The FTX collapse: Lessons learnt for the CFO

Hartmut Wagner ,CEO of Serrala

 

‘A complete absence of trustworthy financial information’ were the words used to describe the cause of cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s demise last week. Although an extreme example of incredibly poor risk and data management, it brings to light – yet again – the importance of getting financial planning right.

Following the collapse, the question on everybody’s lips has been – could this have been avoided? The answer is highly complex, however identifying, managing and mitigating internal and external risks should be at the top of senior leadership’s priority list – simple. The teachings here for CFOs across all industries are rooted in risk management. It was a lack of planning from senior executives that caused the current crypto industry crisis and should be considered a wake-up call to senior leaders across a multitude of sectors.

We are entering an uncertain economic winter, and CFOs are facing risks previously unknown, which are going to be impossible to mitigate without valuable insight and suitable technology. In the rocky months ahead, operational ‘leaks’ or financial losses will not be limited to crypto companies resisting the lasting effects of FTX’s collapse. If businesses across all sectors are to survive one of the most complex economic environments in recent times, CFOs will need to ramp up their risk management.

Hartmut Wagner

A Deloitte survey of CFOs found that 63% believe recession will hit within the next year and are already dealing with the sharp rises in financing costs. Additionally, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted that global growth will falter from 3.2% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023 because of tightening financial conditions in most regions. Ultimately, the outlook is challenging enough without the prospect of avoidable risks that can be prevented with the right planning and processes.

 

Automate systems or sink

Recent Gartner data shows that under one-third of CFOs are confident that technology they have available to them can ensure future company success. But to survive the recession and thrive on the other side, technology will be key throughout the finance function.   The Great Resignation has also added urgency for CFOs to automate more business and financial processes. The labour shortage, which started in hospitality and airlines, has hit the financial sector and has created a skill gap that senior leaders are battling to fill. No one is immune, as even Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs are suffering ‘talent wars’ as they fight to attract and retain finance professionals.**

Additionally, CFOs are facing ‘quiet quitting’, another problem that translates to increased employee disengagement which has recently gone viral across social media. The trend, gaining traction across Europe, encourages workers to avoid going above and beyond their job description and is lowering productivity levels. Automating the finance function, for one, alleviates the pressure on stretched teams by adding a virtual ‘team member’ that can take over repetitive and time-consuming transactional processes. This can break the negative cycle of further resignations as remaining employees will have more time to focus on strategic decisions, offering them the chance to become true value creators. Removing these arduous manual tasks will also attract employees and give businesses the upper hand in the ongoing ‘talent war’.

Take processing invoices as an example. It’s a simple but time-consuming task that can often be derailed by human error. Intelligent software can create efficiencies by reducing the time to completion and eradicate costly mistakes. It can also help to combat issues associated with ‘quiet quitting’ as disengaged employees will have time to focus on the tasks that they find more stimulating.

 

Achieving well-rounded cash visibility

In this period of economic uncertainty, cash is no doubt king and having a rounded view of company finances is crucial. Staying on top of a business’s cash position is tricky and slow if balances are still being drawn by hand. It’s labour intensive, time-consuming and there’s risk of being blindsided by putting valuable time into non-strategic tasks.

Instead, technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) can provide clarity on current and future cash balances and flows, meaning CFOs can anticipate potential cash flow concerns before they become a problem. Plus, the technology can provide actionable insights into the spending and cash flow trends of a company, and AI can forecast potential hurdles and scenarios ahead of a business in a way that people alone can’t. This means the CFO’s decision-making powers grow and deliver better risk management. For a job based on data, implementing technology like this should feel like a natural progression.

 

The future CFO, now

The recent FTX collapse – rooted in a lack of financial planning – only highlights further that humans, without the right technology solutions, cannot deal with the risk management complexities in the modern era. Interestingly, a Gartner Survey conducted this summer highlighted that 45% of CEOs and CFOs would cut digital investments only as a last resort in difficult economic times. Employees and technology were prioritised over investments in mergers and acquisitions, which highlights CFOs’ recognition of the success of technology in driving efficiencies and protecting margins.

Even within industries less volatile than crypto, the threat of collapse is on the mind of most CFOs as we enter a period of economic downturn. For some, the risk might seem less obvious and, therefore, it’s impossible to accurately mitigate against without the right tools. Consequently, over the coming months, it is technology what will set one CFO apart from the next.

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