All functions have operational deliverables, with perhaps a very few exceptions like a Corporate Strategy function. Given this “daily business” that has to be conducted, it is logical that risk rears its considerable head when attempting change. The greater the change impact and ambition, the bigger the risk has to be taken into account on how to guarantee “business continuity”. FP&A is not exempt from this.
Amrish Shah
Amrish Shah is a seasoned and senior finance leader with over 20 years of financial management experience in international organisations. Some of the companies he has worked for include Unilever, O'Neill Group, Staples, Royal Wessanen, Kao, EndemolShine.
A qualified management accountant with CIMA, Amrish has held regional finance leadership positions since 2001. He has held both staff and line roles managing teams of up to 40 people and has a clear belief in the value of finance at both strategic and operational levels to the organisation.
In Amrish’s experience, the perception of finance as a backward looking, administrative, reporting and compliance-driven function belongs to the past. Modern finance should have creativity to spur innovation from within and support organisations on their journey towards more sustainable and robust performance management. And this is a journey that Amrish remains excited about every day.
Author's Articles
Finance transformation is high on the agenda for the majority of finance departments. What is driving this? There are a number of push factors that are important.
The challenges of running a modern business get tougher and tougher. Mainly externally driven challenges including regulation, increases in business complexity for example in the level of competition, the nature of competition, a more complex global supply chain, increases in the speed of change, in no small measure driven by the acceleration in computing and digital technologies. All this leads to a more uncertain and more volatile business environment.
The process and tools designed with good intent many many years ago when the world was much simpler, the competitive landscape was more stable and where the scarce resource was financial capital, end up favouring the present to too high a degree at the expense of the future. In other words, it is likely to lead to incrementalism rather than boldness.