A finance leader’s guide to modern cash flow management

Cash flow is top of mind for finance leaders year-round, but as we approach budgeting and planning season, there's more attention on cash flow. What’s coming in, what’s going out, and how much free cash flow is available to enhance shareholder value or expand business operations?

But the truth is that cash flow isn’t flowing the way it used to. Whether it’s changing markets, a turbulent economy, unpredictable hiring, or rising interest rates—we’ve heard it firsthand from finance leaders: cash is keeping finance teams up at night.

But the good news is that our Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management will help you identify your cash flow challenges and present you with proven strategies to overcome them. Learn how to conquer the roadblocks and streamline how you manage, report, and spend your cash so you can go into the next fiscal year with confidence.

Let’s look at what you can expect in The Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management.

Why is cash flow management harder than ever?

Cash is the heartbeat of an organization – it powers every decision. But cash isn’t available as it used to be.

To succeed in today’s economic environment, predictable and manageable cash flow will help you build a stable future for your business.

Our Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management introduces the concept of a Cash Flow Catalyst and how this mindset can help you overcome common cash flow challenges.

How to tackle your biggest cash flow obstacles

According to Diginomica, 60% of organizations still use spreadsheets despite the disadvantages.

Tracking, managing, and reporting cash flow in a spreadsheet makes it difficult to work with speed and accuracy.

This is where modern cash flow management comes in. The guide covers everything you need to know about modern cash flow management, an approach that recognizes how finance teams and technology can work together to create predictable cash inflows and manage cash outflows to support your organization’s growth.

Modern cash flow management means finance teams need to move on from the way things have always been done (like spreadsheets!) in favor of processes that prioritize automation, collaboration, and standardization. This approach not only improves efficiency and accuracy but also enables proactive decision-making.

Learn more about tackling your biggest cash flow challenges in our guide.

How to pinpoint your cash flow challenges

So, you know your cash flow planning and reporting is a bit of a headache but how do you pinpoint your exact challenges so you can put together a plan to overcome them?

Checklists can help. In our Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management, you’ll find two key checklists that you can use to pinpoint your obstacles when it comes to cash flow planning and cash flow reporting. And the more checkmarks you have in the “Have you experienced this challenge?” column... the more important it is to prioritize becoming a Cash Flow Catalyst.

Here’s a quick peek at some of the challenges outlined in the guide:

• Frustrations with manual data gathering and inaccuracy caused by human error in spreadsheets
• Incorporating the right level of detail that affects cash flow forecast accuracy
• Accounting for currency fluctuations in cash flow planning across regions
• Lack of communication among team members
• Limited time or ability for analysis

If any of these challenges resonate with you, the more important it is to re-evaluate the way you manage your cash flow.

Get the full checklists to pinpoint your cash flow challenges in the guide.

Modern cash flow strategies you can apply today

Identifying your challenges is the first step. Now the next step is to understand and implement the modern cash flow strategies. And The Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management shares real strategies for modern cash flow planning.

For example, if you’re suffering from inaccurate data because you’re using spreadsheets to track and manage your cash inflows and outflows, you may have flawed cash flow forecasts that can result in potential missteps in your decision-making.

Our guide covers how you can fix this—by becoming a Cash Flow Catalyst. Learn tips like setting up automated calculations that feed into your cash flow budgets, like cash from operations or investments. Once the automated changes are in place, you only need to account for cash activities that aren’t automated, like certain financing or investment activities.

And if FP&A software is in your budget, the guide will show you how you can take it a step further. FP&A software can give you access to data integration and advanced analytics. This cash flow software automatically syncs with your accounts so you can access real-time updates and predictive insights into your cash flow. This makes it easier to move beyond manual data entry and basic automation to embrace a more modern approach to cash flow management.

Get the 5 other proven strategies for modern cash flow management in the guide.

Ready to become a Cash Flow Catalyst?

With the right mindset, you can be a Cash Flow Catalyst and champion a modern approach to your cash flow management.

The Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management has everything you need to take the first step towards transforming the way you plan, manage and report on your cash and become a Cash Flow Catalyst.

Not only will you accelerate your organization’s success but also position yourself at the forefront of the next generation of finance.

Get your copy of the Guide to Modern Cash Flow Management and start to transform the way you approach cash flow.