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In today's workplace, getting the fundamentals right — quickly — takes center stage for CFOs: They need more visibility into company spending, reliable access to working capital and policies that strengthen operations and reduce risk.

The strategy: They're looking for opportunities to save valuable time by automating manual processes, without losing control or oversight of how money is spent.

Why it's important: As companies grow, getting these financial basics right can be the difference between powering or paralyzing your business:

• Data that updates automatically across platforms can supercharge strategic decision-making but can become harder to maintain as large businesses look for a holistic view of spending across multiple teams.
• Dependable access to working capital that's based on company-level underwriting can give businesses the ability to put their money to work for their business and invest for growth.
• Protections and strong policies can help strengthen operations and allow finance teams to focus on strategic growth, helping to eliminate time spent reviewing old expense reports or tracking down an invoice.

This may require moving away from disparate applications and toward an integrated financial system, supplemented by a strategic financial provider that can offer counsel and resources as businesses grow — and help when issues inevitably come up.

What Amex is saying: "Businesses risk stalling when they rely on outdated financial systems to support them in new stages of growth," said Eva Reda, executive vice president and general manager of Global Commercial Services Products at American Express.

• "CFOs need a trusted partner that brings together the financial tools with people who understand the complexities of their business so they can unlock efficiency, tailor their financial program to their needs and confidently focus on the future."

Looking ahead: The businesses that are prioritizing their financial foundation today are setting themselves up for success throughout 2026 and beyond.

CFOs may want to consider these three things:

• Integrate your financial and business systems: Consolidating your systems — from spend management, payments, access to capital and ERPs — can help drive efficiency and control.
• Leverage data for greater insights to help make decisions confidently: Technology that facilitates access to data and insights can empower strategic decision-making.
• Prioritize a relationship, not a platform: The right technology is non-negotiable, but a trusted financial services provider can offer products and customer service that can help as businesses encounter new challenges and opportunities.

Learn how the Amex Corporate Program can help growing businesses.

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