Strategy & Operations
Seismic CFO Advocates 'Conscious' Cost Cutting, Balancing Growth and Profitability
In a recent interview, Seismic CFO Evan Goldstein stated that, facing the Fed's dual mandate and high-interest-rate environment, financial executives need to carefully weigh growth against profitability, avoiding excessive cuts to key investments like R&D for short-term profits. He advocates for "conscious" cost cutting, emphasizing a customer-centric approach, and shared his experiences at companies like Salesforce and Genentech, as well as how to manage risks in new technology investments such as AI through internal governance mechanisms like a software procurement steering committee.
US Multinationals Get Global Minimum Tax Exemption Deal
The OECD and the US Treasury announced an agreement on Monday, with 147 countries agreeing to adopt a 'parallel system' that provides a safe harbor for American multinationals against the Pillar Two global minimum tax rules. US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the agreement recognizes US tax sovereignty and protects incentives such as research and development tax credits. The agreement also simplifies compliance burdens but has drawn criticism from anti-tax-avoidance organizations.
New Jersey Senate Passes CPA Licensure Reform Bill
The New Jersey Senate unanimously passed the CPA pathway bill (S-4493) on December 18, allowing candidates to meet educational requirements with either a bachelor's degree or 150 credits. The bill had previously passed the Assembly 78-0 and awaits the governor's signature. This move adds New Jersey to at least 24 states offering alternative pathways, giving most CPA candidates more options.
CFO Security Guide: Protection Strategies Beyond Bodyguards
In 2024, a UnitedHealth executive was fatally shot outside a New York hotel, prompting companies to reassess executive security strategies. Jordan Arnold, co-founder of security consulting firm Jetty Partners, stated that the incident marked a turning point for executive security, with companies moving from a reactive bodyguard model to proactive, intelligence-driven protection. This article is an exclusive interview between CFO Dive and Arnold, exploring key considerations for corporate security planning in 2026, including cost-effectiveness, risk assessment, travel and meeting security, and privacy balance in online brand building.
Accounting Industry Organizations Jointly Write to the Ministry of Education: Accounting Is a "Profession"
Nine major accounting industry organizations jointly wrote to the U.S. Department of Education, opposing the exclusion of accounting graduate programs from "professional" degrees, to avoid affecting student loan caps.
Consumer confidence edges up, but job and inflation concerns persist
The University of Michigan's consumer confidence index for December edged up to 52.9, but consumers' concerns about inflation and the job market persist. One-year inflation expectations fell to 4.2%, the lowest in 11 months. The unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, a four-year high. Federal Reserve officials indicated they are in no rush to further adjust monetary policy.
Tax Reform and Rate Cut Expectations Boost 2026 M&A Outlook: KPMG Survey
The latest KPMG survey reveals that two-thirds of U.S. corporate leaders plan to increase M&A activity in 2026, with the primary drivers being expectations of further interest rate cuts and tax policy adjustments. Although tariffs and government shutdowns pose headwinds, dealmakers have adapted to the new normal. EY forecasts U.S. M&A deal value will grow by 3% in 2026, potentially reaching 7% in an optimistic scenario.
Inflation unexpectedly falls to 2.7%, government shutdown disrupts data collection
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday that the annual inflation rate unexpectedly fell to 2.7% in October, down from 3% in September, but the federal government shutdown led to six weeks of missing data. Core CPI rose 2.6% year-over-year, also lower than the previous value. Analysts caution that the data should be interpreted carefully, and the Fed's policy path remains uncertain.
CFO confidence rises for second consecutive quarter, but concerns over capital market valuations persist: Deloitte report
Deloitte's Q4 CFO Signals survey shows that CFOs of large U.S. companies saw their confidence in the overall business and economic environment rise for the second consecutive quarter, hitting a four-year high. Risk appetite has rebounded significantly from the trough in Q2, with 59% of respondents saying it is a good time to increase bets. However, concerns about capital market valuations persist, with 43% of CFOs believing the market is overvalued.
U.S. unemployment rate rises to 4.6%, a four-year high
Data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed that the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in October, the highest level in over four years, mainly as federal government layoffs announced in the spring began to take effect. Federal government employment fell by 162,000 and 6,000 in October and November, respectively, while employment in construction and healthcare increased. Wage growth slowed to 0.1% month-over-month, and retail sales were flat in October. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points on December 10, but officials remain divided on the future policy path.