Opinion
When CFOs talk more to AI than to their tax advisors, a problem has already emerged
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how finance executives work, but tax advisors who fail to evolve in tandem may become a weak link in corporate strategy. This article presents six signals to help CFOs determine whether their tax partners remain stuck at the "tax filing" level rather than acting as true strategic collaborators.
From Executive to Director: A Fundamental Shift in Role, Mindset, and Leadership
An executive's move to a board of directors is not a simple promotion but a profound transformation involving role, mindset, relationships, leadership, and cultural awareness. This article points out that directors must shift from executors to fiduciaries, replace individual competition with collective decision-making, and engage in continuous learning to adapt to new environments. Ignoring these transitions can lead to failure in fulfilling duties and may even affect the overall effectiveness of the board.
How CFOs Can Integrate AI Without Overwhelming Their Teams
CFOs face pressure to leverage AI for efficiency, but excessive transformation leads to team fatigue and lower adoption rates. The PAUSE framework provides a human-centric AI integration strategy, emphasizing people-first planning, enhancement over replacement, upskilling, sustainable pacing, and evaluating evolution to protect employee well-being and achieve long-term ROI.
CFO Essential Course: Four Rules for Maintaining Control During Rapid Expansion
In an article, Jessica Martin, CFO of large industrial construction firm Nox Group, points out that rapid expansion brings significant opportunities and risks, requiring CFOs to proactively manage talent, technology, processes, culture, and executive synergy to avoid losing control. The article proposes four core lessons: building an operational scaffolding, treating culture as a scaling driver, being wary of growth for growth's sake, and ensuring strong alignment among the executive team, citing LSA Global research data to illustrate the significant impact of executive alignment on corporate performance.
How CFOs Can Build Client Risk Defenses Amid a Wave of Large Enterprise Bankruptcies
Cornerstone Research's mid-2025 report shows that over the past 12 months, 117 companies with assets exceeding $100 million filed for bankruptcy, a 44% year-over-year increase, with 32 of these being 'large bankruptcies' involving assets over $1 billion. CFOs must leverage early warning indicators such as changes in payment behavior, order anomalies, public signals, and personnel changes, combined with a four-step action framework (assess exposure, adjust credit terms, strengthen monitoring, review contract rights), to mitigate losses before client bankruptcies occur.
When Should CFOs Break Their Own Rules, and Why It Works
Finance departments operate on rules, but the best CFOs know when to be flexible at critical moments. This article explores the line between breaking rules and acting recklessly, and how to earn trust through principled exceptions.
GENIUS Act Lands: Why CFOs Can No Longer Ignore Stablecoins
The U.S. GENIUS Act provides a clear regulatory framework for stablecoins, moving them from the periphery to the mainstream in CFO financial operations. This article outlines the key points financial leaders should focus on from the perspectives of compliance, financial reporting, efficiency, and risk.
Practical Strategies to Maximize the Qualified Business Income Deduction
The Qualified Business Income Deduction (QBID), introduced in 2017, became permanent in 2025. This article analyzes its calculation logic and, in response to limitations such as insufficient W-2 wages, proposes practical strategies for S corporations and partnerships to help taxpayers fully enjoy the deduction of up to 20%.
Optimize the Closing Process to Unlock New Strategic Financial Momentum
The lag in the closing process often constrains CFOs' strategic investment. This article explores how process improvements and automation can transform the monthly close from a reactive task into a forward-looking strategic tool, and proposes maturity levels and implementation paths.
Beyond Patents and Lab Coats: How CFOs Can Maximize R&D Tax Benefits
This article explores the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on R&D tax policy, noting that the scope of R&D tax credits extends far beyond laboratories and patents, encompassing a wide range of activities such as software development and AI, and provides guidance for companies to optimize their tax strategies.