CFO

?? Solving the tariff puzzle; February earnings update; boosting AR efficiency; liability management exercises This week's newsletter features a story on tarrifs by KPMG US' Andrew Siciliano, new editions of the CFO Earnings Dispatch and Metric of the Month, a Q&A with JMAN Group's CFO Richard Cowen and more.

McKinsey & Company is expressing cautious optimism about the climate for deals. Calling last year’s deal environment less than a “full throttle” comeback, the firm suggested it may be understandably difficult for some M&A professionals to be optimistic in the new year. Even the busier pace of 2024 limited global deal volume and value to roughly the averages of the past 20 years, a recent report noted. https://lnkd.in/ev9T8h5T

Fast follow, big data and AI-powered lead the list of the most commonly used business and technology terms, according to a new list put together by Heepsy . These idioms, many of which have become?red flags for younger employees?during their job searches, have entered organizational communications of all types, including all-hands meetings, board meetings, stakeholder meetings, the hiring process and employee evaluations. https://lnkd.in/ehQkcC4f

As states explore alternative CPA licensure pathways, CPA society representatives addressed the misconception that they want to remove the 150-hour requirement during a recent Earmark webinar. "If there’s one bit of information that gets me frustrated, it’s when I hear anyone suggest that the 150-hour rule is going away," said Calvin Harris Jr., CPA, CEO of NYCPA - The New York State Society of CPAs. We’re talking in addition to — not instead of. If a person wants to go down the 150-hour pathway, they can. If they’re already in the pipeline going through the 150 hours now, they’re still on that path. And even for the things being discussed — including here in New York — this doesn’t change what anyone is doing right now." Read the full story with takes from Harris as well as Jodi Ann LaFreniere Ray, CAE, CCE, IOM, president and CEO of the Texas Society of CPAs, Geoffrey Brown, CAE, president and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS), Denise LeDuc Froemming, CPA, CAE, president and CEO of CalCPA, Shelly Weir, president and CEO of Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) and Jennifer Cryder, CEO of PICPA here: https://lnkd.in/g89Kij-K

Bevi's new CFO?Wajeeha Ahmed is now in an industry she’s never worked in. She is also the company’s first CFO. Luckily for her, this is quite familiar territory. "From my CFO brain’s perspective, there's a strong product market fit, impressive growth trajectory, healthy unit economics and overall potential make this an exciting opportunity," said Ahmed. "There is margin with a mission here." https://lnkd.in/epz8XGDh

Dollar Tree appoints a new finance chief, Expedia’s former CEO takes over as chief financial officer?of Fortive and Starbucks hires Nordstrom’s CFO for the same role. ??Stewart Glendinning is moving over to the CFO role at Dollar Tree Stores ??Fortive has named Mark Okerstrom CFO ??Starbucks hires Cathy Smith as CFO ??Greg Henry is brought on as CFO of 1Password ??Caribou Coffee's CFO Scott Kennedy is named interim CEO ??Sonia Timmons, CMA, MBA is promoted to her inaugural CFO role at Vallen https://lnkd.in/eMQwuhNF

Strategy’s Andrew Kang talks bitcoin holdings, Krispy Kreme’s Jeremiah Ashukian discusses business model changes, Lemonade’s Tim Bixby shares growth stats and more. As its future customer base?continues to ditch alcohol in droves,?AB InBev CFO?Fernando Tennenbaum?reminded analysts on his call that the company isn’t looking to buy its way into new markets anytime soon. He reassured that its capital allocation strategies are disciplined, and organic growth is still the priority. “It’s worth reminding [everyone] that the objective of our capital allocation policy is value creation,” Tennenbaum said. “The framework is unchanged, and we remain disciplined in our choices. So, priority number one has always been investing in the organic growth of our business. We have a very good business with no shortage of opportunities to invest.” https://lnkd.in/e_YAaHKf

If history repeats, PCAOB enforcement activity will decline during the President’s second term, according to a new report from Cornerstone Research. If history were to repeat, now that Biden is out of office, the level of enforcement activity would stay high this year, then begin to fall sharply. Accordingly, companies and their auditors may reasonably look for enforcement of auditing regulations to ease up over the next few years. https://lnkd.in/ejqdKzeb

Starbucks' longtime CFO Rachel Ruggeri, who referred to the "Back to Starbucks" initiative as the “right strategy” on the company’s most recent earnings call,?is leaving. She is being replaced by Cathy Smith, who is departing retailer Nordstrom. CEO Brian Niccol has led multiple changes to help address Starbucks' challenges. He has focused on enhancing customer experience in U.S. locations by revamping stores,?returning condiment bars?that were removed during the pandemic, going back to?Sharpie use on cups?to help revitalize some of Starbucks’?legacy branding,?simplifying the menu?and extending?maternity leave?to help improve employee sentiment. Ruggeri’s departure marks her third exit from Starbucks during her career, and she is now one of several leaders who have left since the company's rebranding efforts began. https://lnkd.in/evUc_Fdz

The Government of the District of Columbia's CFO Glen Lee says the impact of federal layoffs is making the district’s financial outlook grim, as he predicts a “mild recession” in fiscal year 2026. “The efforts to reduce the federal workforce are expected to have a disproportionate impact on the district’s economy,” Lee wrote in his Feburary 2025 Revenue Estimates letter. “While federal jobs (excluding the U.S. Postal Service) make up just 1.4% of the U.S. civilian workforce, they account for close to 25% of total civilian employment in the district.” https://lnkd.in/eC9NUhdW