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The CFO role continues to grow and evolve as their analytical skills and insights become even more valuable in a climate of economic turmoil. SAP Concur Research found that 90% of senior finance leaders agree their key task today is to prepare businesses for the unexpected.Businesses need certainty to plan and grow. But they rarely get it these days. In this report, we investigate how CFOs’ increased responsibility for managing risk and uncertainty impacts their role – including the challenges, opportunities, and how they should respond and position themselves and their teams. Some key findings include: Investment in forecasting rises, which leads…

Are you focusing on important work or mundane tasks? For the people who manage your spending processes, policies, and budgets, the pressure to manage cost and compliance is at an all-time high, just as resources are increasingly thin. As a finance leader, you want to focus on the bigger picture – not the day-to-day minutia of expense reporting and approvals. Your team wants the same thing. In general, people are looking for a better work experience. They want meaningful work and to know that they are set up for success with solutions that are enabling and empowering. Your team faces…

Smart Ways to Handle Expenses and Vendor Invoices to Protect Future GrowthHow is your company spending its money? It’s an important question for businesses as they carefully work through big moments of uncertainty towards stability and new opportunities. But the business landscape is constantly changing. How do you stay on top of spending at a high level while also having insight into the smaller spending decisions? Each one is a chance to make your business run better. After all, every decision to spend is also an opportunity to become more efficient and profitable.A strong strategy for managing business travel, expense,…

Even when your company has rock-solid spending plans and well-crafted spending policies, it must be ready for change. Finance leaders are always tasked to help companies prepare and respond to unknown challenges while keeping the business running smoothly. In fact, 90% of senior finance leaders we surveyed agree their task today is to prepare business for the unexpected.1Our latest whitepaper, Four Ways to Future-Proof Your Business, is designed to help finance leaders prepare for change ahead by examining key areas. Master costs, compliance, and cashflow Strengthen visibility, analysis, and planning Adapt processes, policies, and priorities Boost employee morale, productivity, and retention…

Many finance leaders are preparing for a transformative shift in 2025. Emerging technologies present significant opportunities to enhance productivity within finance and beyond. At the same time, Chief financial offers (CFOs) and finance leaders have the opportunity to expand their influence as they leverage their unique skills to guide organizations in strategizing for renewed growth and business transformation. While these changes pose considerable challenges, they also offer substantial rewards for those who invest in upskilling their teams and addressing the impending talent shortage.We consulted with leaders across various industries and regions to gather insights on the key trends and priorities…

As we step into 2025, the world of Accounts Payable (AP) is poised for a transformative year, driven by the accelerating forces of artificial intelligence (“AI”), advanced automation, and the growing recognition of AP’s potential to deliver measurable operational and financial impact. Since the pandemic began, AP has emerged as a strategic cornerstone for businesses looking to streamline operations, enhance cash flow management, and bolster profitability. AI-powered solutions are helping to redefine the function; the need for smarter cash management and stronger supplier relationships are also aiding the cause. In this new age, smart executives have identified AP as an…

Reconciling corporate card expenses isn’t an inescapable necessity. It’s hardly necessary at all: Your card provider has all the data you need to streamline the process, you just need to feed that data into the right tools. When you link your corporate cards with Concur® Expense, and Reconciliation Takes Care of Itself.Learn more from our infographic.

Sales spikes. New markets. Cost cutting. No matter what business climate you face, the ability to turn uncertainty into moments of opportunity is the key to success. Finance leaders have a unique role to play in helping their organizations navigate a fluid business environment. Thanks to their exposure to the inner workings of every facet of the business, they are positioned to harness insights and make connections that no other single role can match. But not all finance leaders are created equal. To survive and thrive in today’s economy, a successful finance leader must develop professionally in order to stay…

Even when your company has rock-solid spending plans and well-crafted spending policies, it must be ready for change. Finance leaders are always tasked to help companies prepare and respond to unknown challenges while keeping the business running smoothly. In fact, 90% of senior finance leaders we surveyed agree their task today is to prepare business for the unexpected.1Our latest whitepaper, Four Ways to Future-Proof Your Business, is designed to help finance leaders prepare for change ahead by examining key areas. Master costs, compliance, and cashflow Strengthen visibility, analysis, and planning Adapt processes, policies, and priorities Boost employee morale, productivity, and retention…