James Solomons

Becoming a Cyber-Resilient CFO – CFO Series

Is cyber security just for the IT guys to worry about or is it just as important for CFOs and their teams. Alexandra Cain captured my views and the views of a leading CFO and leading CISO from Microsoft on this important topic. The chat uncovered a new term which I love, called “The Human Firewall” and at the end are some great tips for CFOs

Becoming a Cyber-Resilient CFO

This article was first published on the CFO Magazine website here

Cyber security is top priority for Chief Financial Officers, given new research indicates the rate of ransomware attacks around the world in 2021 has grown by 102 per cent compared to the same time last year.

In the words of James Solomons, global CFO of Xref and host, in the age of rapid digital transformation, cybercrime is one of the biggest threats facing CFOs and finance teams, with the potential to cripple a firm financially and reputationally.

CFOs Play a Critical Role in Navigating Payroll Compliance – CFO Series

Payroll. Get it wrong and not only will you have some very unhappy employees you will also face the wrath of the regulators. Wage theft, whether deliberate or accidental, is just unacceptable in today’s modern workplace. Alexandra Cain wrote this piece summarising my chat with two of Australia’s leaders in the payroll compliance space

CFOs Play a Critical Role in Navigating Payroll Compliance

This article was first published on the CFO Magazine website here

A number of major Australian businesses have been in the news for all the wrong reasons because they have underpaid staff, often to the tune of millions of dollars going back years. But it’s all too easy for companies to make payroll mistakes, given how complex employment laws and the payroll system is – even if it has been simplified.

CFO Magazine Australia’s most recent webinar, The CFO’s Role in Navigating Payroll, was an opportunity to hear from the experts about how CFOs can approach compliance when it comes to payroll.

Whatever Floats Your Boat: CFOs Open Up About The IPO Process – CFO Magazine

Joining Xref just after it went public in 2016, I was faced with the task of taking the reigns of the finance office. Things were in place but with $4m in the bank the business was going global and growing fast. Nina Hendy interviewed me on my experience in this post IPO phase !

Whatever Floats Your Boat: CFOs Open Up About The IPO Process

4 Undeniable Benefits of Working With a Small Business Accountant From Day One (Guest Post)

Guest Author: Gwen Payne, Invisible Moms

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, you know that in order to save money and maximize profits, you need to handle a lot of the day-to-day business operations on your own. However, and though this may be difficult for you to hear, there are some tasks that are best left to the professionals. One such task is accounting.

1. Start Your Business Off On the Right Foot

How a Remote Workforce Can Build Your Business (Guest Post)

Guest Author – Tina Martin – ideasinspired.com

Hiring remote workers for your business gives you a number of advantages. In addition to saving on the overhead associated with on-site staffers, since you aren’t limited by geography, you can hire the best of the best from anywhere in the country – or even the world! Finding the right staffers is one of the most important elements of business start-up, as is finding communities of like-minded entrepreneurs to collaborate with. Here are some tips on how to get started courtesy of Tina Martin.

What Kind Of Team Do You Need?

Technology & Finance – Why CFOs Need to Develop a Digital Mindset – CFO Series

A digital mindset is key to a CFO being able to drive change in their business. Alexandra Cain captured the key themes from my recent interview with three senior leaders in the finance teach space in Australia

Technology & Finance – Why CFOs Need to Develop a Digital Mindset

This article was first published on the CFO Magazine website here

By Alexandra Cain

You can have all the tech in the world. But it is likely to be rendered useless unless there are strong processes and procedures behind it, and a change management culture that supports people across the business to adopt new technologies.

This was the central message at the most recent CFO Magazine Lunchtime Live WebCast, which attracted over 230 CFOs and finance leaders, highlighting the importance of the topic.

The audience was treated to an insight into how a well-run fintech operates, in addition to popping the bonnet on one of Australia’s most successful med-tech companies.

The topic for the panel was situated in our new COVID reality, in which many finance teams are transitioning back to the office. In fact, a survey of audience members found the majority (63 per cent) were back in the office.

The CFO as Change Agent – Reducing Costs & Driving Efficiencies in Times of Uncertainty – CFO Series

A great summary by Alexandra Cain of my chat with three of NZ’s most senior finance leaders !

The CFO as Change Agent – Reducing Costs & Driving Efficiencies in Times of Uncertainty

This article was first published on the CFO Magazine website here

By Alexandra Cain

New Zealand has been one of the most successful countries to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. But the nation’s early, brutal lockdown was one of the most challenging events its finance professionals have ever had to manage.

A year on, CFO Magazine was fortunate to host a fascinating webinar with three of NZ’s most senior finance professionals, facilitated by James Solomons, global CFO of online reference checking platform Xref.

The session was an opportunity for the 150 CFOs who attended it to hear how the panellists piloted their organisations as they automated and transformed many aspects of their operations to drive down costs and drive up efficiencies through 2020.