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  • 1.  What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Posted 12-05-2022 13:59
    A Finance Presentation can be stressing, and this for many reasons

    • Fear of public speaking

    • Allergy to working with PowerPoint
    • Difficulties to keep the audience focused with a financial topic

    • ...
    In my career in FP&A, I came across all of these reasons and many more

    Often, these come from our own profile as Finance Professionals: we are used to work more with our computers and less in front of an audience.

    But like many things in life, this can be learned!

    So my question to you is the following: What is your biggest issue for a presentation about Finance?

    Let me know by replying to this thread 

    #12DaysofVena #Event #Presentations 
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    Soufyan Hamid
    SouFBP
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  • 2.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Founding Member
    Posted 12-05-2022 16:38

    Thanks for hosting this session Soufyan!

    I don't need to give many finance presentations in my current role, but I work closely with our Finance team so would be interested in learning a few things. One thing that has felt unique for us, is that as a non-profit we have a lot of terms that our broader staff sometimes struggle to understand. Things like "Unrestricted" vs "Temporarily Restricted" vs "Permanently Restricted" vs "Board Directed" are all types of Funding we have, but it's hard for people to navigate sometimes. For your session, I'd be curious if you have tips for how to balance the ideas of wanting to educate your staff on key concepts while also not wanting to lose their attention or talk over their heads?

    ​

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    Brendan Eger
    Assoc. Dir. of Information Systems and Analytics
    Partners In Health
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Posted 12-06-2022 15:09
    Thanks for your question @Brendan Eger

    I see your point and don't worry, it's shared by many Finance Professionals in profit and non-profit organizations

    It's what I call the use of "jargon" and our role is to make sure to find a balanced spot where we educate our audience to the particular concepts we face in our work but we also simplify those concepts so they're accessible

    It might be an exaggeration in the context of a business, but there is say that states "if you can't explain it to a child, it means you didn't understand it"

    Consider this not as a stricto senso rule but as a reminder that people in front of us don't have (and shouldn't have) the same knowledge as us 😉​​​

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    Soufyan Hamid
    SouFBP
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Founding Member
    Posted 12-07-2022 09:22
    I agree that as a charity the concepts of fund accounting (Unrestricted, Restricted) is unique and different for Board members who are more likely to come from a for-profit background.  There are two general ways to approach this.  One is the explain the fund balances using definitions at the beginning of a commentary for them to read.  The other is to emphasize the importance of fund balances by showcasing the balances at the beginning of your presentation and noting the adequacy of those fund balances - and risk if applicable.

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    David Cornfield
    VP, Finance and Planning
    WWF-Canada
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Posted 12-09-2022 09:19
    It is important, without forgetting the unique character of the organisation you work for, to put yourself in the audience's eyes and ears.

    That's why it is key, in a presentation to a layperson, to translate into a common language and why I find your second option much more adapted @David Cornfield 😉​

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    Soufyan Hamid
    SouFBP
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Posted 12-12-2022 09:25
    I have two major problems that actually go hand in hand:
    1. Presenting numbers/etc. in a not completely dry and monotone way, and
    2. Keeping the audience (especially non-finance dept members) engaged, particularly when presenting the same format each month.

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    Megan Holmes
    Staff Accountant
    Canal Insurance
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: What is your major problem when it comes to Finance presentations?

    Posted 12-13-2022 10:09
    Hello @Megan Holmes

    Interesting questions that will surely be answered with the content we will see together during the event

    See you there tomorrow

    Soufyan

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    Soufyan Hamid
    SouFBP
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    Original Message