Driving Digital Transformation Post Pandemic – CFO Series

Great write up by Alexandra Cain to close out the calendar year on how CFOs can drive digital transformation !

Driving Digital Transformation Post Pandemic

This article was first published on the CFO Magazine website here

New Zealand is known for both its early adoption of digital technologies and it’s mastery over the COVID-19 pandemic. This puts its finance heads in a leadership role to explore the future of digital transformation.

How CFOs can help drive transformation was the topic for the most recent trans-Tasman CFO Series Lunchtime Live, sponsored by Microsoft New Zealand. Moderator James Solomons, CFO of online talent sourcing solution Xref, situated the discussion in light of the events of 2020.

Making Money as a Stay-at-Home Parent (Guest Post)

Guest Contributor: Gwen Payne, Invisible Moms

Once upon a time, being a stay-at-home parent meant putting your career on hold, if not giving it up entirely. In the digital age, however, working while parenting from home is far from impossible. In fact, there are opportunities out there to fit every availability level and intensity. You can pick up a few extra bucks here and there, or launch a full-time career right at home.

Here’s a look at a few of the options available, how to figure out what’s right for you, and how to get started.

A refreshed website to close out the year

It has been a while since I penned a thought, but don’t get too excited as this is not a long one. Rather it is a short one to introduce my refreshed website. I like to refresh my site every few years to keep it looking fresh but also to ensure it is still relevant !

This year though, I had help! It is school holidays and I saw my 10 year old daughter playing around in Canva during the week so I asked her to design a new hero image for me. I gave her the design brief (I need an imagine that helps describe what I do, it needs to be mainly blue, show global & connected; plus describe the areas dad works in – Accounting, Business, Technology, Teaching, Startups) and this is what she presented to me, which included a ‘slogan’ and even with her own little ‘sign off’ ! I was very impressed.

As well as that I introduced her to WordPress and she helped me pick a new theme and played around with the drag and drop.

Pretty cool I think ! Agree or Disagree !

New Approaches to Working Capital Supporting CFOs Through COVID-19 – CFO Series

Last week I had the opportunity to host a panel discussion covering the all important area of Working Capital as part of the CFO Series Lunchtime Live webcasts. Following the session Alexandra Cain wrote this great article which captured the key themes and discussion points we mulled over for the 60 minutes !

New Approaches to Working Capital Supporting CFOs Through COVID-19

Link above to the original post and reproduced below

Robust Systems Essential Support for CFOs During COVID – CFO Series

Following a great chat with Objective Corporation’s CFO Ben Tregoning about the importance of robust systems being in place at any time, let alone during a pandemic, as part of the CFO Series Live & On Demand series Alexandra Cain did this great write up ! Nice to be referred to as one of Australia’s most dynamic CFO’s !

Robust Systems Essential Support for CFOs During COVID

Link above to the original post and reproduced below.

Back to Basics for CFOs

Exclusively published here at The CFO Magazine on June 15, 2020 https://cfomagazine.com.au/back-to-basics-for-cfos/

Read Time: 3m 30s

Back to Basics for CFOs

Back to Basics for CFOs

At the core of business success is the fundamentals. Even in a pandemic those businesses that have built a solid working capital base will survive. Those that focused on the basics will come through stronger. Those that have not, but do get through it, what should they be focusing on now. James Solomons, Global CFO at Xref, examines the post-Covid rebound for CFOs.

Macquarie Uni – ACCG3015 Accountants in the Profession – Online Lecture

After 6 years of face to face lecturing in my industry partner role at Macquarie Uni, last night was a new experience as I recorded my first online lecture. Whilst I have done plenty of online webinars before, in this instance it was a bit strange not having a lecture theatre full of undergrads in front of me either listening, falling asleep or chatting away at the back ! And nobody was online to laugh at my accountant jokes !!

It was also a welcome break from what has been happening in the business world. It could have been easy to say that at this time I am too busy but just like my commitments to my clients, my team at Xref and to my colleagues, I am committed to ensuring the next generation of our industry is given every opportunity to be ready for what lies ahead as they start their career

And so if it is of any interest, please feel free to watch the recording of my lecture, Accountants in Finance and Commercial Organisations (Fast Growth Start Ups)

https://xref.zoom.us/rec/share/u-1XL_atq3tIY7PAtUfkff4aIaXcaaa8hydIqPsNyEqNKkGD-TqxnrUiv4mfbE1j?startTime=1585560878000

It took me back to the time that I started the “Get Connected” series in Jan 2016 ! (And yes, I used that name before Quickbooks did ! https://jamessolomons.com/?s=get+connected