Accrued Expense vs. Accounts Payable: What’s the Difference? Accrued expenses and accounts payable are both liabilities, meaning money a company owes. The key difference is whether the company has received a bill. Accrued expenses are costs a company has already incurred but they haven’t received an invoice for those costs yet. Once the company receives…
How Do Finance Teams Predict Market Shifts Before They Happen? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the top economic indicators—GDP, interest rates, inflation, and more—and show you how FP&A and corporate finance professionals use them to drive smarter decisions. Transcript OK, let’s unpack this. Imagine you’re building next year’s budget. You’re…
Financial modeling is one of the most important skills for landing high-impact finance roles. Professionals in investment banking, equity research, corporate development, FP&A, and more all rely on it to assess deals, evaluate performance, and support decision making. Learn how financial modeling is a critical skill in these seven finance career paths and what that…
What Sets FPAP and FMVA Apart If you’re exploring CFI’s certifications, you’ve probably noticed two standout programs: Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA®) and Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FPAP™). But what’s the difference between these two certifications? FMVA remains one of the most recognized certifications for building practical skills in financial modeling, valuation, and…
June 30, 2025 — Corporate Finance Institute (CFI), the global leader in practical finance education, has officially launched the Financial Planning & Analysis Professional (FPAP™) certification—designed to meet growing industry demand for strategic, data-driven finance professionals. As finance teams increasingly serve as strategic business partners, FP&A professionals are expected to move beyond reporting to deliver…
How Do Companies Decide Between Paying Dividends and Reinvesting Profits? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the key considerations behind corporate dividend policy and why it’s such a powerful tool for shaping investor sentiment and long-term strategy. Transcript Welcome to the Deep Dive. Yeah, welcome, everybody. Today, we’re going to tackle…
Why Do Companies Spin Off Parts of Their Business, and How Does It Create Shareholder Value? In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we explore the core strategies behind corporate restructuring, including spin-offs, carve-outs, and divestitures. Transcript Okay, so you’re listening to the Deep Dive, and we’re really glad you’re here. Yeah, thanks for joining…
FP&A reports drive internal decision-making at every level of a business. For anyone aiming to break into FP&A, these are the reports you’ll encounter in an FP&A role. They help leadership stay on top of performance, manage budgets, and adjust strategies in real time. This guide breaks down the most common reports in FP&A. You’ll…
In this episode of What’s New at CFI on FinPod, we spotlight CFI’s new course “Forecasting Techniques” with expert instructor Duncan McKeen. If you’ve ever wanted a clear breakdown of how forecasting actually works inside a company, this conversation walks through the course’s learning objectives with practical context, examples, and insights into corporate best practices….
Corporate finance or corporate development? Both paths offer respected careers in business, but they tend to come at different stages of a professional journey. Once you understand how the two paths differ and how one can lead to the other, it’s easier to plan your next move with confidence. What Makes Corporate Finance and Corporate…
