Newsletter Archives - Page 5 of 57

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

Why is Digital Transformation about People and Not Just About Technology?

November 12, 2023

While forward-thinking businesses largely focus on digital transformation, it’s crucial to note that success on the digital front hinges largely on people, not on technology. A balanced blend of human ingenuity and technology defines the path for leading businesses embracing digital transformation. The core of this approach is to inspire employees to think differently about problems. They should use technology as a means to realize their creative solutions. While digital transformation services from established professionals can propel you to success, it’s imperative to understand how this transformation involves your manpower.

The Focus lies on Focusing on Products, Systems, and Applications (PSAs)

Entrepreneurs and IT leaders often focus on products, systems, and applications as they explore their digital journey. Usually, they consider the benefits that the new technology brings to the table. However, this is a conventional path and often falls short in the digitized business ecosystem. Companies providing digital transformation services recommend bringing about a shift in mindset to encourage employees to counter the traditional modes of thinking.

Remember, every digital transformation should consider some fundamental questions at the outset.

What specific business challenges will these changes resolve?
How will this transformation differentiate us in the market?
What are the expected business outcomes?
To what extent is a mindset shift required for digital transformation success?
What thought patterns, behaviors, and processes need revamping?

Apart from this, leaders should also consider:

Whether or not the technology is going to establish a foundation for the company’s market share, innovation optimization in the future, and differentiation
How leaders can use the technology to lead their teams to success
How they can provide the necessary training to stride ahead
How do they anticipate this initiative will benefit the company and its team members?

For a successful digital transformation, these questions serve as the foundation. Any change should directly improve business operations, whether it’s a new tool or process. This should enhance customer experience significantly.

For example, a company offering digital transformation services may deploy new technologies like machine learning or artificial intelligence not just because they are trendy, but capable of enhancing the workflow of their clients, resulting in better operational efficiency, saving time, and building stronger relationships with customers.

Consider changes in behaviour and thought patterns

Considering changes in behaviour and thought patterns is crucial since it presents us with a fundamental insight. Digital transformation largely depends on shifts in thought patterns and behaviours. This results in a realignment of cultures, rather than the technology being used in the process. There’s no denying that technology keeps evolving. However, if employees fail to adapt to their underlying behaviours and thought patterns, the technology will prove to be futile. Rather, employees might consider it to be a burden and not a solution to boost their efficiency.

This requires leaders to try and bring about a shift in the thought patterns and behaviours of the employees. For example, your staff should consider daily communication to be more fluid and collaborative. Being the leader, you must encourage a culture defined by frequent interaction with colleagues for questions, answers, and fresh perspectives.

With these behavioral shifts in place, introducing the new technology solution becomes more effective. Also, leaders should ensure that their employees understand the reason behind incorporating new technology. This, along with the mindset and behaviours of the employees, will help them understand the value that the solution brings to the table. This makes the technology likely to be successful for the organization.

Explore the existing digital intelligence mindsets of your employees

One of the most effective strategies to encourage shifts in behaviour and mindset in employees is to tap into their existing digital intelligence. Many employees already cultivate a digital mindset in their personal lives. Embracing technology makes them more efficient on the professional front.

In the digital transformation services industry, leaders should guide their teams to grow this mindset to the workspace. So, leaders should encourage employees to recognize that they can do the same within the organization as they do in their daily lives outside work. The more you support employees in bringing their innovation mentality to work, the more innovative your organization becomes.

The truth is that digital transformation is ever-evolving, and more changes are likely to come up in the future. Unless you associate digital transformation with your people, the term continues to remain abstract. When leaders initiate a digital transformation initiative in the context of digital transformation services, their priority should be to unpack the term. This will encourage a shift in the behaviour and mindset of the employees. Leaders need to lay the groundwork for a successful digital intelligence strategy. This approach will genuinely drive change and innovation in the organization.

The IMC Group continues to be a trusted company, partnering with global organizations to assist them in their digital transformation journeys. Reach out to us and let’s discuss how you can streamline your operations as you eye digital transformation.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

How Does ESG Create Business Opportunities?

November 11, 2023

Recent years have witnessed ESG advisory firms gain significant traction, showing businesses the way towards sound Environmental, Social, and Governance practices. Businesses, however, are apprehensive about pursuing their ESG goals, considering increased costs. Well, this fear isn’t justified, given that a proper ESG approach can significantly reduce costs and drive the growth of revenue. This explains why successful businesses work closely with established ESG advisory firms to boost revenue streams and reduce costs.

How can ESG mitigate risks while lowering costs?

A disciplined and systematic stance in embracing ESG principles can reduce business risks significantly. This also curtails operational costs.

In the 21^st century, businesses have undergone a digital transformation. There’s no denying that the evolution of their digital maturity was a slow process. Similarly, large companies, with their complexity and scale, may require time to realize the full potential of ESG. It is a transformative force having long-term implications. It’s not a quick fix for short-term financial results.

Increasing your revenue through ESG

Regulatory norms often drive ESG adoption by companies. Other factors driving ESG adoption include cost reduction and mitigating risk. It also presents the potential to drive revenue growth. This remains an uncharted territory for many businesses. However, successful companies like Unilever have stood out by embracing ESG policies.

Their approach to embracing ESG helped in making cost savings. Unilever introduced the concept of “Sustainable Living Brands” (SLBs), which embraced strong social and environmental purposes. By 2020, nearly half of Unilever’s sales came from SLBs. Most importantly, there was an impressive 70% improvement in SLBs compared to the rest of the business. As a result, Unilever was able to declare its intention to phase out old brands that lacked a clear purpose. This approach shows how businesses can prioritize social and environmental impact to help customers who have been looking for a deeper meaning in their purchases.

Let’s evaluate the case of Tesla as another instance. Founded in 2004, the company’s commitment to electric vehicles (EVs) has reshaped the automotive industry. With a market capitalization of $650 billion and a cumulative global sale of 4 million EVs, Tesla has outperformed many established automakers.

General Motors, on the other hand, recalled its EV1 electric cars in 2003 and abandoned the EV segment. GM’s market capitalization stands at $37 billion, a fraction of Tesla’s value. Tesla’s innovation-driven approach has propelled its revenue growth, emphasizing the financial prudence of addressing environmental and social concerns.

ESG holds tremendous potential for businesses

ESG opens up the opportunity or companies to contribute positively to the society. In the process, they can open up fresh revenue streams. ESG, sustainability, and climate solutions offer a framework for tapping into this potential. It’s imperative to understand corporate purpose and master ESG principles for businesses to capitalize on the opportunities. Once you identify where the core business purpose meets evolving market needs, you can offer solutions that address the pain points. Accordingly, you can position your brand for long-term success. Collaborating with an established ESG advisory firm like the IMC Group goes a long way in guiding you toward creating value through ESG initiatives. Combining cost-reduction strategies with revenue-enhancing ESG approaches, you can make a positive impact while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

The Transformational Power of Role-Based ESG in Modern Business

October 10, 2023

In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have taken centre stage in corporate boardrooms. ESG has gone a long way in shaping the way businesses operate and make decisions. However, it’s equally crucial to understand the profound impact of ESG practices on entry level enterprises, from the C-suite to middle management and operational roles.

Let’s explore the concept of role-based ESG and how businesses are transforming by embracing this concept. As a business owner or CEO, it’s imperative to understand the wide range of benefits of role-based ESG.

The Hidden Potential of Employee-Driven ESG Initiatives

It’s not uncommon for employees within an organization to make substantial contributions to ESG goals. This can be as simple as sharing rides, reducing single-use plastic, using public transportation, or cycling to work. However, data capturing these individual efforts often goes unnoticed.

Many businesses can relate themselves to this situation where they are taking meaningful strides towards achieving sustainability and net-zero goals. However, they fail to communicate the impact of these actions effectively throughout the organization.

Sustainability reporting has reached an all-time high in the corporate world. As much as 96% of S&P 500 and Russell 1000 companies currently publish their ESG reports. Despite these strides, the influence of ESG initiatives on the average employee remains largely unexplored. Adopting role-based ESG practices is the key to addressing this gap where data integrity lies at its core.

Cultivating a Data-Centric Culture for Role-Based ESG

Businesses need to foster a data-centric culture throughout their organization to implement role-based ESG effectively. Leadership teams are gradually increasingly recognizing the importance of this shift. However, the key challenge lies in engaging employees at different levels of the organization to embrace this approach.

Now, organizations face a question: How do they inspire a ‘we want to do this’ attitude driven by employees rather than a ‘we should do this’ directive from the top?

In this case, the solution lies in capitalizing on qualitative data to validate the actions of employees. When individuals see that their efforts are recognized and contribute to decision-making processes, chances are high that they will engage wholeheartedly. With this approach, there’s limited risk that employees would perceive ESG efforts as mere lip service, a perception that often leads to disengagement.

Organizations can empower individuals by capturing data using different tasks and sharing the results transparently across the company. This provides adequate proof of concept for their actions. The approach is effective in encouraging a data-centric culture while measuring the results simultaneously. This brings about a real change and fosters a sense of empowerment among employees.

Role-Based ESG as a Catalyst for Employee Satisfaction and Social Responsibility

Employees need not fear the adoption of role-based ESG strategies. Companies should assign ESG-related tasks and responsibilities across various roles to cultivate a culture of sustainability and social responsibility. With this approach, they can succeed in delivering a greater degree of job satisfaction and boost the morale of employees, who realize that their efforts eventually have a broader and positive impact on society.

However, companies must adopt a thoughtful stance while implementing these strategies. For each role, ESG responsibilities should be integrated in a manageable and relevant manner. Therefore, organizations must provide relevant resources to their employees, including training, support, and adequate data. This ensures that employees can contribute to the ESG goals of the organization effectively.

Ensuring Authenticity in Role-Based ESG

Authenticity is paramount to ensure that the role-based ESG approach succeeds in the organizational setup. This shouldn’t be considered as ‘greenwashing’ or simply posturing for public relations purposes. Honesty, transparency, and genuine commitment to real change are the benchmarks of effective role-based ESG implementation. This is where capturing data and adopting a data-centric culture plays a vital role. It enables individuals to feel validated and thus, they oblige the efforts being made by their organization.

Fostering a Community of Best Practices

Capturing workforce contributions is crucial to improve and support ESG best practices continually. This can help in shaping and driving the evolution of ESG standards across the organization. Creating a community to share best practices holds immense potential in strengthening ESG efforts. Therefore, a role-based approach to ESG should span every level of an organization to elicit a transformative impact. Businesses embracing this approach can enhance risk management, enhance their reputation and boost profitability.

Eventually, organizations shouldn’t consider ESG to be a niche concern for their boardrooms. It’s a strategic component in every forward-thinking enterprise.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

Overcoming the Top 5 Challenges of Global Payroll

October 10, 2023

Expanding your workforce globally is a strategic move to set your business on a growth trajectory, boosting productivity. However, the success of your ambitious venture largely hinges on your ability to understand the principles of global payroll compliance. There’s no point in having a global workforce if you can’t pay them accurately and compliantly, right? Therefore, efficient management of an international payroll is imperative for your business to capitalize on the full potential of your global team and drive sustainable growth. No wonder why successful organizations count on specialized companies for global payroll solutions as they scale globally.

For any business expanding internationally, global payroll management appears to be a formidable challenge. From multifaceted compliance requirements to complex tax regulations, the norms keep varying between different countries. Your organization needs to take on these challenges head-on to fully benefit from the untapped growth opportunities and maximize the potential of a global workforce.

5 Key Global Payroll Challenges for Your Organization

Let’s understand the five most significant payroll issues you might be encountering while expanding globally. We have also offered practical and effective strategies to overcome these challenges.

1. Understanding Local Tax Laws and Regulations

How do you make sure that you tax your employees correctly, regardless of their location when you hire an international workforce? The approach calls for meticulous planning and it’s imperative to adhere to regional or local tax payment norms. For your organization, staying vigilant and informed about the evolving local regulations is crucial. Foreign governments tweak these norms from time to time, and failing to adhere to tax norms can invite legal complications.

2. Categorizing Workers

When it comes to managing international employees, businesses need to differentiate between contractors and employees. This accuracy in categorization goes a long way in ensuring legal compliance and safeguarding the intellectual property of your company. Misclassifying employees can lead to severe consequences like reputational damage, penalties, and fines. Ultimately, this can prevent you from carrying out business in a certain country.

3. Policies to Protect Data

Enterprises need robust security measures to maintain the confidentiality of payment information of their employees while expanding globally. While payroll companies may be well-versed in data protection regulations within their home countries, managing global payroll requires you to comply with data laws in multiple jurisdictions. For instance, do you have adequate infrastructure to ensure payroll data protection as per GDPR in Europe or PDPA in Singapore?

4. Payment Currency

As a business owner, you must realize the importance of determining the timing and method of paying employees in different countries when you go global. Factors such as location can influence the currency used and relevant employment laws. Unless you remain abreast with the exchange rate and make timely payments, your venture might face a loss or even fuel dissatisfaction among employees. Moreover, foreign exchange fees can turn out to be an obstacle in different markets.

5. Providing Benefits to Employees

For organizations hiring a global workforce, it’s imperative to closely monitor the statutory benefits that they should provide to workers in each country. Depending on the demographics, obligations such as sick leave, pensions, maternity leave, and health insurance can vary. Non-compliance with specific benefit requirements may prompt local authorities to take legal action.

How To Overcome Global Payroll Challenges?

While you might consider global payroll compliance challenges to be overwhelming, here’s the most practical solution for your organization. We have discussed three proven strategies to help you overcome international payroll challenges.

1. Outsource Global Payroll Services

Consider partnering with international payroll companies specializing in managing payroll for expanding businesses. These specialists operate within the countries where your company carries out business. Thus, the professionals have a proper understanding of local regulations and labor laws. Outsourcing payroll services enables businesses to entrust dedicated professionals with crucial responsibilities like tax compliance, management, and tasks related to payroll. This can free your team and help you focus on the core competencies.

2. Employer of Record (EOR)

Do you know what is EOR and PEO Services? An EOR is a valuable resource for businesses hiring, onboarding, and paying workers from other countries without establishing costly legal entities. With EOR, you can simplify the entire process. The specialized service providers will handle responsibilities like checking payroll requirements, compensating employees, managing benefits, onboarding, and other related tasks.

3. Shadow Payroll System

For global employees receiving payments outside the country, they work in, a shadow payroll system can be an effective solution. This system ensures that social security payments and taxes are managed accurately for employees working abroad while meeting their obligations in the home country. It calculates and reports the necessary taxes and benefits without making salary payments in the host country.

Outsource Global Payroll Services to Dedicated Teams

With competition raging high in the global business ecosystem, why let payroll compliance impede your growth? Addressing the top global payroll challenges and outsourcing global payroll services, shadow payroll systems, and EOR services can put you on track. The IMC Group offers comprehensive EOR and PEO services to businesses expanding globally, streamlining their compliance process and boosting their efficiency. With professional assistance from our end, you can capitalize on the wealth of a global workforce while ensuring compliance.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

Charting a Course for Startup Success: Navigating Governance, Risk, and Control

October 10, 2023

The steadfast motivation of startups, along with their creative edge and innovative spirit, defines their secret to success in a competitive business ecosystem. Amidst all this enthusiasm, it’s imperative for startups to cultivate a robust culture of governance risk management and compliance. Prioritizing long-term viability and success, these budding organizations should establish these pillars at the outset, particularly in a competitive business environment.

Walking in the shoes of a startup owner or CEO, it pays to know the best practices to ensure proper governance within the startup ecosystem.

Evaluating The State of Governance in Startups

While governance issues are not systemic, startups struggle due to the lack of emphasis on robust governance processes and systems. Many startups prioritize rapid growth rather than focusing on the establishment of sound governance practices. This eventually leads to gaps and potential risks. Stakeholders, as well as the board must understand the value of governance and come up with impactful systems and processes.

Which areas should startups focus on?

Startups need to prioritize governance, resilience, and financial metrics to remain on the right track. In this regard, a holistic perspective is necessary for startups, where these organizations need to prioritize financial metrics, governance, and operational resilience. They should also consider valuations and factors like integrity, governance, and compliance.

For startups, it’s crucial to strike a balance between growth and profitability while integrating various metrics to ensure sustainable success.

Balancing Governance with Entrepreneurial Spirit

Forward-thinking organizations, including startups, must adopt a strategic stance to balance their freedom to operate independently with governance. While the primary emphasis lies on identifying entrepreneurs with a strong vision, the equation should also have a proper equilibrium between entrepreneurial spirits and corporate governance.

It’s wise to seek enterprise risk management solutions from professional experts who carry out due diligence and evaluate aspects like compliance, operations, and integrity. With professionalism on your side, you can maintain this balance.

Driving Governance with Top Talent

Startups need to draw top talent from established companies to strengthen their governance. For instance, they need to bring in seasoned professionals, including Financial Officers and independent board members to the deck. These measures go a long way in fortifying governance in startups. Besides, these organizations should have a diverse team with expertise in different domains to bolster their governance practices.

Analyzing funding considerations and investor outlook

For startups, it’s imperative to understand the outlook of investors and analyze funding challenges. After the pandemic, business paradigms have shifted, and there has been a change in the way organizations are evaluated. Valuations are bearing the brunt of the impact. This calls for a more judicious approach for startups to ensure governance. While funds exercise greater selectivity, investments continue to flow into promising startups.

Due Diligence Before Investing and Red Flags

In the context of ensuring governance, it should be noted that startups need to work on pre-investment due diligence seriously. The focus should lie on solid unit economics, a robust business thesis, and a well-defined path leading to profitability.

The due diligence process might also reveal certain red flags. This can trigger further investigation or even lead to the withdrawal of investment.

ESG Risks and The Role of Forensic Services

The role of forensic services in due diligence is vital, and this includes commercial, operational, and financial aspects. Startups need to evaluate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) risks stringently. This also points to the importance of governance in the sustainability and evaluation of upcoming organizations. Established companies like the IMC Group specialize in providing GRC insights for industry-specific regulations.

Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Risks

The significance of data privacy and cybersecurity risks in a rapidly digitizing business ecosystem is crucial for startups. These organizations should prioritize data security to remain on the top.

Established companies like the IMC Group specialize in providing due diligence services and audits, besides addressing cybersecurity concerns for startups. While the startup ecosystem looks dynamic, seeking professional consultation to ensure sound governance is the need of the hour.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

The Evolution of Global Mobility Tax Planning

October 6, 2023

Recent years have witnessed a significant transformation in the global mobility tax planning landscape. There’s a reason why forward-thinking organizations across the globe are seeking global mobility services from established professionals. While many of us are well-versed in the tax implications of international long-term assignments, often initiated at the request of employers, the contrasting paradigm of the past and evolving future is visible.

With the traditional approach, tax implications for these assignments could be understood well in advance. The standard agreements of businesses could efficiently address relevant tax issues, both for employers and expatriate employees. Adhering to tax and employment laws was pretty simple, given that these assignments usually took place in cross-border markets. The employer already had operations established and running in these markets.

However, the global mobility landscape has experienced a remarkable shift since the pandemic. With operational mechanisms changing to the ‘work from anywhere’ trend, employees are increasingly relying on short-term global working arrangements that complement their lifestyle preferences.

The contemporary business environment has also witnessed organizations retaining and recruiting talent in fresh markets. No wonder, why they need to quickly adapt to the respective tax and employment laws in these jurisdictions to ensure that their workforce can be accommodated in the new location. This transformation has far-reaching implications, primarily evident in two critical risk areas: the hunt for talent, and multi-jurisdiction tax compliance. With professional tax planning and compliance solutions, successful companies can glide through these challenges.

The secret of attracting, engaging, and retaining a global workforce

For businesses, it’s imperative to understand the complexities of immigration regulations, international employment laws, income and employment taxes, and the dynamic regulatory landscape. The established standards that were sufficient even a few years ago may no longer be adequate to attract and retain talent. If you want to be an employer of choice in the competitive landscape, understanding your processes and assumptions is crucial.

Here are some critical considerations:

Assess whether your current technology infrastructure can securely connect a globally dispersed workforce
Evaluate whether your internal mechanism for risk management is adequate in the ever-shifting landscape of international employment norms
Check whether your performance metrics accurately reflect the success factors of a global workforce
Ensure that your HR tools and processes align with the real needs and expectations of your global workforce
Equip your front-line managers with the skills and resources needed to manage cross-border teams and engage them
Consider whether your current payroll, benefits, legal, and other service providers are equipped to meet the demands of a global workforce
Understand the impact of the ‘work from anywhere’ trend on your global-setting processes
Find out whether your recruitment and relocation practices need a change to deal with a global workforce
Examine how these changes will influence your brand image, considering current and prospective employees

Exploring Tax Challenges in a Global Workforce

As you go global with your recruitment team, a vigilant stance to deal with cross-border tax complications is imperative. For instance, your employee relocation process may complicate employee relocation. So, here are some additional considerations with potential tax consequences.

1. Transfer Pricing Complexity for Multinationals

Multinational enterprises face significant tax hurdles with transfer pricing. It arises when multiple tax authorities can assess the same intercompany transactions including royalties, services, goods, and global mobility workforce transactions.. Usually, companies are required to maintain a pricing approach that ensures prices are in line with what unrelated companies would charge. Additionally, making adjustments during an audit for transfer pricing can result in extra tax liabilities, penalties that cannot be deducted, instances of double taxation, and interest on late payments.

2. Permanent Establishment (PE) in Global Taxation

Permanent Establishment involves activities in foreign countries that often lead to taxable obligations. The income tax treaties between these countries define these activities. Organizations should note that hiring employees in other countries can trigger PE status for a company in the employee’s host country. A strategic choice arises once this PE is established: operating as a branch in the foreign nation or establishing a subsidiary in the new market to respect tax requirements.

3. Employer of Record (EOR) in Cross-Border Hiring

When it comes to international hiring, successful companies often turn to third-party Employer of Record (EORs). This is a viable option where local tax regulations permit them. EORs offer a solution to bypass the PE challenge, offering a swift route to access the workforce in the new market. This approach can pave the way to establish a subsidiary later, aligning with broader cross-border requirements.

4. Dual Social Security Tax and Totalization Agreements

Working abroad can lead to dual taxation under both the home country and the host country’s social tax systems. This impacts both employers and employees. The U.S. Social Security program provides extensive coverage to expatriate workers, both domestically and internationally. The clauses involve limited exemptions for short-term cross-border work. The US has also established Totalization Agreements with 30 countries to prevent double taxation of social taxes. These agreements help in maintaining the primary connection of an employee to the social security system of the country where they have the strongest connection during their working years and in retirement.

5. Tax Equalization Agreements for International Assignments

Tax equalization agreements often come in handy for organizations when they send employees abroad to maintain their after-tax income levels. As a result, the tax rates between countries differ, while the agreements address these differences in tax treatment of allowances. They also guide the obligation of the employer towards the social tax that employees are liable to pay. These considerations can potentially increase the tax responsibilities of the employer for cross-border assignments.

6. Employee Income Tax and Tax Treaties

Income tax treaties between countries play a vital role in guiding the tax obligations for expatriate workers across borders. These treaties offer provisions for individuals who may qualify as tax residents in more than a single country. They also have provisions with exceptions to taxation on income earned abroad. Understanding personal tax obligations across the border can be complex for employers. This prompts them to determine the kind of tax support they need to adhere to the existing tax norms.

Factors Driving Increased Tax Authority Scrutiny

While tax authorities have been somewhat lenient during the pandemic regarding residency and tax issues for remote workers, the paradigm has changed rapidly in recent months. Governments are ramping up efforts to recover taxes related to remote work.

Business owners and CEOs must understand these three reasons driving increased tax scrutiny by the authorities.

Permanent remote work: Many organizations have shifted their emergency remote workforce to permanent arrangements. This has prompted governments to recover their tax from remote workers.
Social media and technology: The inception of sophisticated technology enables governments to track employee and business activity more accurately, leading to stricter tax implications.
State-specific tax laws: Companies with remote workforces in multiple states face increased complexity due to varying tax and employment laws. Countries have different rules on personal income tax withholding, reciprocity agreements, and employer tax obligations.

Considering these aspects, businesses need effective tools to monitor and manage the locations of employees associated with tax responsibilities.

With these challenges looming large on global organizations, successful businesses are seeking professional global mobility solutions from established service providers like the IMC Group. We are a leading partner, providing global mobility solutions and tax compliance advice to fast-expanding and international businesses.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

Transforming Finance: The Role of CFOs and Outsourcing

September 13, 2023

The secret to survival and growth in the ever-changing business landscape lies in adaptability. It’s like a magic word to business leaders amidst a time when CFOs (Chief Financial Officers) are being called upon to demonstrate their strategic prowess like never before.

We will take you through this edition of our newsletter, exploring the transformation of finance. Check out the crucial role that CFOs have to play while steering their organizations through turbulent waters.

The Evolving Role of CFOs In Organizations

Traditionally, CFOs used to handle mundane responsibilities that largely revolved around historical financial performance and compliance. However, the current economic climate is way more dynamic. At a time challenged by high inflation, recession, and a gnawing shortage of talent, the role of CFOs has evolved manifold.

Currently, CFOs are expected to serve as proactive strategic partners, driving key decisions and fostering organizational growth.

The Marketing Director at Xledger UK, Ian Halliwell, notes that “Real-time data will be essential in enabling CFOs to achieve this.”

In this challenging environment, CFOs must adopt a forward-looking perspective to identify risks and be prompt enough in seizing opportunities.

Leveraging Technology and Data

In the modern business paradigm, CFOs are powered by data and technology to lead the changes effectively. However, success in the digital world doesn’t solely rely on collecting data. The secret to success lies in understanding the right approach to leverage this data to evaluate risks, identify opportunities, and make decision-making contextual.

Halliwell adds, “Outsourcing the finance function enables businesses to run leaner, more efficient finance departments and frees CFOs to focus on more strategic roles.”

The Rise of Outsourcing Financial Services

Do you know that successful players in international markets outsource finance & accounting services? While this has been in practice for quite some time, the trend is rapidly gathering momentum. Forward-thinking businesses are leveraging cloud technology to offer secure and remote access to data. This has revolutionized finance management and reporting, empowering CFOs to drive transformation with new opportunities.

Simon Rowe, Partner at Milsted Langdon, observes, “Firms which previously felt that outsourcing to accountancy firms was the reserve of larger businesses are increasingly recognizing that the same technology is accessible to them”.

A report also reveals that by 2024, the financial sector will witness a rise in outsourced services for AI from 6% to 40%.

Outsourcing Is the Answer to Talent Shortage

Currently, the finance sector continues to struggle amidst a talent shortage. Statistics reveal a 36% decline in accountancy applicants YoY between June 2022 and 2023. No wonder, the dependence on CFOs during times of uncertainty or change would shoot up.

Outsourcing not only addresses resource challenges but also provides access to third-party knowledge and industry expertise. Therefore, CFOs can tap into broader industry insights to enhance their capability to drive growth and innovation.

With global enterprises quickly catching up with the digital transformation, the demand for Virtual CFO is on the rise. The IMC Group continues to lead the industry, partnering with global firms to handle outsourced financial and accounting services.

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Stay tuned for more insights into the evolving world of finance.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

The Human Element in Digital Transformation: What Matters More Than Technology?

September 13, 2023

The term “digital transformation” has become a buzzword in boardrooms and industry discussions. Think of any industry vertical, and companies are channelling investing significant resources to embrace new technologies. This proactive stance goes a long way in helping them gain a competitive edge and explore the complexities that digital transformation presents.

However, CEOs and business leaders often overlook the fact that digital transformation is more about people than the technological frenzy itself. No wonder sophistication in technology significantly streamlines business processes. However, the success of any digital transformation initiative pivots on a shift in the mindset and behavior within the organization. Therefore, technology is a means to an end, not the end itself.

Here, we have justified why it’s crucial to nurture a digital intelligence mindset within your teams. We are going to explore why the key to leveraging the true potential of digital transformation lies in focusing on the behavior and attitude of your staff.

The Shift in Perspective

Regardless of the industry or the problem under question, it’s crucial to cultivate a mindset of digital intelligence. Business leaders should realize, and very rightly, that technology is a tool, not the ultimate solution. Therefore, innovation is driven when you recognize people, not technology.

As businesses strive for succeed in the digital era, they need to nurture a shift in their mindset that challenges the traditional way of thought.

The Right Questions to Begin With

Before embarking on any digital transformation, organizations evaluate these essential aspects:

The business challenges that these changes are capable of solving
How the digital transformation can help establishing their identity in the market
The expected outcomes of digital transformation
Whether or not a shift in mindset is critical for success
The behaviors, thought patterns, and processes that need to be revamped

The Role of Leadership

In this context, it’s imperative to recognize the role of leaders in guiding their teams toward success. Here are certain strategies they should consider:

The long-term impact of selected technology
Strategies to take the team to success
Providing adequate training to the teams
The positive impact on the company and its employees
How the change enhances business operations and customer experiences

Nurturing Behavior Change for Cultural Realignment

Digital transformation isn’t just about technology. It involves bringing about a change in thought patterns and behaviors. Therefore, organizations need to embrace a collaborative ambience and encourage seamless communication.

Leaders should make sure that their team understands the ‘why’ behind changes in technologies. When you transform the mentalities of your employees, they are more likely to incorporate new solutions.

Leverage Existing Digital Intelligence to The Full Potential

Many employees, in their personal lives, exhibit a digital intelligence mindset. For leaders, this is a viable opportunity to tap into this, as they encourage employees to transform work through their innovative mentality.

Remember, in the digital era, it’s not just about the technology you implement. Rather, it’s about the transformation happening within your teams. Forward-thinking organizations count on established advisors like the IMC Group for digital transformation services.

Stay tuned for more insights and stories on digital transformation. Thank you for being part of our community.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

Enterprise Governance, Risk, and Compliance Insights: Exploring Regulations for Sustainable Business

September 13, 2023

The realm of GRC (Enterprise Governance, Risk, and Compliance) is witnessing a rapid shift in paradigm in the digitized business ecosystem. Industry insights reveal that it is well poised to transform the way global businesses explore and manage risks. There’s no denying that the regulatory landscape is ever-evolving. This puts enterprises on a relentless quest for sustainable excellence, driven by regulatory mandates as well as their priority to maintain organizational integrity.

With the GRC market projected to surge US$ 62.39 Billion by 2033, soaring impressively from US$ 15.23 Billion in 2022, the stakes have never been higher. The dynamic convergence of the GRC elements looks promising, as it would be shaping the future of corporate resilience, cybersecurity, and success in business.

Interestingly, forward-thinking enterprises are looking for governance risk and compliance advice, collaborating with established professionals in the industry.

Market Spotlight: Shaping the Future of Enterprise GRC

The Enterprise Governance, Risk, and Compliance landscape is witnessing an unprecedented evolution. As we look towards 2033, organizations are visibly gearing up to explore the regulatory landscape to excel in their sustainable endeavors.

Estimates suggest that the Enterprise GRC Market is set to reach US$ 17.1 Billion in 2023 alone, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.8% from 2023 to 2033.

A Symbiotic Relationship Between Cybersecurity and GRC

In today’s digital age, GRC encapsulates an effective strategy for managing corporate cybersecurity risk. These systems prove to be indispensable as they empower global organizations to fix their cybersecurity posture without disrupting business operations.

Enterprise GRC involves a systematic approach used by organizations for managing their operations while ensuring strict compliance with regulations, internal policies, and laws. The approach is comprehensive, that integrates compliance activities, risk management, and governance. Thus, organizations get a holistic solution to mitigate risk.

Driving Factors Behind the Growth of GRC

The Enterprise GRC market has witnessed significant expansion because of high regulatory pressure. Besides, the need for effective risk management is paramount with escalating threats. No wonder, why global enterprises count on enterprise risk management solutions. These firms are extensively deploying advanced technologies like risk-management software, governance management software, and compliance management software.

Leading Players in the Enterprise GRC Arena

A large number of industry giants and innovators are spearheading the GRC market, including established MNCs and comparatively young yet more dynamic players. These companies have rolled out a comprehensive portfolio of services, offering services like risk management, audit management, information security & data management, business continuity, compliance & policy management, and much more. Allied services from established players also include regulatory change management, consulting, integration and implementation, and support.

The IMC Group continues to be your reliable partner for enterprise risk management. With professional support, enterprises can tailor their GRC strategies to the size of the organization, regardless of the vertical or demographics. Stay tuned for more updates in our upcoming newsletters. Remember, staying informed is the first step toward success in the ever-changing landscape of enterprise GRC.

NEWSLETTER, GLOBAL

A Comprehensive Insight into Sustainable & Impact Investing for Family Offices

September 13, 2023

The dynamic world of sustainable and impact investing in family offices has been garnering global attention. With an increasing number of successful brands looking for private client and family advisory services, it’s imperative to delve into sustainable and impact investing strategies.

These perspectives elucidate how family offices can capitalize on their financial assets to drive positive change in the world as they stride ahead to their financial goals.

1. The Guiding Light of Family Values Rather Than Terminology

It’s crucial to consider the scope of aligning investment strategies with the respective family values. The wide array of terms and options can be overwhelming in the ever-evolving environment of impact and sustainability investing.

Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing at Barclays, Damian Payiatakis, focused on the need to explain the intentions behind both financial returns and societal impact. The path to ethically sound investments becomes clearer when you start with the shared values of your family.

This approach calls for organizing workshops and facilitated conversations. During these discussions, the shared priorities can be identified. This largely establishes the foundation on which family offices make crucial investment decisions.

2. Integrating ESGs Into The Mainstream

There’s no denying that the investment paradigm has undergone a significant seismic shift. Currently, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are no longer optional. Rather, they have evolved as fundamental aspects of investment decisions.

Notably, traditional investors are recognizing the true value of incorporating ESG aspects into their investment strategies. Statistics reveal that a sizable 72% of these offices consider these priorities.

Besides, single family office in Dubai and other global cities count on professional advice from experts. Thus, these offices are actively looking for investment opportunities to mitigate global sustainability challenges. They have not only recognized the ethical value but also the potential of embracing long-term growth.

3. The Power of Measurability

Impact investing is a complex concept in itself. Well, in the world of impact investing, clear and standardized metrics largely define success. However, single family offices must recognize that the absence of uniform metrics has been hindering capital flow into investments that should be tackling some of the most pressing challenges of the world.

Thus, it’s imperative to advocate for standardized definitions to overcome this hurdle. This ensures that credible data will be disseminated. Standardization goes beyond greenwashing scandals, but also lays the foundation for impact capital. Thus, these initiatives from family offices can live up to their ambitions.

Reliable information holds the key to transparency. This can help family offices compare investments fairly and propel themselves to the growth trajectory.

4. Family Unity Through Impact Investing

Impact investing presents a unique opportunity for family offices, where members across generations can nurture the essence of unity. Involving family members in investment decisions deeply rooted in their shared values promotes collaboration. Besides, this goes a long way in strengthening family bonds.

Therefore, families need to leverage this approach to channel their investments towards noble causes. Besides, this should deepen their understanding of shared values and differences.

This approach transforms impact investment into a journey shared by the family. Rather than eyeing mere financial gains, it nurtures better unity among the family.

5. The Long Road Ahead

No doubt, family offices are enthusiastic about impact investing. However, there’s a long road ahead to embracing a widespread approach to this type of investment. Currently, just a small proportion of family office investments are made for impact solutions.

Experts reveal that substantial investments are necessary to drive energy and climate transition and other crucial changes. Presently, family offices have barely scratched the surface, reaching a mere 1.1% of this ambitious goal.

Thankfully, family offices are ideally positioned to spearhead this transformative journey. Gradually, the momentum is building. A robust support system is already in place that should guide family offices to define, measure, and achieve their goals.

As the change takes over how family offices perceive impact investing, the need of the hour is to align investments with their cherished family values. Besides, other secrets to successful impact investing lie in embracing ESG considerations, nurturing familial unity, and remaining committed to a greater global impact. The IMC Group continues to be a catalyst for single family office in Singapore to embrace these changes through professional guidance and advice.

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