Cash & Working CapitalTalking Shop
March 2, 2021

Talking Shop: Holding Physical Cash ‘Under the Mattress’

Member question: For business continuity or emergency use purposes, are you holding any physical cash on hand at one of your sites?Peer Survey Results: “No” wins in a landslide.Peer answer: “Our US company does not currently keep any cash ‘under the mattress,’ however I do think there are some places around the globe that do have some . “I’m assuming you are asking this post-Fedwire disruption? Was anyone negatively impacted by that? I am wondering if anyone is preparing any…
Cash & Working CapitalTechnology
February 25, 2021

Bridging the Gap With A Hybrid Solution for Cash Flow Forecasting

One NeuGroup member’s solution for more accurate quarterly forecasting combines old school and new school.Accurate long-term cash flow forecasting may be treasury’s white whale, and while the hunt is certainly far from over, assistant treasurers at recent NeuGroup meeting heard about a solution for producing medium-term forecasts.Lack of balance. At the meeting, one AT told the group he is having issues balancing two standard methods for cash forecasting in the short- and long-term. The short-term system forecasts two weeks in…
Cash & Working CapitalTalking ShopTax
February 25, 2021

Talking Shop: Allowing Direct Debits for Payroll Tax

Member question: “For those of you who use ADP for payroll in the US, do you allow them to do direct debits on your bank accounts, specifically for payroll tax payments?” Peer answer 1: “We just converted to direct debit with ADP in the US. Happy to put you in touch with the team that evaluated and executed the project.” Peer answer 2: “We allow direct debits for both payroll and payroll tax. We fund to a separate, stand-alone payroll bank account that is…
Capital AllocationCash & Working CapitalCOVID-19
February 18, 2021

Cash Cushions and Covid: Retailers Not Yet Ready To Declare Victory

Retail treasurers returning to offense with share repurchases and dividends are proceeding with caution.A growing number of retailers in the NeuGroup Network are spending or preparing to spend some of the excess cash they raised at the beginning of the pandemic on share repurchases and dividends. But most treasurers at these retailers remain cautious and conservative as they return to playing offense—not surprising given that these companies were among the worst impacted by lockdowns and social distancing. Declare victory? “One…
Cash & Working CapitalTalking Shop
January 26, 2021

Talking Shop: What is Your Cash Flow Coverage Target?

Member question: “Looking to take a quick pulse of the group. What is your cash flow coverage target for your current fiscal year period? Coverage can be defined as hedges placed vs. earnings exposure estimate or maximum hedge accounting capacity. “Our cash flow hedges are currently covering ~70% of our entire estimated earnings exposure (which closely aligns with our max hedge accounting capacity). This is up significantly from two years ago and is the culmination of a huge effort. Wanting…
Cash & Working CapitalCOVID-19
January 19, 2021

Sign of the Times: Retailers Say Coin Shortage Worries Persist

Burned by a dearth of coins during the pandemic, many retailers are cautious despite some signs of stability.“Cash-mageddon” is how one member at a recent meeting of NeuGroup for Retail Treasury described the havoc wreaked by the coin shortage that made life hellish for many retailers last year. And despite signs of normalization and increased production by the US Mint (see below), some members remain unconvinced that the coin supply disruption caused by the pandemic is truly over. Cautious about…
Cash & Working CapitalRegionalTechnology
January 7, 2021

Raising the Bar: How AI, ML and Big Data Could Fix Cash Forecasts

Asia Treasury members discuss how advanced technology may boost satisfaction with forecasting tools.  A quick poll at a fall meeting of the Asia Treasury Peer Group sponsored by Standard Chartered underscored both the dissatisfaction of members with their cash forecasting tools and the intensifying scrutiny of cash positions by senior management since the beginning of the pandemic. None of the treasurers polled are highly satisfied with their current set of tools: 60% have low satisfaction and 40% said medium. All of…
Cash & Working CapitalTechnology
January 5, 2021

Getting Granular: A Tool to Dig Deeper and Improve Cash Forecasts

How Cashforce built a stronger foundation for one member’s cash flow forecasting and working capital optimization.Covid-19 shook the foundations of cash flow forecasting and working capital management for companies facing uncertainty about revenues, vendor payments, appropriate inventory levels and adequate cash reserves. At a recent NeuGroup virtual interactive session, one participant impressed others by describing how a fintech solution provided by Cashforce a year earlier allowed his company to dig into the weeds of business operations, examining line-item details of…
Cash & Working CapitalRegional
January 5, 2021

The Right Steps on the Path to Optimizing Working Capital Management

MUFG presents a working capital road map for technology companies at NeuGroup’s AsiaTech20 pilot meeting. At the inaugural meeting of NeuGroup’s AsiaTech20 Treasurers’ Peer Group, sponsor MUFG led a session titled “Optimizing Working Capital (in Uncertain Times)” and participants discussed challenges including how to get vendors to extend payment terms, the need for efficient collections processes and developing KPIs around working capital.Working capital cycle. MUFG’s presentation identified four areas, and goals for each, in the working capital cycle. Big Picture. The…
Capital AllocationCapital MarketsCash & Working Capital
November 17, 2020

Game Plan: Flexible Buybacks on the Open Market vs ASRs

Meeting sponsor SocGen sees corporates growing comfortable with flexible, open market buybacks amid recovery.During the global pandemic, many corporates have slammed the breaks on share repurchase programs to save cash and avoid criticism from politicians as Americans lost jobs and some companies sought government bailouts. At a recent NeuGroup meeting of treasurers at life sciences companies, Societe Generale’s David Getzler, head of equity capital markets for the Americas, forecast an increase in share buybacks in 2021 as the economy recovers and…