One person team
The finance leader needs to understand both the numbers and the systems that produce them.
Article series
Setting Yourself Up For Success
Technology alone isn't enough.
The most successful finance functions combine two things.
2
Finance teams that understand systems
The capability to design, optimise and evolve how finance operates.
1
Strong finance infrastructure
The foundation of trusted data, processes and controls.
1
Strong Finance Infrastructure
Build the foundation.
Integrated data sources
Well-structured databases
Automated processes
Clear controls & audit trails
Trusted reporting
This creates a reliable foundation of accurate, consistent and trusted financial data.
2
Finance Teams That Understand Systems
Bring the capability.
Data structures
Reporting logic
Process design
Automation opportunities
Finance technology
This ensures the foundation is used effectively to drive insight, efficiency and better decisions.
Why This Matters
The better the underlying architecture, the more time your team can spend on what really matters.
More time for
- Supporting decision making
- Driving commercial performance
- Scenario planning & forecasting
- Helping the business grow
Less time spent on
- Reconciling spreadsheets
- Chasing data
- Manually updating reports
- Repeating routine tasks
The Capability Every Finance Team Needs
Whether your finance function is a single CFO or a large team with dedicated specialists, someone needs to understand how the finance architecture works.
Not just the numbers, but the systems, data structures, controls and processes that sit behind them.
Without that capability, even the best software will fail to deliver its full value.
Small finance team
Responsibility may be shared, but the capability must exist within the team.
Larger finance team
A dedicated systems expert brings scale and unlocks even greater value.
Different structures. Same requirement.
Someone needs to own the finance architecture.
The Future Finance Function
Finance is becoming increasingly data-driven and technology-enabled.
The finance teams that will outperform in the coming years won't just have better software.
They'll have people who understand how to combine:
Finance
+Data
+Systems
+Automation
to create faster, more reliable and more scalable finance functions.
Great finance functions are built on two foundations:
robust systems and people who understand how those systems work.