Opinion

The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders


If you are interested in having your voice heard on CFO.com's Opinion page, please read our editorial guidelines and fill out the submission form here.

  • Business meeting between executive and software developer
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    The CFO automation imperative: Balancing tech and human judgment

    Finance leaders must embrace automation while safeguarding human judgment in financial decisions.

    Diana Mugambi • Jan. 27, 2026
  • YES Decision Checkbox
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why 2026 will reward CFOs who say ‘yes’

    The CFOs who will thrive over the next few years won’t be the most cautious ones, but rather those willing to say yes.

    Dean Quiambao • Jan. 20, 2026
  • Hard Rock Stadium
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    College football has a new position to fill: CFO

    The national title game isn’t amateur anymore, and neither is the business behind it. Here are five reasons why CFOs will play a major part in the change.

    Jason Hershman • Jan. 16, 2026
  • conference table with group of microphones before conference.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Antitrust enforcers sharpen their focus on earnings calls

    A new regime of closer scrutiny by the European Commission may influence U.S. regulators and courts.

    Parker Miller, Jens-Olrik Murach and Robert Poole • Jan. 13, 2026
  • Modern Glass Architecture
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    The forces shaping M&A in 2026

    Firms that combine strategic agility with intelligent operations will redefine how value is captured in the next era of M&A.

    J. Neely • Dec. 22, 2025
  • Businessman reviewing paperwork and using laptop at work
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bridging the GAAP: Why every CFO needs an EBITDA bridge schedule

    In a landscape where stakeholders demand clarity and credibility, mapping out a clear EBITDA to cash flow bridge has become a strategic imperative.

    Michael Paull • Dec. 16, 2025
  • Business people having meeting in conference room, sitting with laptops and discussing
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    What investors and boards want from CFOs and how to deliver it

    The more capital you raise, the more you have to work to create value with it. Here’s how CFOs can lead the way.

    Diya Sagar • Dec. 9, 2025
  • Challenge to overcome difficulty
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    If you talk to AI more than your CPA, you’ve got a problem

    Here are six signs your tax adviser might be holding you back. 

    Dean Quiambao • Dec. 2, 2025
  • Boardroom Meeting
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Making the shift from the C-suite to the boardroom

    Board service requires a redefined role, a fresh mindset and a reorientation of relationships.

    Karen Jaw-Madson • Nov. 25, 2025
  • AI central core processing and transferring data between different units.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How CFOs can integrate AI without overloading their teams

    Sustainable AI transformation means knowing when to pause, not just accelerate.

    Swetha Pandiri • Nov. 19, 2025
  • Colorful Arrows Over Orange Background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    4 lessons CFOs must embrace to grow without losing control

    These practical insights will help finance executives scale rapidly without sacrificing financial discipline or cultural fabric.

    Jessica Martin • Nov. 12, 2025
  • Descending red graph line, stock market and financial crisis
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How CFOs can protect the business as big bankruptcies rise

    Having a proactive system for identifying early signs of customer distress is essential to protect your cash flow, limit losses and avoid disruption. 

    David Dragich • Nov. 4, 2025
  • Maze, Challenge, Arrow Symbol, Blackboard
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    When CFOs should break their own rules and why it works

    Great finance leaders know which rules to enforce and which to flex, turning finance from a control function into a strategic driver of growth and trust. 

    Oreoluwa Onabowale • Oct. 28, 2025
  • Golden USDC coins isometric seamless patttern
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why the GENIUS Act makes stablecoins hard to ignore for CFOs

    The most strategic CFOs aren’t waiting for the rules to fully phase in and are already making moves within the 2026 budget cycle. 

    Dean Quiambao • Oct. 21, 2025
  • business people meeting discuss project plan and financial results in office.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Practical tips to maximize the qualified business income deduction

    With the right strategies in place, it is possible to maximize the deduction and lock in significant, recurring savings.

    Michael Geller • Oct. 14, 2025
  • Calendar with dollar bills
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Unlocking strategic finance through a streamlined close

    By rooting out bottlenecks, assessing maturity and embracing automation, organizations can transform the close into a strategic asset.

    Cory Teller • Oct. 8, 2025
  • software developers working on multiple screens
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Beyond patents and lab coats — How CFOs can maximize R&D tax benefits

    Many businesses assume R&D qualification only applies to formal lab research and miss out on potential tax savings.

    Michael Thompson • Oct. 7, 2025
  • Business people sitting in boardroom and working together at new strategy plan.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Amid automation push, CFO storytelling matters more than ever

    Finance leaders need to develop a skill machines can't replicate: making people care about financial data through compelling storytelling.

    Konstantin Dzhengozov • Sept. 30, 2025
  • Data analytics dashboard display
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Soft power in finance — Why influence matters more than accuracy

    A finance leader reveals why accuracy falls short without the crucial skill of translating numbers into influential insights that drive key business decisions.

    Oreoluwa Onabowale • Sept. 23, 2025
  • A scientist using a pipette with a microtiter plate and a petri dish
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    What CFOs need to know about R&D tax credit reform

    Finance leaders have a timely opportunity to enhance liquidity, reduce tax burdens and align tax policy with business growth.

    Todd Sutherland • Sept. 16, 2025
  • Banknotes gushing from a faucet,
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Liquidity under pressure: How CFOs can respond to economic uncertainty

    CFOs can transform liquidity challenges into strategic advantages through improved forecasting, technology investments and smarter capital management.

    Kelley Pruetz • Sept. 9, 2025
  • Multiple exposure world map
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Setting the record straight on VATs and tariffs

    For U.S. companies doing business globally, an accurate understanding of these tax principles is more important than ever.

    George L. Salis • Sept. 2, 2025
  • In an aerial view, a container ship arrives at the Port of Oakland on August 01, 2025 in Oakland, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Trump’s tariffs trigger state tax bills most CFOs never see coming

    As companies adjust supply chains and pricing strategies in response to tariffs, they may inadvertently create a tax nexus in new states.

    Glenn C. McCoy, Jr. • Aug. 26, 2025
  • A row of national flags
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Tips for expanding a B2B business outside the US

    Jim Ogle, CFO of B2B marketing firm Anteriad, shares lessons learned and strategic insights on successfully navigating the complexities of international business expansion.

    Jim Ogle • Aug. 19, 2025
  • Photo of the United States Capitol with overlayed computer circuitry.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    There’s never been a better time to invest in AI. The tax code backs you up

    For the first time in years, the tax code and the tech road map are aligned.

    Dean Quiambao • Aug. 14, 2025