Operating a successful business requires industry knowledge, operations and strategic planning acumen, and partnerships with leaders possessing specialized expertise. Surprisingly, the company’s Finance executive plays an integral role in business planning and growth.
Senior Corporate Finance executive Jaimie Lowe is a forward-thinking leader who recognizes that effective cash management is key to business growth. Her innovative approach also helps drive business value. Jaimie Lowe has excelled in challenging roles at 3 international consumer goods corporations.
Business Cash Management Defined
‘Cash management’ refers to a business’s active assessment of its cash flow to ensure the company has sufficient funds for its operations. Through accepted cash management practices, the business can efficiently use its financial resources and maintain its liquidity position.
By accomplishing these goals, the company is well-positioned for financial stability. The business is also better able to evaluate and mitigate risks. Taken together, these factors enable continued growth.
5 Benefits of Effective Cash Management
Companies that adhere to accepted cash management practices will reap multiple benefits. Senior Corporate Finance executive Jaimie Lowe highlights five advantages that can help improve a company’s financial and competitive position.
Transparency on Financial Resources’ Use
A company that practices good cash management can easily view its cash inflows and outflows. These transactions are routinely integrated into business operations activities and metrics.
If the company engages in strategic debt, its cash management records will reflect each cash infusion and its associated payments. Finally, if the business receives investment dollars, its cash management transactions will track the funds’ receipt and subsequent use.
Higher Loan Approval Chances
When companies wish to expand or seek to undertake a major capital project, they often apply for a line of credit. If the business stays current with its financial obligations, its business credit score will improve.
A higher credit score increases the odds of loan approval and may trigger a lower interest rate. Banks could also raise existing customers’ credit limits, potentially providing access to more working capital.
Better Visibility on Financial Obstacles
Business growth doesn’t occur on a defined trajectory. Economic conditions, industry developments, seasonal fluctuations, and other factors can affect a company’s revenues and profits. A company with good cash management practices will track these developments on a real-time basis.
Improved Risk Avoidance and Mitigation
When the business’ CEO and senior executives make strategic planning decisions, they acknowledge that each path carries certain risks.
Successful risk avoidance and mitigation depends on extensive knowledge of all relevant factors. Prudent cash management enables the company’s leaders to accurately evaluate each risk from a financial standpoint. Next, they can implement a strategy to avoid or mitigate specific risks
Enhanced Position for Growth
Embarking on a growth strategy shouldn’t be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Before moving toward an expansion, the company’s CEO and senior executives should analyze all aspects of the firm’s operations.
Successful cash management practices will provide a real-time picture of the company’s cash flow and other metrics. Once senior leaders analyze this relevant data, they are better able to determine if (and when) an expansion is appropriate.
How a Company’s Finance Role Creates Business Value
Historically, a firm’s Finance operation focused on risk management and transactional execution. Finance executives prepared and presented the required financial reports along with on-demand project analyses. During budgeting and financial planning cycles, Finance leaders analyzed historical data and utilized standard performance metrics.
In the rapidly evolving 21st-century business environment, the Finance function is increasingly regarded as the key component of a company’s operations. In addition, Finance executives are often integral players in the business’ decision-making and strategic planning functions. Their data-driven insights enable leaders to make better-informed decisions designed to drive company growth.
Besides contributing to business strategy development, proactive Finance leaders will identify revenue targets and optimize resource allocation. Finally, Finance executives will monitor economic and market conditions, seeking to identify emerging opportunities and challenges. Taken together, the Finance leader’s exceptional capabilities help enhance the business’ value.
Finance executives must possess a multifaceted skill set. Besides their acknowledged technological skills, these capable leaders must possess a forward-thinking vision that contributes to the company’s industry leadership. Senior Corporate Finance executive Jaimie Lowe combines these key attributes.
Jaimie Lowe’s Emphasis on Business Value Creation
Jaimie Lowe’s multifaceted career includes executive roles at two multinational consumer products corporations. At each company, Jaimie Lowe demonstrated her ability to deliver value by bringing her finance-focused skills to complex challenges.
Successful Zero-Based Budgeting Transformation
Jaimie Lowe excelled in Unilever’s global business services sector. Her experience in managing large outsourcing contracts led to her successfully leading Unilever’s zero-based budgeting transformation.
“We were able to justify to our shareholders that we could deliver the value and the return on investment needed.
Prerequisite for AI Financial Investments
Jaimie Lowe readily acknowledged that artificial intelligence (or AI) is rapidly being integrated into many companies’ operations. She recognized the technology’s advantages while stating that AI investments are high-dollar capital expenditures.
Jaimie Lowe’s Distinctive Approach Delivers Results
Senior Corporate Finance executive Jaimie Lowe brings an innovative approach and a top-tier skill set to the table. Her emphasis on effective zero-based cash management, and focus on creating business value, fuel her appetite for new challenges and opportunities.