Strategic Finance & Tax Insights
Insights from the front lines. Arron Bennett on tax strategy, cash flow, scaling, and the real challenges of running a service business, from a CFO who has been in your shoes.
A Payment Date Promised by Sales Needs a Finance Owner
A changed client payment date needs verified terms, an invoice trigger and a finance owner before the cash forecast changes.
Before Sales Promises a Launch Date, Delivery Should Sign Off
Sales, delivery and finance should accept the same launch commitment before the customer is promised a date.
A Founder Override Should Come With a Review Date
Give each founder exception a limit, operator and review date so one concession does not become a permanent rule.
When a Department Misses Its Forecast, Ask What Changed First
Separate a changed assumption from an unperformed action, then assign the next response to a forecast miss.
Make the Second Location Earn Its Next Commitment
Release second-location spending in separate commitments, each backed by current cash, first-location capacity and a named approver.
When Two Departments Claim the Same Hire Is Urgent
Compare competing department hires by the blocked outcome, cash start date and consequence of delay, then verify the earliest viable hiring start.
A Big Customer Discount Deserves an Expiry Date
A temporary customer concession can become permanent pricing through the next invoice. Set its amount, owner, expiry and agreed next price when approving it.
Stop Letting an Annual Budget Decide a Weekly Commitment
A department can stay within its annual budget and still create a cash shortage. Check payment dates, already-promised cash and approval ownership before signing.
The CEO Should Hear Bad Financial News Before the Board Does
Escalate an adverse financial change with the known fact, uncertainty, exposed commitment and next verification date before the decision window closes.
Your Cash Forecast Needs a Trigger, Not Another Tab
Attach an owner, decision deadline and fallback to a cash warning so the team acts while it still has options.
Who Can Approve Free Work for a Long-Standing Client?
Turn a client favor into a deliberate exception with a cost, purpose, approver and expiry, so loyalty doesn't quietly rewrite the service agreement.
The Client Renewal Meeting Needs a Margin Owner
Assign renewal authority before an account manager promises a price, expanded scope or an exception that delivery will have to absorb.