Friday, July 8, 2011

Finance - More Than Number Crunchers

If you have a business culture to pieces, and each department within an organization, different people ask what are the actual role, the "front office" and "back office" operations will find the famous paradox.

Front office staff who deal with customers. The customer service department, sales department, marketing department, and sometimes (depending on how the marketing department is involved in the sales cycle) can be. Back office staff are generally administrative assistants, human resources, and all businesses killjoy - Finance Department.

I have seen in business, finance department often has to face up to ridicule or insult.) is. And one of the front office to back office sends a memo saying, "Please spend less time number crunching" but it felt like back office, front office with the memo - ing can watch the expenses "or" low Customers lunch expenses. "

Unfortunately, this view is the worst thing of all levels that the finances, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inputting huge job, and lingering budget predicted employment is supported by the management. Compared to highly creative marketing department and edge seat, feel the gaps in the sales department, finance, on a plate of steak and potato side dishes like broccoli.

But it does not have to be this way! Back office finance departments can be run in the hope that they will not be sharp pencil to poke in the eye of a customer! Finance department and the organization can play a more important role. Here are some ideas:

SCENARIO 1: Finance the number predicted to be more about business strategy.
SCENARIO 2: Finance the opportunity to be more. Many sales managers have a limited view that business customers are sending. But seeing is not always right. Full or. Finance to show how a customer actually is affecting the bottom line of business should be included.They may discover that the seemingly profitable customers is not profitable at all because their receipts very, very old.
SCENARIO 3: finance, sales should be. Finance accounts receivables of the following acts, they can potentially do more harm than good. Large number of people skilled in finance, and they are good "people-oriented" staff, but they are rarely trained in the art of sales. However, the finance person is tasked with accounts receivables, receivables and customer service and sales training is enough, getting paid receipts to increase their success rate, but their success rates in winning more business can.