Financiario

Top 10 Excel features for CFOs 10x your productivity and impact with my Excel power cheat sheet. I spent thousands of hours in Excel and built lots of complex models. But I use Excel for financial intelligence and strategic decision making, To help my clients drive their desired results, financing & valuations. So there are only a handful of features I need to use regularly. Beyond the basics like SUM, MIN, MAX. The rest fit on one simple Cheat sheet. Here are my Top 10 Excel Features to help you 10x your impact and influence as a CFO: 1.     XLOOKUP: Quickly finds and retrieves data from tables, saving time when updating financial models with new information. 2.     SUMIFS: Adds up numbers in a range that meet specific criteria, perfect for detailed budget tracking and variance analysis. 3.     INDEX MATCH: This powerful combination finds data in tables more flexibly, allowing retrieval from any column, which is extremely useful for building dynamic models. 4.     IF and IFERROR: IF tests conditions and makes decisions in your data, while IFERROR prevents errors from disrupting your model, ensuring smooth data handling. 5.     Power Query: Automates the process of pulling in data from various sources, simplifying the process of importing, cleaning, and transforming your financial information. 6.     Tables: Converts a range of data into a structured table, enhancing management and analysis of large data sets, which is essential for Power Query automation and use in Power BI. 7.     Data Validation: Ensures that the data entered into your model meets specified criteria, preventing errors and ensuring consistency. 8.     CHOOSE: Facilitates quick switching between different scenarios in your financial models, aiding in the comparison of various financial outcomes. 9.     Named Ranges: Assigns descriptive names to cell ranges, improving formula readability and spreadsheet navigation. 10.  Charts and Conditional Formatting: Uses visual tools and formatting rules to represent data graphically and highlight key figures, enhancing the clarity and impact of insights. These are my top 10 Excel features for CFOs who need strategic insights for executive business decisions. What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

Cash is not the King. Cash Flow is. Learn the 5 Types of Cash Flow and how to use them. Here are the 5 types of cash flows and how to use them: 1️⃣ Operating cash flow ⚫ The net cash generated by your company's core operations ⚫ Calculated by adjusting Net Income for non-cash items & changes in net working capital assets. ⚫ Used to assess: >> your company's financial health >> your company's ability to meet its financial obligations >> your company’s ability to generate cash to fund business operations 2️⃣ Investing cash flow ⚫ The net cash generated by your investments in long-term assets ⚫ Calculated by totaling the net investments over the period ⚫ Used to assess: >> your company's investment decisions >> your company's ability to generate returns from its investments 3️⃣ Financing cash flow ⚫ The cash generated by your company's net debt and/or equity activity. ⚫ Calculated by totaling debt and equity proceeds and payouts over the period. ⚫ Used to assess: >> your company's financing choices and risk profile >> your company's ability to raise capital 4️⃣ Free Cash Flow to Firm (FCFF or Unlevered Cash Flow) ⚫ The cash available to both debt and equity remaining in your business after accounting for cash outflows that support product sales, operations and your capital asset base ⚫ Calculated by adjusting after tax EBIT for non cash expenses and income, and for investments in fixed and capital assets ⚫ Used to assess: >> your company's financial strength and ability to generate sufficient cash for growth and reinvestment >> your company's value based on the discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation. 5️⃣ Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE or Levered Cash Flow) ⚫ The cash remaining in your business after accounting for all business expenses, investments in working capital assets, investments in fixed assets, and also all debt obligations. ⚫ Calculated by adjusting Operating Cash Flow for after tax interest expense, investments in capital assets and net debt payments. ⚫ Cash flow available to be used for investments, dividend payments, returns of capital, additional debt repayments, or acquisitions, but skewed by new debt raises. ⚫ Used to assess: >> your ability to generate cash for distributions to shareholders What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

Learn to manage your cash. Because revenue growth isn't enough. And paper profit can't fund growth. ➡️ Learn to analyze a cash flow statement in 10 steps and never miss another red flag again: https://lnkd.in/e2JXiUK6 Most CEOs think if sales are up and EBITDA looks good, they’re in the clear. But they forget one thing: You can’t spend EBITDA. You spend cash. And if you’re not managing it strategically, here’s what you’re risking: ✕ Missed acquisitions and expansion ✕ Operational breakdowns in a downturn ✕ Poor terms when you actually need capital ✕ Declining valuation and investor trust What great CEOs understand is this: Cash isn’t a finance department concern. It’s a leadership priority. Here’s how they operate differently: ✓ Optimized capital deployment ✓ Proactive debt and liquidity management ✓ Readiness for strategic moves when timing matters most If you're making decisions without a clear cash strategy, you're flying blind. Strategic cash management is how you lead from the front. 📌 Make 2025 your best year yet and learn to master financial leadership↴ ▷ Join the waitlist for the April cohort of my 6-week Financial Intelligence Program: https://bit.ly/3ZCI0kr ▷ Transform your strategic financial planning with best-in-class automated CFO Financial Intelligence, Forecasts and Dasboards:https://bit.ly/3Aa36fG ▷ Enroll in my 5* on-demand video courses: https://bit.ly/3RlTCDD and save with the bundle: https://bit.ly/4bTdu8T ♻️ Like, Comment, Repost if this was helpful. And follow Oana Labes, MBA, CPA for more insights on financial leadership.

CEO vs. CFO Here's how they're different. And why they need to work together. Companies need both strategic foresight and financial acumen. 1. The CEO sets and implements the vision: ↳ Role: Defines and drives the company's strategic direction and long-term goals. ↳ Focus: Cultivates the company culture and leads the execution of the mission and vision. ↳ Decisions: Makes high-level strategic decisions that shape the company’s future and growth. ↳ Stakeholder Relations: Serves as the face of the company, engaging with external and internal stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and execution 2. The CFO finances and protects the vision ↳ Role: Drives the company's financial strategy and ensures financial health. ↳ Focus: Oversees financial planning, risk management, and reporting. ↳ Decisions: Makes financial management decisions, from budgeting and cash flow management to financial reporting and compliance. ↳ Internal Collaboration: Works closely with the CEO and other executives to align financial strategy with business objectives. 💡 Five essential things to remember: 🎯 The CEO leads, the CFO enables. 🎯 The CEO drives growth, the CFO drives financial sustainability. 🎯 The CEO defines the vision, the CFO defines the financial strategy. 🎯 CEOs can improve business strategy with broader financial acumen. 🎯 CFOs can shape strategy by deepening their business understanding. What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

The CEO vs. CFO Cheat Sheet Plus bonus free download and free webinar.⤵️ Strategy needs to understand financial implications Finance needs to communicate strategically And together they need to create value And grow the business. Here’s what is included in the CEO vs. CFO cheat sheet. ♦️ Understanding Roles and Responsibilities ♦️ Emotional Intelligence ♦️ Exploring Overlaps ♦️ Skillsets for Leadership ♦️ Performance KPIs ♦️ Strategic Questions for CEOs ♦️ Strategic Questions for CFOs ♦️ Storytelling for CFOs ♦️ Number Crunching for CEOs ♦️ What They Wish of Each Other ♦️ Path from CFO to CEO What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

I see it all the time... Companies boasting record-high EBITDA... But struggling to pay their bills. Why? They’re caught in the EBITDA illusion Believing that this single metric defines their financial health. But here’s the harsh truth: EBITDA doesn’t equate to cash. Focusing too much on it can lead to major cash flow problems And, ultimately, business failure. The Problem: EBITDA Can Be Deceiving EBITDA is used to show “core profitability,” but profits aren't cash and EBITDA completely ignores the lifeblood of any business: Cash Flow. ↳ Depreciation & Amortization? EBITDA strips it out. But what happens when your equipment is outdated, and you need to invest millions in new assets? ↳ Interest Payments? EBITDA leaves them out too. But if you’re leveraged, the cash flow drain from servicing that debt can quickly add up. ↳ Working Capital Changes? EBITDA is blind to inventory buildups or slow receivable collections. But these are all early warning signs that your cash is about to run dry. So, if you’re betting on EBITDA alone, you’re flying blind. The Solution: Focus on Cash Flow ↳ Track Operating Cash Flow (OCF) Do you know how much cash you're generating after paying for inventory, salaries, and other costs? ↳ Analyze Working Capital Movements Are you sitting on excess inventory or facing longer payment terms? ↳ Use Free Cash Flow (FCF) If your business can’t generate FCF, you can’t fund growth, pay debt obligations or pay dividends without taking on debt. If after all this you still think EBITDA’s great, consider this: ↳ EBITDA might impress shareholders, but it doesn’t keep the lights on. ↳ IEBITDA might look good in earnings reports, but it doesn’t pay salaries. ↳ EBITDA might boost valuations, but that gets old quickly when free cash flow shows up. Here’s a quick exercise: Analyze your own business and ask yourself: 1️⃣ Is my EBITDA growing while operating cash flow is shrinking? 2️⃣ Am I using EBITDA to justify risky debt or investments? 3️⃣ Is my EBITDA growth creating a false sense of security about my capacity to repay my debt? If any of these are true, you’re not just sitting on a problem—you’re sitting on a time bomb. 💣 Focus on cash flow, build a resilient business, and don’t fall for the EBITDA trap. What are your thoughts on EBITDA? What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

EBITDA is just Marketing. A clever way to make a business look more profitable than it really is. But here’s the reality: Even if people fall for it all the time… EBITDA isn’t cash flow. It’s not profit. And it’s definitely not reality. So what happens when companies rely on EBITDA? Nothing but trouble ↴ 1. Businesses overestimate their financial strength. They think they have more cash than they do. Then they overspend, over hire, or take on too much debt. 2. Investors get burned. They buy into a company based on inflated EBITDA multiples—only to realize later that the actual cash flow doesn’t support the valuation. 3. CEOs make short-sighted decisions. They chase EBITDA growth instead of sustainable cash flow. And when the bills and dept repayments come due, they scramble. 4. Companies run out of cash. At the end of the day, you don’t pay salaries, suppliers, or investors with EBITDA. You pay them with real money. And when the cash runs out? The game is over. If you want the truth, stop looking at EBITDA. Focus on: ✓ Operating Cash Flow ✓ Real Free Cash Flow ✓ Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) ✓ Economic Value Added (EVA) Forget the marketing. Look at the cash flow. What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

Many companies don’t struggle because of profits. They struggle because of cash flow. Entirely preventable, but here’s the kicker: Too many leaders rely on historical metrics—net income, EBITDA, last quarter’s revenue—thinking they reflect financial health. They don’t. Because profit tells you where you’ve been. Cash flow tells you where you’re going. ➡️ Learn to analyze a cash flow statement in 10 steps and never miss another red flag again: https://lnkd.in/e2JXiUK6 ✔ Profit is a historical number. It tells you how the business performed—not whether it can navigate through what’s coming next. ✔ Cash flow is real-time financial health. It shows how money moves in and out, revealing whether you can meet obligations today. ✔ Forecasted cash flow is future strength. Because past performance doesn’t guarantee future liquidity. If you don’t know what’s coming, you’re flying blind. Here's why companies get this wrong: 1️⃣ They trust EBITDA instead of tracking real cash. → EBITDA strips out expenses like interest and taxes, but those bills still need to be paid. 2️⃣ They assume profit = cash in the bank. → Profit looks good on paper, but if revenue is tied up in receivables, you have no liquidity. 3️⃣ They don’t forecast future capital needs. → It’s not enough to know what happened last quarter—cash planning must include future payment obligations, growth investment plans, and economic shifts. Here's the right way to measure financial strength: 1. Operating Cash Flow → Are you generating real cash, or just showing paper profits? 2. Real Free Cash Flow → After investments, do you have excess cash, or are you overextending? 3. Cash Conversion Cycle → How long does it take to turn revenue into usable cash? 4. Debt-to-Cash Flow Ratio → Can you service obligations, or is debt outpacing liquidity? 5. Rolling 16-Week Cash Flow Forecast → Are you prepared for short-term risks, or just hoping for the best? The Bottom Line: ↳ Historical profit tells you where you’ve been. ↳ Current cash flow tells you where you are. ↳ Cash flow forecasts tells you your future. 📌 Make 2025 your best year yet and master financial leadership ↴ ▷ Enroll in my 5 on-demand video courses and save 50%+ with the bundle: https://bit.ly/4bTdu8T ▷ Join the April cohort waitlist for my 6-week Financial Intelligence Program: https://bit.ly/3ZCI0kr ♻️ Like, Comment, Repost if this was helpful. And follow Oana Labes, MBA, CPA for more.

How to Spot Red Flags in an Income Statement in 7 Steps. Most people think a strong net income means a business is financially healthy. But here’s the truth: your income statement can hide serious financial red flags. Here are 7 warning signs every CEO and CFO should watch for: 1️⃣ Revenue is growing, but net income isn’t This signals rising costs, pricing pressures, or lower-margin sales—indicating an inability to scale profitably. 2️⃣ Shrinking gross margins Higher production costs, inefficient pricing, or poor cost control can erode profitability. If margins are declining, investigate further. 3️⃣ Unexplained surges in SG&A expenses A sudden spike in selling, general & administrative (SG&A) costs could mean excessive executive compensation, poor cost management, or unnecessary spending. 4️⃣ A sharp rise in interest expense Higher interest costs could indicate excessive debt, deteriorating credit ratings, or an over-reliance on borrowed capital. 5️⃣ Unusual “Other Income” gains Large non-operating income from asset sales, litigation settlements, or one-time government grants may inflate earnings but don’t reflect sustainable profits. 6️⃣ Significant variations in tax expense Big swings in tax provisions could signal aggressive tax strategies, disputes with regulators, or potential future liabilities. 7️⃣ Strong net income but weak operating cash flow If a company reports high profits but struggles to generate cash from operations, it could be relying on accounting tricks rather than true financial strength. Final Takeaway: Real financial intelligence comes from digging deeper into the numbers. Because a healthy bottom line doesn’t always mean a strong business. What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.

CEOs need Strategic Finance. But here’s the problem: Most CFOs focus on Budgets. If your finance team is just budgeting and forecasting… You’re at best tracking where you'll end up. Not engineering where you need to be. Reactive finance is holding everyone back. Let’s break it down. What Most CFO Offices Provide vs. What CEOs Actually Need For SMBs (<$50M in revenue): ↳ Controllership (compliance, reporting, closing the books) For Growing Mid-Market ($50M–$100M): ↳ Controllership + FP&A (budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis) For Large Mid-Market ($100M–$500M): ↳ Controllership + Treasury + FP&A (cash management, debt, liquidity strategy) What’s missing? 📌 Strategic finance. The expertise that ensures a business doesn’t just react to financial results— but actually engineers them. Most companies don’t reach $500M+ because they waited too long to adopt strategic finance. Here’s what Strategic Finance does differently: 1️⃣ Capital readiness—always. You should never be scrambling for capital. Strategic finance optimizes capital structure at every step, ensuring you’re 12–18 months ahead of funding needs. 2️⃣ Board-ready, lender-ready, investor-ready. Deep analysis and financial storytelling condition performance before you get in the room—not after the numbers are locked in. 3️⃣ From reactive finance to financial leadership. Instead of reporting what happened, strategic finance shapes the outcome to align with business objectives. And that’s the difference between companies that plateau… And those that scale to $500M+ without missing a beat. What do you think? ----------------------  ❌ Frustrated by Short-Sighted Financial Plans? Financiario can help.   ➡️➡️➡️➡️ Transform your strategic financial planning with long term forecasts ➡️➡️➡️ Anticipate the future with automated reports & dashboards. ➡️➡️ Align your operating plans with your financial strategy. ➡️ Solve your most critical strategic planning problems.