Through this special research report, No Stone Unturned: Strategies for Cash Management in Hard Times, conducted in November 2008, American Express collaborated with CFO Research Services to examine senior finance executives’ short-term cash management concerns, plans, and priorities in light of current financial-market realities to see how they prepare to support their companies’ growth over the next year.

The research report finds that finance executives are refocusing their attention in these difficult times. Focus includes wringing cash from their business, looking beyond conventional improvements in working capital management and making sure every opportunity for keeping their company well funded goes unexplored. (americanexpress.com)

This survey report by CFO Research Services in collaboration with American Express revealed a notable shift in focus among finance executives as their companies prepare for the changing times. Mid-size company CFOs and their teams are now paying closer attention to short-term cash management.

In response, many finance executives at mid-size companies are now leading a movement to get "back to the basics." But it's not that finance executives are being called on to do less—instead, they are re-sorting their priorities to uncover every opportunity to manage expenses and bolster working capital.

Through this survey report, explore mid-size senior finance executives' short-term cash management concerns, plans, and priorities in light of current financial-market realities. (Tradepub.com)

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A report prepared by CFO Research Services in collaboration with American Express
November 2008

No Stone Unturned: Strategies for Cash Management in Hard Times is published by CFO Publishing Corp., 253 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210. Please direct inquiries to Jane Coulter at 617-345-9700, ext. 211.

CFO Research Services and American Express developed the hypothesis for this research jointly. American Express funded the research and publication of our findings. We would like to acknowledge Bartholomew Baptista, Megan Freiler, and Janet Lee for their contributions and support.

At CFO Research Services, David Owens directed the research and wrote the report, and John Fischer designed the report.

CFO Research Services is the sponsored research group within CFO Publishing Corp., which produces CFO magazine in the United States, Europe, Asia, and China. CFO Publishing is part of The Economist Group.

SPONSOR’S PERSPECTIVE

In this challenging economic environment, mid-market companies are increasingly focused on pursuing efficiencies and maintaining profitability. Managing cash flow, securing financing, cutting operating costs—these are just a few of the activities that are consuming more of the attention of senior financial executives in these hard times.

And it’s no surprise that they have a heightened desire to control expenses.

At American Express, we partner with mid-size companies to better understand the challenges and opportunities they face. In the current climate, our clients are using our products, services, and expertise to help them manage cash flow, monitor spending, drive savings, and improve process efficiency.

We work with them to help them achieve their short- and long-term expense management objectives in a number of ways:

• Interpret spending data to make smart business decisions. Our analyses give companies insight into spending across their organizations, which they then use to monitor compliance, analyze spending trends, enforce policies, and identify savings opportunities. Customizable spending limits and liability options also help companies to maximize control over business expenses and contain costs.
• Automatic supplier savings. Our clients realize company-level savings on everyday business expenses at preferred suppliers through programs such as the Savings at WorkSM program and the American Express/Business ExtrAA Corporate Card.
• Cardmember benefi ts and services. Our Corporate Card program can help to increase employee compliance, convenience, and satisfaction. Whether this means additional assistance when on the road, Corporate Platinum Card® benefits such as airport lounge access, or enrollment in our award-winning Membership Rewards® program, companies can provide services that increase employee productivity, safety, and security.

For information about American Express’ expense management solutions for mid-size companies, please visit www.americanexpress.com/corporate.

Sanjay Rishi
Executive Vice President,
U.S. Commercial Card
American Express Company

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