Image representing the changes in a company's profit over time shown as two coloured line graphs

At times where costs and investments need to be focused on activities which support the core capabilities of an organisation, there are two challenges for the CFO, which we consider in this article:

  • How does the finance function help the organisation align costs to the business strategy thereby delivering profitable growth?
  • How does the finance function lead the way on this tough journey? This is a key leadership role for the CFO as they cannot expect the business to cut costs if they do not lead the way in their own direct area of influence.

We highlight the role that analytics can play to increase the effectiveness of the insights that finance provides and discuss the impact on the finance team including the implications for skills and resources.

Interviews and insights

Watch leading CFOs share their perspectives on the implications of managing the cost base in line with the organisation’s key capabilities.

  1. Observations on data analysis – Larry White, Executive Director, Resource Consumption Accounting Institute, responds to a number of questions
  2. Utilising analytics to gain insights – Simon Constant-Glemas, VP Finance Global Operations, Shell
  3. Cost and strategy in discussion – Jens Madrian, CFO and COO, Reactive Technologies and Jamie Lyon, ACCA

The full article, written in collaboration with Brian Furness, consulting finance lead, PwC and Jens Madrian, CFO/CCO, Reactive Technologies, is available on the PwC website.

About Jamie Lyon, lead author, ACCA