Strategic Leadership for Order-to-Cash Excellence
The article outlines eleven traits that define strategic leaders in order‑to‑cash functions, emphasizing ethics, energy, clear priorities, risk‑taking, vision, hard work, creativity, results focus, enthusiasm, composure, and a service mindset. It argues that these qualities are essential for navigating economic uncertainty, high turnover, and evolving employee expectations. By cultivating these traits, finance leaders can strengthen stakeholder confidence, improve customer experience, and drive sustainable organizational growth. The piece concludes with a call to adopt a holistic leadership approach to stay competitive.
The Power of Positive Leadership
Jon Gordon’s updated "The Power of Positive Leadership" argues that optimism, purpose and grit are measurable competitive advantages for finance teams. The book cites research showing workplace negativity costs the U.S. economy $250‑300 billion annually, while case studies like Ford’s $12.7 billion...
Firefighting Is Not a Strategy
U.S. commercial bankruptcies have surged to post‑Great Recession levels, prompting many firms to shift from reactive “firefighting” to proactive credit management. The article outlines four strategic moves—segmentation, data‑driven credit alignment, workflow friction removal, and AI automation—to transform accounts receivable from...
AR Automation: Cutting Through the Hype
Bob Schultz talks with Chris Capron, the founder of Sephora Software, about the rapid shift in accounts receivable (AR) automation driven by AI. Capron argues that legacy vendors are nervous because AI tools like Claude and Vibe coding can replace...
The Future of AR in the AI Era: What Finance Teams Actually Want
Finance leaders across industries report that accounts‑receivable (AR) teams are overwhelmed by data overload, manual research, and routine customer inquiries. They consistently want AI assistants that prioritize high‑risk invoices, automate payment matching, and handle mundane inbox tasks, rather than fully...
Capital Strategy Is a Stage-Specific Discipline
Capital strategy is a stage‑specific discipline that separates thriving firms from those that run out of cash. In the early years, patient equity financing is essential to survive and validate the business model, while excessive dilution can erode founder value....
Supply Chain Disruptions Are Credit Risks—Are You Prepared?
Recent supply‑chain disruptions have turned operational hiccups into credit risks, threatening revenue and cash flow. The article argues that credit teams must evaluate supplier financial health and integrate into procurement’s vendor onboarding. It outlines three actions: collaborate with procurement, identify...
Collect the Cash
Dee Bowden’s new book “Collect the Cash” delivers a practical roadmap for trade‑credit professionals to turn overdue invoices into reliable revenue. Drawing on more than a decade of experience and over $100 million in recoveries, Bowden outlines a “4 Keys to...
After the Credit Application: Go Deeper to Know Your Customers
Effective credit decisions require more than a completed application or a credit score. Companies must gather ongoing intelligence—from bank and trade references to sales trends and news—to build a comprehensive risk picture. Continuous monitoring during the first six months uncovers...
Closing the Loop: Mastering the Mechanics of Revenue Recovery
In this episode, host Bob Schultz talks with revenue‑recovery expert Dee Bowden, author of *Collect2Cash*, about how small‑ and mid‑size firms can build a disciplined collection process. Dee shares her origin story, outlines the four‑key framework for tracking invoices, using...
A Guide to Trade Credit Insurance
The International Credit Insurance & Surety Association (ICISA) released "A Guide to Trade Credit Insurance," a practical desk reference that demystifies credit insurance for credit managers and treasury professionals. The book explains policy structures, underwriting, claims, and shows how insured...
Is Your Company Prepared to Prevent Business Fraud, or Is It Set to Be the Next Victim?
The article catalogs fourteen common business fraud schemes—from Business Email Compromise and deep‑fake voice scams to asset misappropriation and payroll fraud—highlighting how attackers exploit executive authority, technology, and weak internal controls. It notes that asset misappropriation alone accounts for roughly...
When Cash Flow Goes Wrong
Negative operating cash flow can hide liquidity problems even when profits rise. The piece shows how working‑capital analysis—especially debtor and creditor aging and the cash conversion cycle—pinpoints where cash gets stuck. It explains supply‑chain financing and reverse factoring, then details...
Greatness Code: The Formula Behind Unstoppable Success
Greatness Code, authored by Alan Guarino, presents a leadership framework built around the 5Qs—stamina, courage, resilience, persistence, and passion. The book targets finance professionals, especially those in trade credit and treasury, by translating these qualities into disciplined habits and relationship‑focused...
Visa’s Canton Network Play Signals a New Phase for Corporate Payments
Visa announced it will join the Canton Network as a Super Validator, marking the first major global payments firm to provide trusted, privacy‑preserving blockchain infrastructure for regulated finance. The role allows Visa to apply its risk and compliance standards to...