Organizations may keep the company running smoothly and sustain healthy profits by using financial management to plan, organize, and regulate financial processes. Making decisions that balance the short- and long-term objectives is a critical responsibility of financial managers. When making decisions that may involve direct investing activity, financial reporting is a component. In addition to aiding in plans and strategies, financial reports contribute to more precise forecasting. The ability to plan, make decisions, and manage finances is necessary for sound fiscal governance, according to Joseph Stone Capital LLC.
● Arranging
Allocating funds for expansion, facilitating the development of new goods or services, and guaranteeing positive cash flow even in the face of adversity or unanticipated events are all made possible by financial planning. Analyzing past spending on capital, labor, workers’ compensation, travel and entertainment (T&E), operations, and indirect costs is part of the planning process.
● Setting A Budget
The financial manager sets aside money in the budget for the necessary outlays of the company, including rent, salaries, raw materials, and entertainment and travel costs. Budgets should ideally leave some wiggle room in case of an emergency or a chance to take advantage of an opportunity. Budgets can be static or flexible, with the latter offering some flexibility and being more widely used in recent years as the pandemic has raised concerns about financial stability. Larger businesses typically have a master budget backed up by other records that describe, for example, cash flow and activities.
● Controlling and Evaluating Risk
Budgeting and investment planning are impacted by risk management, as financial managers are in charge of identifying and putting in place compensating controls for risks like these.
(a) Liquidity Danger
It entails monitoring the cash in the present, projecting future cash requirements, and becoming ready to release working capital as needed.
(b) Market Danger
Financial market activity has an impact on stock performance for publicly traded companies, and it may also have an impact on any corporate investments. That also includes changes in the market brought on by events like the pandemic, such as physical stores opening online.
(c) Credit Danger
Credit is significant since it affects the business’s capacity to borrow money at lower rates. For example, when positive credit lines are kept up by ensuring customers pay their bills on time, valuation is enhanced.
(d) Operational Risk
This broad category includes risks such as cyberattacks and how to prevent them or respond if they happen, office closures due to inclement weather or terrorist attacks, and crisis management if a senior team member commits misconduct. Plans for disaster recovery and business continuity must be created, along with specifically tailored insurance plans to evaluate these risks.
● Protocols
According to Joseph Stone Capital, policies and procedures impact every aspect of business operations and contribute to the seamless operation of financial management systems. Procedures create stability; they cover everything from the fundamentals, including how the finance team safely distributes financial data, like invoices, payments, and reports, to who is in charge of giving the ultimate approval for those decisions.