Technical resources

The race for relevance - technology opportunities for the finance function

This report explores the opportunities and challenges that technology presents for the future CFO function in the face of extraordinary digital change impacting businesses. The report shares insights from leading executives across the world on the technologies changing the face of the finance function, and examines how finance can harness the explosion in digital capabilities to help drive long term corporate value.

Integration between finance and other functions in china

Changes in economic performance in China have led to an increased focus on strategy and performance management across the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). This report examines, with input from Finance professionals in China, how aligning performance management to business strategy and effectively partnering with the business can improve performance monitoring.

FinTech - transforming finance

This report explores the transformation underway as a result of the continued expansion of FinTech and its ongoing impact across the financial services landscape.

Digital finance function: introduction

Introduction to the series jointly run by ACCA and PwC and exploring the challenges that digital disruption brings to the finance function.

The robots are coming? Implications for financial shared services.

This report draws on the expertise of ACCA’s finance transformation, shared services and outsourcing advisory group to provide a range of perspectives on the future of automation and the use of robotic software in the finance function.

Tomorrow’s finance enterprise

This report investigates the key influences shaping the future role of the CFO and tomorrow’s finance enterprise.

Finance transformation roles: pathways to CFO

This report asks a simple question: are finance shared service and transformation roles valuable in the career path to becoming a CFO?

Financial insight: challenges and opportunities

This joint report from ACCA and IMA suggests ways the finance function can improve current approaches to business partnering.

Building the finance function in growing businesses

This discussion paper presents views and recommendations on how to build the finance function to support growth in SMEs.

Transformation challenges in finance

This report considers the challenges CFOs face by finance transformation and suggests a number of good practices that organisations can follow in transforming their finance operations.

The smart finance function in today’s complex world

This paper outlines ACCA’s smart finance function campaign, launched in April 2014. The campaign showcases the good practices, challenges and opportunities that corporate finance functions face in ‘working smarter’.

Finance leaders survey report: September 2013

This report presents the results of the third of a series of surveys that ACCA and IMA conduct every six months to track how finance issues are evolving.

Is finance function technology delivering on its promise?

This report discusses the current use of technology in finance shared services and outsourcing. It considers the extent to which technology is changing the face of finance delivery and providing value for the organisation.

Global business services: a game changer for the finance organisation?

This report discusses the implications of global business services for the finance function. It considers the extent to which GBS will significantly change the remit and nature of today’s finance organisation.

Future pathways to finance leadership

This report looks at how the future role of the CFO is expected to evolve, and the career experiences likely to be of most benefit to next generation CFOs.

Talent and capability in global finance functions

This report uses detailed case studies to present insights from leading organisations on the challenges, solutions and opportunities for talent management in today’s global finance function.

Building your financial capabilities: a guide for growing businesses

This guide is an essential tool for setting up and managing good financial management practices for small businesses. It outlines the systems and tools needed by the start up business, and continues through to the needs of the growing business developing more sophisticated financial capabilities.

Finance leaders survey report: December 2012

ACCA and IMA, December 2012. This report presents the results of a survey of finance leaders jointly commissioned by ACCA and IMA. It outlines views on six key issues: 1. current priorities in the finance function; 2. the effectiveness of the finance function; 3. finance function challenges; 4. the importance of different skills; 5. identification of key stakeholders; 6. how finance leaders apportion their time. This is the first of a series of surveys that ACCA and IMA will conduct every six months to track how these finance issues are evolving.

The changing role of the CFO

Jamie Lyon and Raef Lawson, November 2012. This report discusses the future of the finance function, and in particular the future role of the CFO. It draws on discussions from the ACCA Accountants for Business Global Forum, as well as insights from ACCA–IMA roundtables held in Shanghai, New York, Moscow and Zurich in 2012, which discussed the way in which the role of finance leadership is evolving.

Talent management in a shared services world: 2012 survey

This report provides results from one of the largest-ever surveys on talent management practices across the global finance profession. It provides some simple data points on the current state of talent management activities from global finance functions that have adopted shared service centres. Over 1,200 finance functions with shared service centres responded to this survey.

Finance leaders on sourcing success

This report presents the results of a global survey of finance leaders on the aims and effectiveness of finance shared services and outsourcing programmes. It explores the initial drivers behind adopting finance shared services and outsourcing finance operations, considers how these are evolving, and the success of current approaches.

Finance transformation: expert insights on shared services and outsourcing

Jamie Lyon and Deborah Kops, January 2012. This report presents insights from global experts of companies at the forefront of finance transformation activity. It explores the issues, challenges and opportunities facing businesses transitioning to new finance models to improve business performance.