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Ted Howard

Cash & Working CapitalNGI
February 18, 2020

Negative-Rate Concerns Spreading to Pension Funds

US MNCs with European pension funds are being forced to contend with negative rates in Europe. Although the likelihood of negative interest rates in the US still seems remote, in Europe they’ve been a reality for several years, and pension funds are now grappling with what that means.  In a recent NeuGroup meeting, the head of pension investments at a multinational corporation (MNC) with several European funds noted that for the first time the company will have to use negative interest rates to value liabilities, specifically…
Ted Howard
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Insurance
February 18, 2020

For Property & Casualty: Look Past the First Tier

If you’re not getting the premium reductions your’e looking for, shop around and check out low-cost brokers. When thinking about top-tier insurance brokers for corporates the usual suspects come to mind: Hub International, Marsh & McLennan Cos., Willis Towers Watson, Aon PLC and the like. But after a quick look beyond that upper slot, one comes across unfamiliar names. Take for instance a broker called Oswald Companies. Not a well-recognized insurance broker among treasurers attending a recent NeuGroup meeting, the…
Ted Howard
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Risk ManagementTechnology
February 6, 2020

Tales from the Cyber Crypt

Assistant treasurers exchange recent scary cyber tales of success and failure. In a breakout session at NeuGroup’s Assistant Treasurers’ Leadership Group focusing on securing companies from cyberattacks, members recounted recent experiences and the conundrums they face combating them. Digital protection, à la carte. NeuGroup’s own Scott Flieger, director of peer groups, said a fellow member of a college board who runs a cybersecurity advisory firm recommends companies make a menu of their digital assets, from bank accounts onward, and seek…
Ted Howard
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Risk ManagementTreasury Management
February 6, 2020

Crisis Management Brings Executives Together

Having a crisis response plan can help make the company more resilient now and later. Following a framework for crisis response planning that engages management as well as the board can create significant political capital for internal audit, not to mention better prepare the company for crises that may arise. Multipurpose framework. The head of internal audit at a major government contractor said in a recent NeuGroup meeting that his company uses the National Fire Protection Association 1600 Standard on…
Ted Howard
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Risk ManagementTreasury Management
January 30, 2020

Managing FX in Currency Tiers to Control Cost, Workload

Why one company’s treasury spreads currency management among teams for large exposures, currency clusters and “tier two” currencies. At a recent NeuGroup meeting of treasurers in Europe, one member shared how his company manages FX risk management-related costs and workload by considering currencies in tiers. Global policy, local execution. Generally speaking, at this company, corporate treasury at HQ is responsible for the framework and policies and the global hedging approach, but local (in-country) treasury staff implement the hedging strategy with…
Ted Howard
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TechnologyTreasury Management
January 23, 2020

Do You Need Outside Help for TMS Implementation? Maybe

Consultants can help TMS implementations, but practitioners retain some skepticism. Implementing treasury management systems (TMS) is an arduous and complicated task that can benefit significantly from outside expertise but maintaining a skeptical eye can optimize the outcome. ATLG members who had implemented TMSs expressed horror at the notion of returning to Excel spreadsheets. Nevertheless, TMS vendor consolidation and other factors have worsened already sketchy vendor support services, increasing the need for outside help and expertise. The peer group of assistant…
Ted Howard
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Capital AllocationInsights NewsletterInvestment Management
January 21, 2020

What Would an AI-Driven Capital Allocation Look Like?

Founder’s Edition, by Joseph Neu Perennial discussions of capital allocation tend to end up in essentially the same place.My friend Tom Joyce at Deutsche Bank circulated the chart below last week in his “Chart of the Day” email. This one caught my eye because it shows how corporate uses of capital, at least at the S&P 500-company level, are pretty consistent year to year. M&A and Buybacks. Tom calls out the changes: “During the current M&A upcycle, which began in late…
Ted Howard
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Treasury Management
January 10, 2020

Making Better Use of Data to Manage Risk

Cognitive risk sensing identifying and mitigating risk into dynamic process. Cognitive risk sensing (CRS) is said to be the next frontier in terms of analyzing risk and addressing it in a dynamic fashion. But the approach, which should be especially helpful for internal audit (IA) and other risk functions, is still in its infancy for most organizations. Neil White, risk and financial advisory principal and global internal audit analytics leader at Deloitte, said organizations have used structured data from areas…
Ted Howard
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NeuGroup NewsTechnologyTreasury Management
January 7, 2020

Reimagining the Finance Future in 2020

Founder’s Edition, by Joseph Neu Five items for finance leaders to focus on in 2020 and beyond. 2020 is upon us and the year itself has vision and foresight in its name. Accordingly, it affords us all an opportunity to seek clarity on not just what the year will bring but also a view of what’s in store for the new decade. For finance practice leaders, I see five issues to focus on starting this year and for the coming…
Ted Howard
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Accounting & DisclosureComplianceTreasury Management
January 6, 2020

CECL Important for Nonfinancial Companies, Too

Nonfinancial corporates extending credit must also prepare for CECL. Calendar year companies must apply new accounting for credit losses at the start of the year, in Q1 2020 financial statements, and that includes nonfinancial corporate creditors engaged in a variety of transactions. The Financial Accounting Standards Board’s new current expected credit losses (CECL) methodology replaces the incurred-loss method, which recognizes losses when they become probable. CECL, instead, requires lenders to recognize credit losses expected over the life of a loan…
Ted Howard
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