Sat.Dec 01, 2018 - Fri.Dec 07, 2018

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What An Alleged NSA Hack Reveals About Payments Cybersecurity

PYMNTS

Not to ruin your holiday spirit, but let’s start this story with the cold and brutal truth: One of the largest risks that payments and commerce operators face in 2019 is being called to account by government officials, regulators or media about a failure to secure their organizations from cyberattacks. The past year brought a significantly increased focus on the security and privacy of online data, with not only consumers paying more attention to the issue but (much more importantly) lawmakers h

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Private Equity: The Emperor Has No Clothes

CFA Institute

Liquid alternatives to private equity can be created simply by buying small, cheap, and levered stocks, Nicolas Rabener writes.

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Why and How You Should Scale Up Your Business

The CFO Centre

If you consider what sets companies like eBay, Alibaba, Netflix, Google, Starbucks, Apple, Cisco and Dell apart from other companies, their ability to continuously innovate and create high growth will probably come high on your list. So should the fact theyve all successfully transitioned from start up to scale up status without losing their ability […] The post Why and How You Should Scale Up Your Business appeared first on The CFO Centre US.

CFO 52
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Ripple Forms Blockchain For Europe Association With Other Players

PYMNTS

Ripple, the blockchain company that owns XRP, the digital currency, has joined forces with NEM, Fetch.AI, and EMURGO/Cardano to create a new association that represents the interest of blockchain and cryptocurrency business in Europe. According to a report in The Next Web , the group, dubbed Blockchain for Europe, says its the first unified voice for the industry in Europe.

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Automation, Evolved: Your New Playbook For Smarter Knowledge Work

Speaker: Frank Taliano

Document-heavy workflows slow down productivity, bury institutional knowledge, and drain resources. But with the right AI implementation, these inefficiencies become opportunities for transformation. So how do you identify where to start and how to succeed? Learn how to develop a clear, practical roadmap for leveraging AI to streamline processes, automate knowledge work, and unlock real operational gains.

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Why Consumers Will Shrug Off The Marriott Breach

PYMNTS

In 1954, mathematician L.J. Savage published research about how consumers process information when making decisions. Dubbed the sure-thing principle , Savage’s work showed that consumers consider a variety of inputs when making decisions. They also mentally bucket – and then disregard – inputs that may be important, but not important enough to change their minds about something they really want to do.

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TSYS On How Payments Power Rewards, And Rewards Power Loyalty

PYMNTS

Loyalty has come a long way in the payments realm, from the days when strict terms of rewards programs were more frustrating than enticing for consumers. Gone are the days when you had to redeem points for miles and miles for flights – but only if you were flying two years from that day, on the second Thursday in March, at 7:30 p.m., with the condition that you make three stops before finding your way to the final destination.

Retail 76
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EU Blockchain Forum Recommends Digital Identity Systems

PYMNTS

In its newest report, the EU Blockchain Forum (EUBF) noted that government bodies need to home in on two aspects of the blockchain to help the technology fully actualize: That is, the institutions need to have digital national currencies as well as systems for digital identity, The Next Web reported. The organization said in its report, “digital identity is the fundamental building block and a key area for governments to focus on … another important building block … is having digital versions of

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Intel, Nasdaq Back Crypto Startup BOX’s Supply Chain Finance Launch

PYMNTS

China cryptocurrency startup BOX is introducing supply chain financing services for corporate users with the help of Intel , Nasdaq and Baidu Cloud. In a press release issued Monday (Dec. 3), BOX announced the rollout of its BOX Ecosystem, a suite of new services for businesses from the crypto wallet company, at a launch event at the Shanghai Film Plaza.

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CFOs Held Back From Driving Digital Transformation

PYMNTS

Like many positions in corporate finance, the role of chief financial officer (CFO) is facing new pressures in a climate of innovation and novel challenges, from cybersecurity to geopolitical events. It’s a shift that’s been happening for years. However, as the market looks ahead to 2019, corporate finance leaders will continue to face even more, newer hurdles to meet the demand for strategic leadership within the enterprise. “The CFO role has evolved over the last several year

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Data Talks, CFOs Listen: Why Analytics Is The Key To Better Spend Management

Speaker: Claire Grosjean

Finance teams are drowning in data—but is it actually helping them spend smarter? Without the right approach, excess spending, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities continue to drain profitability. While analytics offers powerful insights, financial intelligence requires more than just numbers—it takes the right blend of automation, strategy, and human expertise.

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Is #donate The First Step To #buy?

PYMNTS

By almost any measure, John Gossart , COO and Co-founder of fundraising resource Goodworld , has done more than his fair share of public service. He served two decades in the military and government, eventually working in a Department of Defense counter-terrorism post that took him to Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq and other countries. That is, until he decided, in his own words, that “the counter-terrorism world became more of a younger man’s game.

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Marriott CFO On Cost Of Massive Data Breach: Too Soon To Say

PYMNTS

After one of the largest data breaches in history, affecting an estimated 500 million guests , Marriott International Chief Financial Officer Leeny Oberg said the attack is too recent to estimate how much it will cost the company, and that it’s hard to compare attacks between other companies and Marriott, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company was made aware of the attack in September, after an alert from an internal security tool.

CFO 74
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Blockchain Banking, In NY And Done In Real Time

PYMNTS

Banking in blockchain – with real-time payments as a kicker? CoinDesk reported this week that Signature Bank , which is based in New York, is debuting a digital payments platform that is built on blockchain – and geared toward real-time transactions. With the dawn of the new year, the platform, to be known as Signet, will go live on Jan. 1, and will let customers transact at any time.

Banking 74
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Cyber Insurance Disputes Rise With Attacks

PYMNTS

With cyberattacks on the rise, corporate victims find themselves battling it out with cyber insurance companies over protection from the damage done by security breaches. The Financial Times reports that not only have sales of policies been growing by about 25 percent a year, but so have disputes between companies and the insurers. For example, the National Bank of Blacksburg in Virginia sued Everest National Insurance Company earlier this year after the bank was hit by cyberattacks in 2016 and

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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Mastercard, Microsoft Team Up On Digital Identity Initiative

PYMNTS

Mastercard and Microsoft announced Monday (December 3) a strategic collaboration to improve how people manage and use their digital identity. In a press release , Mastercard and Microsoft said that currently verifying an identity online is dependent on physical or digital proof which is managed by a central party. That dependence on a central party puts a big burden on individuals who have to remember hundreds of passwords for different identities.

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Bitcoin Tumbles 8 Percent Over 24-Hour Period

PYMNTS

In a new round of declines for bitcoin, the popular cryptocurrency tumbled 8 percent over a 24-hour period leading up to Friday (December 7) morning. The digital currency was trading at just over $3,375 as of 8:40 a.m. EST, CNBC reported. A few hours later, as of 11:21 a.m., the cryptocurrency was trading a bit lower at $3,235.57, according to Coindesk.

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Jumio Tries To Stamp Out Illegal Purchases Of eCigarettes

PYMNTS

Water always finds the lowest point — that’s a fact of life. So, too, is this: Underaged consumers will always try, and often find ways to, circumvent restrictions on purchases of goods that they are not supposed to buy until they reach maturity or, at least, the age of majority. Excuse the homespun wisdom, but offering weak authentication defenses in the face of those determined young consumers can bring down heavy fines and unwanted attention, and threaten a growing retail or online business.

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From Friend’s Grandpa To Hip Elder Brother: Banks As Consumer Trust Anchors

PYMNTS

Almost five years ago (on Dec. 19, 2013), Target was breached. Roughly 40 million consumer credit cards were hacked, and the public outcry of shock was massive. People could not believe an entity like Target could be so completely compromised. Half a decade later, consumers are no longer so easily appalled since hacks, breaches and compromised data privacy have become a standard background noise in payments and commerce.

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Forecasting Failures Are Costly: Heres How To Fix Them

Speaker: Dave Sackett

Traditional budgeting and forecasting methods can no longer keep pace with today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Static budgets, rigid annual forecasts, and outdated financial models limit an organization’s ability to adapt to market shifts and economic uncertainty. To stay ahead, finance leaders must leverage a future-forward approach—one that leverages real-time data, predictive analytics, and continuous planning to drive smarter financial decisions.

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Third Parties Help Central Banks Ride RTP Rails

PYMNTS

The uptake of faster payment systems keeps going up — and up, and up. In fact, the number of Same Day ACH transactions rose by 192 percent in Q3 2018 over the same period from the previous year. EBA CLEARING ’s RT1 system, meanwhile, has processed more than 5 million transactions since launch — but some have said the faster payments space could be growing even faster.

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Forget Drones — For Amazon Delivery Domination, Think Vans

PYMNTS

Amazon ’s delivery efforts provided minor Facebook entertainment over this past weekend for more than a few people in New Orleans (home of the PYMNTS warm winter and Mardi Gras bureau). A picture of one of Amazon’s newer delivery vans doing its business in the city popped up on the social network as though it were a rare sighting of a whale. Other consumers soon chimed in, reporting Amazon delivery van appearances in this neighborhood or that.

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Why The Merchant Countertop Needs A Tech Update

PYMNTS

So much is changing in retail and payments these days — the seemingly unstoppable rise of mobile, for instance, or the transformation of cars and trucks into traveling commerce enablers, among many other developments — that it can be easy to overlook what’s going on with that old merchant homestead: the countertop. It’s where merchant and customer once interacted the most — and still do, depending on the store — and where money changed hands in the presence of a cash register.

Sales 69
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Bitcoin Hits New All-Time-Low

PYMNTS

Bitcoin marked the beginning of December with another drop in value – this time by 8 percent, according to a report by CNBC. Following a 37 percent drop in November, which took about $70 billion off bitcoin’s market value, the cryptocurrency found a new bottom at $3,790.96. A year ago, bitcoin was on the rise to its peak at $20,000, and in December of 2017 it was up 40 percent, when a large number of retail investors were buying.

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Are Robots Replacing You? Keeping Humans in the Loop in Automated Environments

Speaker: Erroll Amacker

As businesses increasingly adopt automation, finance leaders must navigate the delicate balance between technology and human expertise. This webinar explores the critical role of human oversight in accounts payable (AP) automation and how a people-centric approach can drive better financial performance. Join us for an insightful discussion on how integrating human expertise into automated workflows enhances decision-making, reduces fraud risks, strengthens vendor relationships, and accelerates R

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Coinbase Mulls Adding 30 New Cryptocurrencies

PYMNTS

Coinbase, a platform that allows users to buy, sell and store cryptocurrency, said it is considering adding 30 new cryptocurrencies to its roster for trading, according to a report. The company said it is looking at many different currencies, including Cardano’s ADA, EOS and Tezos. Following is a list of all the currencies the company is considering: Cardano, Aeternity, Aragon, Bread Wallet, Civic, Dai, district0x, Enjin Coin, EOS, Golem Network, IOST, Kin, Kyber Network, Chainlink, Loom Network

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Draft Guidelines Clarify GDPR Scope

PYMNTS

As GDPR continues to take root, having an impact in Europe and beyond the confines of the continent, news came late last month that the European Data Protection Board has published draft guidelines that touch on the data protection regulation’s territorial scope. As reported through sites such as Lexology.com, the guidelines help clarify, for non-EU based companies, whether GDPR covers their own operations.

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Marriott Breach: Why The Worst May Be Yet To Come

PYMNTS

Let’s try this a different way, if only to make a vital point with insincerity. We must give credit to the criminals who engineered the recently disclosed data breach that could end up impacting some 500 million guests of Marriott International. These tourists, business travelers and others entrusted the Starwood hotel guest reservation database with details about their payment cards; home, work and email addresses; passport numbers and images; reward accounts and general travel habits.

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India’s SMBs Rebound As Demonetization Dust Settles

PYMNTS

India saw a busy year in B2B FinTech as the small business (SMB) community continued to demand enhanced financial services. The nation continues to push against cash in favor of digital payments, while both the government and private sector continue to fuel FinTech innovation. It hasn’t been easy for the nation’s small businesses, however.

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Book of Secrets on the Month-End Close

Based off SkyStem's popular e-Book, the book of secrets to the month-end close will be revealed in this one-hour webinar. Learn leading practices when it comes to building a strong and sustainable month-end close that has room to grow and evolve. Learn about the power of precise estimates, why reconciliations are critical to closing the books, how and when to automate, and how the chart of accounts play into your close process.