US Payrolls Grow 275K, But Unemployment Rises to 3.9%

“This is music to investors’ and the Fed’s ears — the labor market and inflation are cooling but not at a recessionary level,” said Michael Arone of State Street Global Advisors.

By Vincent Ryan • March 8, 2024

Futures Pricing Implies 42% Chance of Two Rate Cuts by July

“If the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year,” said Jerome Powell.

By Vincent Ryan • March 6, 2024

Explore the Trendline➔

The Power of FP&A: A CFO's Essential Tool for Growth

If a CFO wants to grow amid the current economic headwinds, paying attention to FP&A and the talent that drives it is a must.

By CFO staff

ESG Reports Make Middling Progress

“The goal of sustainability disclosure must be information, including the process to prepare it, that is on par with financial reports.”

By David McCann • March 6, 2024

Cost Management a High Priority in 2024

“This is a holistic cost challenge — one that's built up over five years of very rapid adjustments that companies have had to make.” 

By Vincent Ryan • March 5, 2024

Powell on Capitol Hill, Climate Disclosure Vote, and Metric of the Month: Trial Balance

APQC’s CFO Perry D. Wiggins shares three strategies to avoid a cash-flow crunch in his Metric of the Month column out on Wednesday.

By CFO Editorial Staff • March 4, 2024

Warren Buffett Lowers Expectations, PCE Data Arrives, and Stretto’s CFO: Trial Balance

This week, we look forward to personal consumption expenditure inflation data and Stretto’s finance chief recounting his journey to the CFO seat.

By CFO Editorial Staff • Feb. 26, 2024

US M&A Deal Size Up 38% Despite Slow Market: Report

U.S.-based M&A deal values rose 39% in the final stretch of 2023, while the average deal size grew 47% in the same time frame, according to new data from McKinsey.

By Adam Zaki • Feb. 21, 2024

CFOs Should Count On Volatility, Not Rate Cuts

Markets have been assuming that inflation was under control and monetary policy easing would follow. But that may not be the case.

By Vincent Ryan • Feb. 16, 2024

Earnings Growth Leads to Higher Valuations at PE-Backed Firms

However, earnings multiples have contracted due to higher interest rates and lower revenue growth, said Lincoln International.

By Vincent Ryan • Feb. 14, 2024

Labor Trends, Inflation Data, and the Morning Routine of Dewey’s Pizza’s CFO: Trial Balance

This week, we look at the latest labor trends impacting finance teams, and Dewey’s Pizza CFO MaryAnn Waltz shares the hands-on experience she received when joining the pizza chain. 

By CFO Editorial Staff • Feb. 12, 2024

How to Be Ready When Activist Investors Come Knocking

More than 180 different activist investors initiated campaigns in 2023, including a record number of “first-timers.”

By Vincent Ryan • Feb. 8, 2024

Accountants: 2024 Will Be Economically Challenging

According to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, three trends could heavily impact economies and businesses this year.

By David McCann • Feb. 7, 2024

Axiom’s New CFO, This Week’s IPOs, and Better Performance in Annual Reporting: Trial Balance

This month’s Metric of the Month column from the CFO of APQC offers three ways to lead your team to better performance in annual reporting. 

By CFO Editorial Staff • Feb. 5, 2024

A Tale of Two IPO Markets

Although conditions point to a step forward for the IPO market this year, don’t expect it to come roaring back.

By David McCann • Jan. 31, 2024

Fed Meeting, FloQast CFO, and Debt Restructuring Advice: Trial Balance

Investors “will be looking for clarification about the wide gap between the much bigger expectations for rate cuts from the market and the smaller ones the panel projects.”

By CFO Editorial Staff • Jan. 29, 2024

SPACs Will Survive New SEC Regs

“Those committed to the asset class will find a way to operate within the new disclosure regime,” said King & Spalding Partner Timothy FitzSimons.

By Vincent Ryan • Jan. 29, 2024

GDP and Inflation Data, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden’s CFO, and Post-Acquisition Strategies: Trial Balance

This week we talk to the CFO of the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden about his role in fundraising, hybrid work, and succession planning. 

By CFO Editorial Staff • Jan. 22, 2024

Acquisitions Hurt Share Prices in 2023

Some signs point to 2024 being a better year for M&A.

By David McCann • Jan. 17, 2024

CFO Sentiment Darkened in Q4 2023

Net optimism for CFOs' own companies' financial prospects also fell.  

By David McCann • Jan. 10, 2024

2024 Workplace Outlook, U.S. Inflation Data, and Bank Earnings: Trial Balance

Looking ahead to the Dec. 2023 CPI report and Bank of America and JP Morgan earnings. 

By CFO Editorial Staff • Jan. 8, 2024

The 10 Most-Read CFO Stories of 2023

While our story on the probable length of a recession took top spot for year, coverage of “coffee badging” and “quiet” workplace trends also attracted many readers.

By Lauren Muskett • Dec. 26, 2023

Equipment Financing Activity Flat in November

Equipment lenders and lessors have kept delinquencies and charge-offs manageable, but total industry headcount has fallen month after month with the rise in interest rates.

By Vincent Ryan • Dec. 21, 2023

Duke-Fed CFO Survey Hints at Cautious Optimism for 2024

The CFO optimism index rating rose to 58, up from 56.2 from last quarter, in the latest Duke University/Richmond Federal Reserve CFO survey.

By Adam Zaki • Dec. 20, 2023

Housing Market Thaws, Data’s Importance to AI, and Rockstar CFOs: Trial Balance

Economic data will not take an early holiday, as releases on the U.S. housing market, durable goods orders, and personal consumption expenditures are all on the docket this week before Christmas.

By CFO Editorial Staff • Dec. 18, 2023

Nearly Half of M&A Deals Wind Up in Accounting Disputes

New research offers CFOs insights on what factors to prepare for if they anticipate their organizations being part of an M&A deal this upcoming year.

By Adam Zaki • Dec. 13, 2023