FP&A
How Mid-Sized Growing Enterprises Choose ERP Software: Selection Criteria for a Company with $6 Million in Revenue
A home services company with annual revenue of $6 million, planning to grow into a mid-sized enterprise by the end of this decade, is seeking suitable ERP software. This article outlines the core requirements and evaluation criteria the company proposed in the early stages of its selection process.
Should Excel financial planning models use VBA macros?
During recent job searches, I was repeatedly asked whether I use macros in financial planning models. The author and peers believe that macros have limited value to the core of the model, and may only be helpful in certain scenarios (such as goal seeking). They also suspect that interviewers may confuse VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and macros.
Budgeting and Reporting Software Selection: What Are the Best Options for Upgrading from Excel?
A company using Great Plains and FRx is evaluating replacing its spreadsheet-based budgeting process. Candidate solutions include SaaS products such as Host Analytics and Adaptive Planning, as well as on-premises options like Prophix, Planning Maestro, Anaplan, and SolverUSA BI360. Users are concerned about mobile reporting capabilities, cost control, and a scale of approximately 50 users, and are seeking community advice.
Bikini Luxury Brand Marketing Controversy: How Should Management Respond?
The CEO of Bikini Luxe used LinkedIn to promote their swimwear products, sparking intense debate about the appropriateness of platform usage and whether the images offend women. This article outlines the controversy and presents decision-making questions that management may face at different stages.
Sales Team and Employee Expense Reimbursement Submission Deadlines: Industry Practice Discussion
This article discusses corporate expense reimbursement submission deadlines. The author's company currently has a loose policy that prefers weekly submissions but only disallows reimbursement for expenses over 30 days, leading to process inconsistencies. To accelerate month-end closing (currently taking 9 business days), the author proposes mandatory Monday submissions, but the president prefers monthly submissions. The article aims to learn about other companies' practices, submission frequencies, handling of late submissions, and innovative ideas.
Expense Reimbursement Solution Selection for Small Businesses (20-Person Team): Cost-Benefit Evaluation of Expensify and Concur
A small company with a 20-person team is evaluating automated expense reimbursement solutions such as Expensify or Concur, with the core question being whether the time savings from automation can cover its costs. This article outlines key considerations in the selection process and invites teams with usage experience to share best practices.
Deferred IPO Cost Handling: Accounting Treatment Guide When Listing Plans Are Indefinitely Postponed
This article explores how to handle approximately $4 million in IPO reserves recorded in a deferred expense account when a company's initial public offering (IPO) plans are postponed without a clear timeline. It analyzes relevant accounting principles, noting that when management decides not to actively pursue the IPO or when plans are indefinitely postponed, deferred costs should be written off as expenses, and recommends consulting professional accountants to confirm the specific treatment.
How to Determine Whether It's Time to Shut Down Your Startup?
Facing the decision of whether to continue a startup, founders often find themselves in a dilemma. Based on industry practices, this article proposes key signals for determining when to terminate, and offers rational and creative paths forward, helping entrepreneurs make responsible decisions.
Should advisor shares be adjusted for delayed exercise price?
A startup plans to grant options to advisors, but some advisor agreements were signed years ago when no 409A valuation had been performed. Now, both the valuation and exercise price have risen significantly. Should advisor shares be adjusted to compensate for the delay? This article analyzes industry practices and fair calculation methods.
Financial Model Naming Conventions: Best Practices and Recommended Approaches
This article solicits industry recommendations on financial model naming conventions, with the core goal of making file names clearly convey three key pieces of information: the month of the most recently closed actual data, the forecast version (typically associated with external files), and the scenario description. It summarizes common practices and recommended patterns from community discussions.