Finance Chiefs May Lack Visibility for Financial Investments, Capital Expenditures

CFOs and corporate finance departments lack the resources to adequately track their capital expenditures and returns on investment, according to a report released this week by consulting firm Planview.

Among the findings, the report found 80 percent of surveyed finance executives leverage manual practices in planning their capital expenditures. Respondents cited the inability to track both ROI and affordability as their top risk concern, followed by the inability to maximize or make the most of resources and financial opportunities. Poor investment was cited as the third most common risk.

"Finance executives are striving to be responsive to market conditions," said Linda Roach, Planview vice president of marketing and executive sponsor of the survey. "Yet, there is a struggle to get a comprehensive view of investments and measure ROI. Companies need a solution that supports their new way of working and planning."

Maureen Carlson, a partner at Appleseed Partners, added that the nature of long-term financial planning is changing, but organizations are still relying on outdated tools and technologies for managing investment portfolios and financial planning.