompting companies to broaden recruitment channels, with an increasing number of professionals from non-financial backgrounds such as engineers. Meanwhile, the average age of CFOs is around 51, and younger candidates need to accumulate experience through job rotations and soft skill development. Data and technological capabilities have become core, and the CFO role has shifted from compliance to strategic partnership, a trend that has been evident for a decade.
Why EBITDA Dominates in the Retail Industry
EBITDA, as a non-GAAP metric, is widely used in the retail industry but lacks standardization and has been criticized by figures like Buffett. This article analyzes its role and controversies, and uses cases such as Warby Parker, On, and Allbirds to illustrate its differences from net income.
Three Key Steps Toward a Part-Time CFO Role
The demand for part-time CFOs (fractional CFOs) is growing, and financial leaders transitioning into this role need to grasp three key steps: clarify their own expertise and positioning, deeply understand the target company and develop a clear plan, and carefully review contract terms to protect their interests. Drawing on the experience of multiple practitioners, this article provides practical advice.
The Rise of the Interim CFO: A New Normal in Corporate Financial Leadership
Against the backdrop of a financial talent shortage and economic uncertainty, corporate demand for interim CFOs has grown 103% year-over-year. This short-term executive hiring model not only helps companies navigate transitional periods but also offers new career opportunities for financial leaders. This article analyzes the appeal of interim CFOs, the advantages of skill matching, and their key role in succession planning.
How Chief Financial Officers Can Cut Through the AI Hype: Four Practical Suggestions
Breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have excited corporate executives, but the accompanying risks and skepticism cannot be ignored. For chief financial officers tasked with weighing benefits against risks, making rational decisions amid the noise poses a key challenge. Drawing on expert opinions and industry practices, this article proposes four practical suggestions: building a responsible AI framework, broadening the ROI evaluation perspective, acknowledging technological limitations, and starting with small-scale applications.
Female CFOs: Raise Your Hand and Move Forward Bravely
From Angela Pierce's solitary struggle in investment banking in the 1990s to today's record-high proportion of female CFOs, four female financial leaders—Angela Pierce, Kelly Steckelberg, Natalya Davick, and Mandy Fields—shared how they overcame self-doubt, broke down workplace barriers, and encouraged more women to boldly pursue senior positions.
KPMG's 29-Year Audit Relationship with Silicon Valley Bank Raises Independence Concerns
After Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed on March 10, its auditor KPMG drew attention for not flagging going-concern risks in the audit opinion signed on February 24. More notably, KPMG had served as SVB's auditor since 1994, and this 29-year relationship has reignited debates about audit tenure limits. This article synthesizes expert opinions, analyzing the pros and cons of audit independence, tenure rotation, and the current regulatory landscape.
Climate Risk Disclosure Rules May See a 'Soft Launch': ISSB and SEC Adjust Rule Timelines
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have recently signaled a softening on climate risk disclosure rules: the former plans to release global guidelines by June with an effective date of January 1, 2024, while the latter aims to issue final rules by May. Facing over 14,000 opposing comments, regulators are considering 'soft launch' measures such as phased implementation and relaxing Scope 3 emissions requirements to balance corporate compliance burdens with investor information needs.