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Operational Analysts: Why They Belong in Finance, Not IT or Business Units
Operational analysts play a crucial role in transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making. We are in a data-driven world and having actionable data distinguishes the leaders from the laggards. I am not sure there is really a debate on this topic. At least not for me, but it is worth discussing… Continue reading
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Payment Processing Optimization: How to Leverage Software to Maximize Revenue
In my years as a fractional CFO, I’ve watched promising companies hit a wall. It typically happens around the $5M ARR mark – the payment infrastructure that seemed robust at startup begins buckling under the weight of scale. The symptoms are similar: finance teams drowning in reconciliation, revenue leaking through failed payments, and customer churn… Continue reading
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From Too Many Messaging Apps to Just One
Taming Messaging App Sprawl 2024 has been a year of heavy networking, and too many messaging apps became a problem for me. This messaging app sprawl was an unintended consequence of my efforts to network and build my services practice. After all of my productive networking, I found myself drowning in a sea of notifications,… Continue reading
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My Experience with AI-Powered Excel Tools: Numerous.ai VS Excel Formula Bot
I’m always on the hunt for tools that can help me work more efficiently and effectively. Recently, I had the opportunity to test out two of the most talked-about AI-powered Excel tools on the market: numerous.ai VS Excel Formula Bot. After putting both tools through their paces, I’m excited to share my thoughts and experiences… Continue reading
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When to Say Goodbye: Managing High-Cost Customers in Ecommerce
In the world of ecommerce, the customer is king. But what happens when the king becomes too costly? As counterintuitive as it may seem, there are times when an ecommerce business needs to consider “firing” certain customers to maintain profitability and operational efficiency. This strategy, while controversial, can be crucial for long-term success, especially when… Continue reading
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How a Financial Model Serves as Your North Star
A financial model roadmap is a helpful rubric for any founder or entrepreneur. I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of a sound financial model. It’s not just a set of spreadsheets; it’s the North Star that guides a business through the unpredictable seas, even in the startup world, but especially as your business grows and… Continue reading
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The Hidden and Visible Sources of Truth in Olympic Competition Data
The Olympic Games are the pinnacle of athletic achievement, where fractions of a second or millimeters can separate gold from silver. I was wondering how this all gets done. So many competitions, so many competitors, so many judges. It’s a large-scale real-time data mash-up. Behind the scenes, a complex network of measurement systems and protocols.… Continue reading
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CrowdStrike’s Patch Debacle and the Impact on Business Intelligence Systems
For business intelligence, the CrowdStrike patch debacle had far-reaching consequences for across different layers of the data stack. For businesses relying on external data sources, such as travel companies or services like TripIt that depend on, say, Delta Airlines’ data, the CrowdStrike incident could have caused significant disruptions to their users and to the internal… Continue reading
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Bridging the Gap: How Fractional CFOs Can Help Microcaps with Their Unique Challenges
Fractional CFO can help microcaps with their unique challenges using many of the same techniques applicable to private companies. A little bit of a tangent this week from financial analytics topics and a dive into the practicalities of CFO work and how it integrates into investor relations and value creation. I’ve worked with private companies… Continue reading
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TikTok vs Meta Are A Worthy Comparison of AI Advertising Platforms
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital advertising, TikTok vs Meta platforms are a worthy comparison of AI Advertising Platforms. Meta’s Advantage+ advertising platform stands out as a prime example of this trend, offering automated solutions that leverage machine learning to optimize ad performance. TikTok has been evolving its strategy for over 2 years and now… Continue reading
