#cfo business solutions

[openteqsolutions]

OpenTeQ NetSuite Solutions Provider: Enhancing Operational Workflow

A NetSuite Solutions Provider offers businesses an end-to-end ERP solution designed to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and drive growth. By leveraging NetSuite’s powerful cloud-based platform, these providers offer custom solutions tailored to specific industries, including financial services, manufacturing, healthcare, and more. The role of a NetSuite Solutions Provider is critical in helping companies integrate various business functions such as CRM, financials, e-commerce, and supply chain management into a single platform. This unified approach ensures real-time data visibility, helping organizations make informed decisions, optimize processes, and scale effectively.

NetSuite Support Services: Ensuring Seamless Operation

NetSuite Support Services are essential for maintaining the smooth functioning of the NetSuite platform within an organization. These services include troubleshooting, technical support, system optimization, and continuous updates to keep the system running at peak performance. A dedicated NetSuite support team ensures that businesses face minimal downtime, enabling them to focus on core activities without worrying about potential disruptions. Whether it's resolving technical issues, implementing system upgrades, or providing end-user training, NetSuite Support Services play a vital role in maximizing the return on investment (ROI) for companies using the platform.

NetSuite Developer: Enhancing Customization and Efficiency

A NetSuite Developer is instrumental in customizing the platform to meet a company’s specific needs. NetSuite’s flexibility allows developers to create custom scripts, workflows, and integrations to enhance the platform’s capabilities. From automating financial processes to integrating third-party applications, a NetSuite Developer ensures that the software aligns perfectly with a business’s unique requirements. By doing so, developers help businesses achieve greater operational efficiency, reduce manual work, and improve data accuracy. Additionally, they can build customized dashboards and reports that provide key insights into business performance.

NetSuite Consulting Services: Expert Guidance for Optimal Performance

NetSuite Consulting Services provide businesses with expert guidance on how to maximize the potential of the NetSuite platform. Consultants offer comprehensive assessments of existing systems and processes, identifying areas where NetSuite can bring the most value. They also assist in planning and implementing NetSuite solutions, ensuring that every aspect of the platform is configured to meet the business’s objectives. Whether it's during an initial implementation or a system upgrade, NetSuite consultants bring deep knowledge of the software and industry-specific expertise, helping businesses to leverage NetSuite to its fullest potential.

Manufacturing with NetSuite: Driving Efficiency and Growth

Manufacturing with NetSuite offers manufacturers a comprehensive solution to manage their entire production process, from planning and scheduling to inventory management and order fulfillment. NetSuite provides real-time visibility into all aspects of manufacturing operations, allowing companies to optimize production schedules, reduce costs, and improve lead times. Its integrated platform connects manufacturing with other business functions, such as supply chain management and finance, enabling manufacturers to streamline operations and ensure that products are delivered on time and within budget. NetSuite’s advanced planning and scheduling capabilities also help manufacturers maintain optimal inventory levels and minimize production delays, contributing to overall business growth.

Conclusion

OpenTeQ Technologies stands out as a leading NetSuite Solutions Provider, offering comprehensive services tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses across industries. Their expertise in NetSuite Support Services ensures seamless operation and minimal downtime, while their skilled NetSuite Developer team delivers customized solutions that enhance platform functionality.

Through NetSuite Consulting Services, OpenTeQ guides businesses toward optimized system performance, leveraging the full potential of NetSuite Financial Software for accurate financial management. Moreover, OpenTeQ’s specialized approach to Manufacturing with NetSuite empowers manufacturers to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth. Together, these services enable businesses to thrive in a competitive landscape.

[minnaah]

The Role of Accounting Firms in Abu Dhabi in Supporting Startups and SMEs

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has become a vibrant hub for startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With its strategic location, supportive government policies, and growing investment landscape, the city offers numerous opportunities for new businesses. However, navigating the complexities of finance, compliance, and taxation can be daunting for entrepreneurs. This is where Accounting firms in Abu Dhabi play a crucial role. Let’s explore how these firms support startups and SMEs in their journey to success.

1. Providing Financial Guidance

One of the primary roles of accounting firms is to provide financial guidance to startups and SMEs. These firms help entrepreneurs understand their financial health by offering insights into cash flow management, budgeting, and financial forecasting. With accurate financial data, businesses can make informed decisions and plan for future growth.

2. Tax Compliance and Planning

Navigating tax regulations in the UAE can be complex, especially for new businesses. Accounting firms in Abu Dhabi assist startups and SMEs with tax compliance, ensuring they meet all local regulations. They also provide strategic tax planning advice, helping businesses minimize their tax liabilities while remaining compliant with the law. This is particularly important with the introduction of VAT and other tax measures in the UAE.

3. Bookkeeping Services

Maintaining accurate financial records is vital for any business, but startups and SMEs often lack the resources to manage this effectively. Accounting firms offer comprehensive bookkeeping services, which allow business owners to focus on their core operations. Regular bookkeeping helps in tracking expenses, managing invoices, and preparing for audits.

4. Assisting with Business Setup

For startups, the process of setting up a business can be overwhelming. Accounting firms provide valuable assistance in this area, guiding entrepreneurs through the legal and financial requirements of establishing a company in Abu Dhabi. This includes obtaining the necessary licenses, understanding local regulations, and setting up accounting systems.

5. Financial Audits and Reviews

Regular financial audits are essential for businesses seeking investment or loans. Accounting firms conduct audits to ensure the financial statements are accurate and comply with regulations. For startups looking to attract investors, a clean audit can significantly enhance credibility and increase the chances of securing funding.

6. Advisory Services for Growth

As startups and SMEs grow, they face new challenges and opportunities. Accounting firms in Abu Dhabi provide advisory services that help businesses strategize for growth. This includes mergers and acquisitions, market entry strategies, and financial restructuring. Their expertise can be invaluable in navigating these complex decisions.

7. Facilitating Access to Funding

Access to capital is often a challenge for startups and SMEs. Accounting firms can assist in preparing financial projections and business plans that are crucial for securing funding from banks, venture capitalists, or angel investors. Their expertise in financial modeling can make a significant difference in how potential investors perceive a business.

8. Supporting Technology Integration

The rise of financial technology (fintech) has transformed the accounting landscape. Accounting firms in Abu Dhabi are increasingly incorporating technology into their services, helping startups and SMEs implement accounting software and automated solutions. This not only improves efficiency but also enhances the accuracy of financial reporting.

9. Networking and Connections

Many accounting firms have extensive networks that can benefit startups and SMEs. They can connect businesses with other professionals, potential clients, and investors, fostering valuable relationships that can drive growth. These connections are particularly beneficial in a city like Abu Dhabi, where networking can lead to new opportunities.

Conclusion

In a rapidly evolving business environment, the support of accounting firms in Abu Dhabi is invaluable for startups and SMEs. From financial guidance and tax compliance to business setup and growth strategies, these firms play a multifaceted role in helping businesses thrive. By leveraging their expertise, entrepreneurs can focus on what they do best — innovating and growing their businesses — while leaving the complexities of finance and compliance to the professionals. As Abu Dhabi continues to grow as a business hub, the partnership between startups, SMEs, and accounting firms will be essential for sustainable success.

[bicxoseo]

Your ultimate guide to a seamless year-end close

Introduction to Enterprise Performance Management

Imagine running a large retail chain. Every day, you’re bombarded with data: sales figures, inventory levels, marketing campaign results. The EPM software acts like your intelligent business advisor, gathering all this data, analyzing it with advanced tools, and presenting it clearly. EPM identifies which stores exceed targets, predicts sales trends, and pinpoints the most profitable products. This allows you to optimize staffing, adjust marketing campaigns, and make data-driven decisions to maximize profits. EPM transforms raw data into actionable insights, driving better business outcomes.

Evolution of Finance in Enterprises

Traditional financial planning and analysis (FP&A) relied on manual, time-consuming processes. With cloud computing, Big Data analytics, and AI, finance has evolved from reactive number-crunching to proactive strategy. EPM integrates financial and operational data, leveraging automation and advanced analytics for real-time insights. This shift empowers finance teams to become strategic partners, guiding informed decision-making across the organization.

Importance of Effective Performance Management

Effective performance management enhances decision-making by providing clear, real-time data. It improves resource allocation, ensuring efficiency and profitability. Data-driven insights help businesses reduce costs, optimize pricing, and meet financial goals. Clear performance expectations boost employee productivity and accountability, impacting overall business success.

Role of Technology in Financial Planning and Analysis

AI and analytics tools are transforming financial planning and analysis, offering real-time insights and streamlined processes. AI analyzes vast data, uncovering hidden patterns and predicting market trends. It enhances risk management, optimizes investment strategies, and automates repetitive tasks, freeing finance teams to focus on strategic initiatives.

Power of Analytics in EPM software

Analytics drives business insights within EPM. Big data analytics extracts valuable insights from large datasets, while data visualization tools present complex information clearly. This enables better decision-making and communication of insights. Advanced analytics improve financial reporting and forecasting, allowing businesses to anticipate future performance accurately and develop proactive strategies.

Building a Data-Driven Culture

Adopting AI and analytics in finance requires overcoming challenges like data privacy and skills gaps. Building a data-driven culture involves promoting data literacy, fostering collaboration between finance and IT, and investing in technology infrastructure. Embracing these technologies is a strategic imperative for CFOs and financial leaders, unlocking data’s potential and driving sustainable business growth in finance and business analytics.

To read the full blog click here

[lintsadvisors]

Dive into our comprehensive guide on outsourced CFO services. Discover how leveraging external financial expertise can benefit your business's financial management. Learn about the latest trends, innovative solutions, and emerging technologies transforming the role of outsourced CFOs in today's dynamic business landscape. Gain insights for smarter decision-making and enhanced financial performance.

[govindhtech]

Dell AI PCs: A Gateway To AI For Life Sciences Organizations

AI in the Life Sciences: A Useful Method Using Computers.

For life sciences companies wishing to experiment with AI before making a full commitment, Dell AI PCs are perfect. The Dell AI PCs are revolutionary way to get started in the vast field of artificial intelligence, particularly for clients in the life sciences who are searching for a cost-effective way to create intricate processes.

The Dell AI PCs, GPU-enhanced servers, and cutting-edge storage solutions are essential to the AI revolution. If you approach the process strategically, it may be surprisingly easy to begin your AI journey.

Navigating the Unmarked Path of AI Transformation

The lack of a clear path is both an exciting and difficult part of the AI transition in the medical sciences. As it learn more about the actual effects of generative and extractive AI models on crucial domains like drug development, clinical trials, and industrial processes, the discipline continues to realize its enormous promise.

It is evident from discussions with both up-and-coming entrepreneurs and seasoned industry titans in the global life sciences sector that there are a variety of approaches to launching novel treatments, each with a distinct implementation strategy.

A well-thought-out AI strategy may help any firm, especially if it prioritizes improving operational efficiency, addressing regulatory expectations from organizations like the FDA and EMA, and speeding up discovery.

Cataloguing possible use cases and setting clear priorities are usually the initial steps. But according to a client, after just two months of appointing a new head of AI, they were confronted with more than 200 “prioritized” use cases.

When the CFO always inquires about the return on investment (ROI) for each one, this poses a serious problem. The answer must show observable increases in operational effectiveness, distinct income streams, or improved compliance clarity. A pragmatic strategy to evaluating AI models and confirming their worth is necessary for large-scale AI deployment in order to guarantee that the investment produces quantifiable returns.

The Dell AI PC: Your Strategic Advantage

Presenting the Dell AI PCs, the perfect option for businesses wishing to experiment with AI before committing to hundreds of use cases. AI PCs and robust open-source software allow resources in any department to investigate and improve use cases without incurring large costs.

Each possible AI project is made clearer by beginning with a limited number of Dell AI PCs and allocating skilled resources to these endeavors. Trials on smaller datasets provide a low-risk introduction to the field of artificial intelligence and aid in the prediction of possible results. This method guarantees that investments are focused on the most promising paths while also offering insightful information about what works.

Building a Sustainable AI Framework

Internally classifying and prioritizing use cases is essential when starting this AI journey. Pay close attention to data kinds, availability, preferences for production vs consumption, and choices for the sale or retention of results. Although the process may be started by IT departments, using IT-savvy individuals from other departments to develop AI models may be very helpful since they have personal experience with the difficulties and data complexities involved.

As a team, it is possible to rapidly discover areas worth more effort by regularly assessing and prioritizing use case development, turning conjecture into assurance. The team can now confidently deliver data-driven findings that demonstrate the observable advantages of your AI activities when the CFO asks about ROI.

The Rational Path to AI Investment

Investing in AI is essential, but these choices should be based on location, cost, and the final outcomes of your research. Organizations may make logical decisions about data center or hyperscaler hosting, resource allocation, and data ownership by using AI PCs for early development.

This goes beyond only being a theoretical framework. This strategy works, as shown by Northwestern Medicine’s organic success story. It have effectively used AI technology to improve patient care and expedite intricate operations, illustrating the practical advantages of using AI strategically.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[bjrcrecruiting]

The Accountancy Advantage: Finding Toronto’s Best Recruiters

Accountancy remains one of the most critical functions for organizations of all sizes. Whether it’s small businesses looking for bookkeepers or large corporations needing experienced accountants to manage complex financials, finding the right talent can be challenging. That’s where the top accountancy recruiters in Toronto come into play. They offer specialized recruitment services to ensure companies find the best professionals for their accounting needs.

In this blog, we’ll explore the advantages of working with Toronto’s leading accountancy recruiters and how they can help you stay ahead in this competitive market.

Why Top Accountancy Recruiters Matter

Accounting is the backbone of every successful business. It is responsible for managing finances, ensuring compliance, and providing insights for strategic decisions. However, hiring the right accountant is more complex than finding someone with the proper credentials. From corporate accountants to tax specialists, every accounting role requires a unique set of skills and qualifications.

Top accountancy recruiters in Toronto specialize in identifying, vetting, and placing high-quality accounting talent, ensuring that the right professionals are matched with the right roles. These recruiters have in-depth knowledge of the accounting industry and understand the intricacies of finding candidates who meet technical requirements and align with the company’s culture and values.

The Importance of Partnering with Accountancy Recruitment Experts

While many firms may try to handle their recruitment internally, working with specialized accounting staffing solutions provides several key benefits:

1. Access to a Larger Talent Pool

The best accounting firms in Toronto and businesses across various industries are competing for top talent. When the demand for skilled accountants outweighs the supply; it can be challenging to attract the best candidates. Accountancy recruiters, however, have access to extensive networks of both active job seekers and passive candidates who may not be actively looking but are open to the right opportunity.

Recruiters specializing in accounting have established relationships with professionals at all levels, from junior accountants to CFOs. This broader access to talent means your company gets a better shot at hiring the best candidates without the prolonged and expensive search process.

2. Industry-Specific Knowledge

Not all recruiters understand the nuances of the accounting world. Specialized top accountancy recruiters deeply understand what makes a successful candidate, from technical skills and certifications to industry knowledge. Whether knowing the latest tax regulations, financial reporting standards, or the software systems used in accounting (like QuickBooks or SAP), specialized recruiters ensure that candidates meet all the necessary qualifications for the job.

This industry-specific knowledge also allows recruiters to provide better insights into salary benchmarks, trends in accounting talent, and the demand for particular roles within the Toronto market.

3. Streamlined Hiring Process

Recruiting can be a time-consuming process that distracts from core business operations. Sifting through resumes, conducting interviews, and negotiating job offers takes time that many companies simply don’t have. Working with top accountancy recruiters streamlines this process by handling everything from job postings and candidate screening to interviews and salary negotiations.

Recruiters work closely with clients to ensure they understand the company’s specific needs and then present only the most qualified candidates, reducing wasted time and resources.

4. Ensuring Cultural Fit

It’s not enough for a candidate to have the right technical skills—they also need to fit in with your company’s culture. A good accountant must be able to work collaboratively with other departments, communicate effectively, and thrive under the pressures of the role. Recruiters consider this when vetting candidates, ensuring that potential hires align with your company’s values, work environment, and team dynamics.

By focusing on cultural fit and skills, accountancy staffing solutions reduce turnover and increase employee satisfaction, resulting in longer-lasting placements and better overall performance.

What to Look for in a Top Accountancy Recruitment Agency

Choosing the right recruitment partner is essential to finding the best accounting talent. When evaluating top accountancy recruiters in Toronto, consider the following factors:

Specialization in Accounting: Make sure the recruitment agency specializes in accounting and finance roles. Generalist recruiters may lack the expertise to identify the best accounting professionals.

Proven Track Record: Look for recruiters with a history of successful placements in accounting roles. A strong reputation in the industry is a good indicator that they can deliver top-tier talent.

Comprehensive Recruitment Process: Ask about the recruiter’s process. Do they take the time to understand your company’s needs, or are they simply filling vacancies? The best recruiters offer a personalized approach and are invested in finding the right long-term fit.

Support and Follow-Up: Some recruitment agencies offer ongoing support even after the candidate has been hired, ensuring a smooth transition and high satisfaction for both the employee and employer.

Why BJRC Recruiting Stands Out

At BJRC Recruiting, we pride ourselves on being one of the top accountancy recruiters in Toronto. With years of experience in the financial and accounting sectors, we have built an extensive network of qualified professionals, from entry-level accountants to experienced CPAs and financial managers.

Our team is committed to providing tailored accounting staffing solutions that match your company’s needs and culture. Whether you’re looking for permanent, contract, or temporary hires, we have the expertise to connect you with top-tier talent. Our approach goes beyond just filling a role—we work closely with you to ensure that every candidate we present is the right fit for your organization.

Ready to find the perfect addition to your accounting team? Contact BJRC Recruiting and let us help you build a stronger financial future for your business.

Know more https://bjrcrecruiting.com/2024/10/30/toronto-accountancy-recruiters/

[pivotadvantage]

Unlock Financial Success with Virtual CFO Services by Pivot Advantage Accounting and Advisory Inc.

In the dynamic landscape of modern business, staying ahead requires strategic financial management. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often face challenges in accessing top-tier financial expertise, which can hinder their growth. Enter Pivot Advantage Accounting and Advisory Inc., a leading player in the industry offering Virtual CFO services tailored to empower businesses in their financial journey.

The Rise of Virtual CFO Services As businesses evolve, so do their financial needs. A Virtual CFO acts as a remote, outsourced chief financial officer, providing expert financial guidance without the need for a full-time, in-house CFO. This innovative approach is gaining traction among businesses of all sizes, offering a cost-effective solution and access to high-level financial expertise.

Why Choose Pivot Advantage Accounting and Advisory Inc.?

Customized Financial Strategies: Pivot Advantage understands that each business is unique. Their team of seasoned financial professionals works closely with clients to create customized financial strategies aligned with their specific goals and challenges. Whether it's optimizing cash flow, managing expenses, or planning for future growth, Pivot Advantage tailors its Virtual CFO services to meet the distinct needs of each client.

Strategic Decision Support: In the fast-paced business environment, timely and informed decision-making is crucial. Pivot Advantage's Virtual CFO services go beyond traditional financial reporting. They provide real-time insights and analysis, empowering business owners to make strategic decisions with confidence. This proactive approach ensures that clients stay ahead of the competition and navigate challenges effectively.

Cost Efficiency: Hiring a full-time CFO can be a significant financial burden for SMEs. Pivot Advantage's Virtual CFO services offer a cost-efficient alternative, allowing businesses to access top-tier financial expertise without the overhead costs associated with a full-time executive. This scalability ensures that businesses only pay for the services they need, optimizing their budget for maximum impact.

Technology Integration: Pivot Advantage leverages cutting-edge financial technology to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. By integrating the latest tools and software, they provide clients with real-time financial data and analytics, fostering transparency and accuracy in financial management. This commitment to technology ensures that clients are equipped with the tools needed to adapt to the ever-changing business landscape.

Risk Management: Navigating financial risks is a key aspect of business success. Pivot Advantage's Virtual CFO services include comprehensive risk management strategies. From identifying potential financial risks to implementing risk mitigation plans, their experts work diligently to safeguard the financial health of their clients' businesses.

How to Get Started Getting started with Pivot Advantage Accounting and Advisory Inc.'s Virtual CFO services is a seamless process. The first step involves a comprehensive consultation to understand the unique needs and goals of the client. From there, Pivot Advantage crafts a tailored plan that aligns with the client's business objectives.

Conclusion In the era of remote work and digital transformation, businesses need agile financial solutions that adapt to their evolving needs. Pivot Advantage Accounting and Advisory Inc.'s Virtual CFO services provide a strategic advantage, combining expertise, cost-efficiency, and technology integration. By partnering with Pivot Advantage, businesses can unlock their full financial potential and pave the way for sustained success in today's competitive market.

[brian-houchins]

Crafting the Perfect Buyer Persona for Your B2B Corporation

In the intricate world of B2B marketing and sales, understanding your customer is not just a part of the strategy; it's the core around which all strategies revolve. This is where the concept of a 'buyer persona' becomes invaluable. A buyer persona is a detailed, semi-fictional representation of your ideal customer, crafted through research and real data. For B2B corporations, developing a well-defined buyer persona is crucial for tailoring marketing efforts, product development, and sales strategies to meet the specific needs of your target audience.

Why Buyer Personas Matter in B2B

In B2B marketing, you're not just selling a product or service; you're addressing complex business challenges and decision-making processes. A buyer persona helps you to:

Understand your clients' pain points and challenges.

Tailor your messaging and value proposition to resonate with your target audience.

Streamline product development to meet specific customer needs.

Enhance customer engagement and relationship building.

How to Create a B2B Buyer Persona

1. Data Collection and Analysis

Start by gathering data from your existing customer base. Use surveys, interviews, and sales data to collect information on demographics, business size, industry type, and other relevant details. Analyzing interactions through sales calls, emails, and customer feedback is also crucial.

2. Identifying Challenges and Pain Points

What problems are your customers trying to solve? What obstacles do they face in their industries? Understanding these challenges is key to positioning your product or service as a solution.

3. Understanding the Decision-Making Process

B2B purchases often involve multiple stakeholders. It's essential to identify who is involved in the decision-making process, their roles, and the factors that influence their decisions.

4. Goals and Objectives Analysis

Determine the short-term and long-term goals driving these businesses. How does your offering align with these objectives?

5. Mapping the Buying Journey

Understand how your customers find information, evaluate options, and make purchasing decisions. This insight helps in creating targeted marketing and sales strategies.

6. Segmentation

If your business serves multiple industries or business sizes, create separate personas for each key segment.

7. Creating Detailed Persona Profiles

Compile your findings into detailed persona profiles. Include demographic information, business characteristics, goals, challenges, decision-making processes, and buying behaviors.

8. Regular Use and Updates

Regularly use these personas in your marketing and sales efforts and update them as market conditions change.

Example: A B2B Buyer Persona in Action

Let's illustrate with an example:

Persona Name: IT Innovator Ian

Demographics: Aged 35-45, IT Manager in a mid-sized tech company.

Business Characteristics: Focuses on innovative tech solutions, 200-300 employees.

Goals: Implement cutting-edge technology, improve operational efficiency.

Challenges: Limited budget, need to justify ROI, keeping up with tech advancements.

Decision-Making Process: Key decision-maker but requires CFO approval; values detailed information and case studies.

Buying Journey: Extensive online research, industry webinars, peer recommendations.

Preferred Communication: Detailed emails, technical webinars, whitepapers.

With a persona like IT Innovator Ian, a B2B corporation can tailor its marketing messages, product development, and sales strategies to directly address Ian's specific needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Developing a buyer persona is not just a marketing exercise; it's a strategic tool that can significantly impact your B2B corporation's success. By understanding your ideal customer's world - their challenges, decision-making processes, and priorities - you can create more effective, targeted strategies that resonate deeply with your audience. Remember, in the B2B space, the more you know about your customer, the better you can serve them, and the more successful your business will be.

[vncglobal]

13th Year Business Anniversary | VNC Global

As we mark our 13th year in business, we pause to express heartfelt gratitude to our valued clients and our exceptional team. Your unwavering trust and relentless dedication have propelled us to new heights, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation.

Our journey so far has been incredible, and it would not have been possible without each one of you. As we look forward to the future, we are excited to continue delivering excellence, forging stronger relationships, and setting new benchmarks of success. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.

VNC Global Services:

Strategy and Consulting:

Strategic Roadmap

System Selection

Performance Metrics

Gap Analysis

Process Optimization

Change Management

Automated Analytics Solutions:

Cost Analysis

Order-to-Cash Cycle Optimization

Working Capital Management

Risk Mitigation

Inventory Accounting

Procure-to-Pay Efficiency

Financial Reporting

Strategic Accounting Solutions:

Bookkeeping & Accounting Services

Payroll Management

Monthly Financial Statements

Budgeting, Financial Forecasting, and Modeling

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Integration

Tax Planning and Filing

Virtual CFO Services

[b2bitmedia]

Control Structured Data with Intelligent Archiving

Control Structured Data with Intelligent Archiving

You thought you had your data under control. Spreadsheets, databases, documents all neatly organized in folders and subfolders on the company server. Then the calls started coming in. Where are the 2015 sales figures for the Western region? Do we have the specs for the prototype from two years ago? What was the exact wording of that contract with the supplier who went out of business? Your neatly organized data has turned into a chaotic mess of fragmented information strewn across shared drives, email, file cabinets and the cloud. Before you drown in a sea of unstructured data, it’s time to consider an intelligent archiving solution. A system that can automatically organize, classify and retain your information so you can find what you need when you need it. Say goodbye to frantic searches and inefficiency and hello to the control and confidence of structured data.

The Need for Intelligent Archiving of Structured Data

You’ve got customer info, sales data, HR records – basically anything that can be neatly filed away into rows and columns. At first, it seemed so organized. Now, your databases are overloaded, queries are slow, and finding anything is like searching for a needle in a haystack. An intelligent archiving system can help you regain control of your structured data sprawl. It works by automatically analyzing your data to determine what’s most important to keep active and what can be safely archived. Say goodbye to rigid retention policies and manual data management. This smart system learns your data access patterns and adapts archiving plans accordingly. With less active data clogging up your production systems, queries will run faster, costs will decrease, and your data analysts can actually get work done without waiting hours for results. You’ll also reduce infrastructure demands and risks associated with oversized databases. Compliance and governance are also made easier. An intelligent archiving solution tracks all data movement, providing a clear chain of custody for any information that needs to be retained or deleted to meet regulations. Maybe it’s time to stop treading water and start sailing your data seas with an intelligent archiving solution. Your databases, data analysts and CFO will thank you. Smooth seas ahead, captain!

How Intelligent Archiving Improves Data Management

Intelligent archiving is like a meticulous assistant that helps tame your data chaos. How, you ask? Let’s explore:

Automated file organization

Intelligent archiving software automatically organizes your files into a logical folder structure so you don’t have to spend hours sorting through documents. It’s like having your own personal librarian categorize everything for easy retrieval later.

Efficient storage

This software compresses and deduplicates your data to free up storage space. Duplicate files hog valuable storage, so deduplication removes redundant copies and replaces them with pointers to a single master copy. Your storage costs decrease while data accessibility remains the same.

Compliance made simple

For companies in regulated industries, intelligent archiving simplifies compliance by automatically applying retention policies as data is ingested. There’s no danger of mistakenly deleting information subject to “legal hold” and avoiding potential fines or sanctions. Let the software handle the rules so you can avoid data jail.

Searchability

With intelligent archiving, your data is indexed and searchable, even archived data. You can quickly find that invoice from five years ago or the contract you signed last month. No more digging through piles of folders and boxes. Search and find — it’s that easy. In summary, intelligent archiving brings order to the chaos of your data through automated organization, optimization, compliance enforcement, and searchability. Tame the data beast once and for all!

Implementing an Effective Data Archiving Strategy

So you have a mind-boggling amount of data accumulating and you’re starting to feel like you’re drowning in a sea of unstructured information. Before you decide to throw in the towel, take a deep breath and consider implementing an intelligent archiving strategy.

Get Ruthless

Go through your data and purge anything that’s obsolete or irrelevant. Be brutally honest—if it’s not useful now or in the foreseeable future, delete it. Free up storage space and clear your mind by ditching the digital detritus.

Establish a Filing System

Come up with a logical taxonomy to categorize your data. Group similar types of info together for easy searching and access later on. If you have trouble classifying certain data points, you probably don’t need them. Toss ‘em!

Automate and Delegate

Use tools that can automatically archive data for you based on your taxonomy. Many solutions employ machine learning to categorize and file data accurately without human input. Let technology shoulder the burden so you can focus on more important tasks, like figuring out what to have for lunch.

Review and Refine

Revisit your archiving strategy regularly to make sure it’s still working for your needs. Make adjustments as required to optimize how data is organized and accessed. Get feedback from other users and incorporate their suggestions. An effective archiving approach is always a work in progress. With an intelligent data archiving solution in place, you’ll gain control over your information overload and find the freedom that comes from a decluttered digital space. Tame the data deluge and reclaim your sanity!

Conclusion

So there you have it. The future of data management and control through intelligent archiving is here. No longer do you have to grapple with endless spreadsheets, documents, files and manually track the relationships between them.With AI-powered archiving tools, your data is automatically organized, categorized and connected for you. All that structured data chaos becomes a thing of the past. Your time is freed up to focus on more meaningful work. The possibilities for data-driven insights and optimization seem endless. What are you waiting for? Take back control of your data and unleash its potential with intelligent archiving. The future is now, so hop to it! There’s a whole new world of data-driven opportunity out there waiting for you.    

[openteqsolutions]

OpenTeQ NetSuite Consulting Services: Your Partner in Success

NetSuite Consulting Services play a pivotal role in helping businesses implement and optimize NetSuite's cloud-based ERP solutions. A professional NetSuite consulting team provides expertise in customizing the platform to meet the unique requirements of any organization. Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, NetSuite Consulting Services ensure that the transition to this powerful ERP system is smooth, efficient, and tailored to your specific needs. By offering strategic guidance on ERP implementation, customization, and optimization, consultants enable businesses to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve decision-making.

NetSuite consultants assist with the integration of various business processes, such as accounting, inventory management, CRM, and supply chain management, providing a unified platform that improves efficiency. They also provide training and support, ensuring that teams are fully equipped to leverage NetSuite's full capabilities. The right consulting services help organizations maximize ROI from their ERP investment, reducing the risks associated with system implementation and enabling faster business growth.

NetSuite Financial Software: A Powerful Tool for Financial Management

NetSuite Financial Software is a comprehensive suite of financial management tools designed to streamline accounting, financial planning, and compliance processes for businesses of all sizes. As part of the broader NetSuite ERP system, this software delivers real-time financial visibility and flexibility, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions. With its cloud-based infrastructure, NetSuite Financial Software automates key tasks such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger management, which enhances accuracy and efficiency.

One of the standout features of NetSuite Financial Software is its ability to manage multi-currency transactions, tax calculations, and compliance with international accounting standards, making it an ideal solution for global enterprises. It also integrates seamlessly with other NetSuite modules, including CRM and eCommerce, providing a holistic approach to financial and business management. This comprehensive financial suite is essential for businesses aiming to achieve operational excellence, improve cash flow management, and maintain regulatory compliance.

NetSuite Support Services: Ensuring Optimal Performance

NetSuite Support Services are crucial for businesses that rely on the NetSuite ERP platform to manage their operations. These services provide ongoing technical support, troubleshooting, and guidance to ensure that the system is running smoothly and efficiently. Whether it's resolving technical issues, offering system updates, or helping users with platform navigation, NetSuite Support Services offer businesses the confidence to rely on the platform for their daily operations.

Support services come in various levels, ranging from basic helpdesk support to more advanced services, including system optimization, performance monitoring, and security management. A good NetSuite Support Services team ensures that your ERP system is always up-to-date, secure, and capable of meeting the demands of your business. These services are particularly important for businesses undergoing rapid growth or complex system customizations, where technical support is needed to avoid disruptions.

NetSuite Consultation: Partnering for Growth

NetSuite Consultation is a strategic service that helps businesses assess their needs and determine how to best leverage NetSuite’s ERP capabilities. Through consultation, businesses gain insights into which modules of the NetSuite platform can address their specific pain points, whether it’s financial management, supply chain automation, or customer relationship management. This consultative process is essential for organizations looking to implement or optimize their ERP systems to align with their business goals.

During a NetSuite Consultation, experts analyze the current state of a company’s operations and provide recommendations for improvement by NetSuite's tools and technologies. They also offer advice on best practices for system customization, data migration, and integration with existing software. By partnering with an experienced NetSuite consultant, businesses can ensure they are maximizing the value of their ERP solution, leading to improved efficiency, cost savings, and competitive advantage.

Conclusion

OpenTeQ provides comprehensive NetSuite Consulting Services that help businesses implement and optimize NetSuite solutions, ensuring seamless integration across all business processes. With expertise in NetSuite Financial Software, OpenTeQ enables companies to streamline their financial management, offering real-time insights and automation for enhanced decision-making.

Their dedicated NetSuite Support Services ensure that businesses have the technical assistance they need to maintain efficient operations and address any issues that arise. Through tailored NetSuite Consultation, OpenTeQ guides businesses in selecting the right modules and customizing the platform to meet specific needs, ultimately driving growth and efficiency.

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With our end-to-end automated financial management solution, a shared CFO experience enhances traditional accounting, compliance, fund management, and strategy-building services.

ViTWO envisions reshaping the vision of how businesses see financial management.

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Optimizing working capital: a comprehensive guide for CFOs

Strategies for CFOs

In today’s dynamic business landscape, CFOs are under increasing pressure to manage their company’s finances efficiently while maximizing profitability. One area that demands close attention is working capital management, particularly the use of overdraft facilities. While overdrafts can provide essential working capital for businesses, excessive borrowing can lead to financial strain and erode profitability.

The Overdraft Conundrum

Many companies rely on overdraft facilities to bridge short-term funding gaps and manage day-to-day expenses. However, unchecked overdraft usage can have adverse effects on a company’s financial health. CFOs must strike a balance between leveraging overdrafts for liquidity and minimizing the associated risks.

Analyzing Working Capital

To reduce reliance on overdrafts, CFOs must analyze their company’s working capital levels meticulously. By employing advanced analytical techniques, CFOs can identify areas where working capital can be optimized, leading to a reduction in overdraft limits.

1. WC-Turnover Ratio Analysis

The WC turnover ratio, which measures the efficiency of working capital utilization, is a key metric for CFOs. By increasing the WC turnover ratio, companies can reduce the amount of capital tied up in working capital, thereby lowering overdraft requirements. CFOs should calculate the ideal WC turnover ratio specific to their company and continuously monitor it for improvements.

2. Comparative Analysis of Desired vs. Actual Working Capital

CFOs should conduct a comparative analysis of desired and actual working capital levels to identify opportunities for optimization. By narrowing the gap between desired and actual working capital, companies can minimize their reliance on overdrafts and improve financial stability.

3. 80–20 Analysis for Working Capital Optimization

An 80–20 analysis helps CFOs identify products or business segments that significantly contribute to working capital inefficiencies. By focusing on these areas, CFOs can develop targeted strategies to optimize working capital and reduce overdraft usage.

4. Focus on Receivables and Inventory Management

Efficient management of receivables and inventory is crucial for optimizing working capital. CFOs should implement strategies to accelerate receivables collection and minimize inventory holding periods, thereby freeing up cash for other purposes.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Benchmarking

Establishing benchmark KPIs for working capital metrics allows CFOs to track performance and identify areas for improvement. Continuous monitoring using automated financial reporting software enables proactive management of working capital, reducing reliance on overdraft facilities.

By adopting a proactive approach to working capital management, CFOs can minimize reliance on overdrafts and improve financial stability. Through rigorous analysis, targeted strategies, and continuous monitoring, companies can optimize working capital levels, driving long-term growth and profitability.

To read the full article click here

Or

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[pmfadvisors]

Smart Investment Strategies for Long-term Growth in Bangalore's CFO Services

I. Introduction

A. Importance of investing in Bangalore's CFO services

B. Purpose of the paper

C. Overview of the paper

II. Understanding Bangalore's CFO Services Market

A. Overview of the CFO services market

B. Current market trends

C. Market analysis and outlook

III. Factors to Consider When Investing in Bangalore's CFO Services

A. Market demand and supply

B. Competition analysis

C. SWOT analysis

D. Financial metrics

IV. Investment Strategies for Long-term Growth

A. Diversification of investments

B. Focusing on growth sectors

C. Investing in emerging markets

D. Allocating resources to research and development

E. Building strategic partnerships and alliances

V. Implementing Smart Investment Strategies

A. Planning and preparation

B. Risk assessment and management

C. Monitoring and tracking investment performance

D. Continuously adapting to market changes

VI. Conclusion

A. Recap of the investment strategies discussed

B. Final thoughts on investing in Bangalore's CFO services

C. Recommendations for further research.

Smart Investment Strategies for Long-term Growth in Bangalore's CFO Services

Bangalore, India, has emerged as one of the leading destinations for businesses looking to grow and expand their operations. With its vibrant economy and a skilled workforce, Bangalore has become a hub for financial services. In particular, CFO services in Bangalore are in high demand, providing a great opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on this growing market.

Understanding Bangalore's CFO Services Market

The CFO services market in Bangalore has grown significantly over the years, providing a range of services to businesses of all sizes. From small startups to large corporations, CFO services in Bangalore are helping businesses improve their financial performance, increase efficiency, and drive growth.

Current market trends in the CFO services market include an increasing focus on cost optimization, automation, and technology-driven solutions. Businesses are also seeking services that can help them improve their financial reporting and analysis, as well as support their risk management and compliance efforts.

Market analysis and outlook for Bangalore's CFO services market are positive, with an expected growth rate of around 10% over the next few years. This growth is being driven by the increasing number of businesses operating in Bangalore, as well as the growing demand for financial services.

Factors to Consider When Investing in Bangalore's CFO Services

When investing in Bangalore's CFO services market, it's important to consider a number of key factors. This includes analyzing the market demand and supply, as well as conducting a competition analysis. It's also important to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) facing the market, as well as evaluating the financial metrics of potential investments.

Investment Strategies for Long-term Growth

Investors looking to capitalize on the growth of Bangalore's CFO services market should consider the following investment strategies:

Diversification of investments: Investing in a range of services, rather than focusing on one specific area, can help mitigate the risk of any single investment.

Focusing on growth sectors: Identifying growth sectors within the CFO services market, such as technology-driven solutions, can provide higher returns on investment.

Investing in emerging markets: Bangalore's CFO services market is still in its early stages, providing opportunities for investors to capitalize on the growth of this emerging market.

Allocating resources to research and development: Investing in R&D can help companies stay ahead of the curve, providing innovative solutions and keeping pace with market trends.

Building strategic partnerships and alliances: Working with other companies and organizations can help businesses build their presence in the market, increase their reach, and drive growth.

Implementing Smart Investment Strategies

Investing in Bangalore's CFO services market requires careful planning and preparation. This includes conducting thorough research, assessing the potential risks and benefits, and creating a clear investment plan.

Once an investment has been made, it's important to continuously monitor and track performance, making adjustments as necessary to ensure that the investment remains on track. This may involve assessing market changes, reallocating resources, or making changes to the investment strategy.

Conclusion

Investing in Bangalore's CFO services market can provide investors with excellent opportunities for long-term growth. By considering key market factors, implementing smart investment strategies, and continuously monitoring and adapting to market changes, investors can achieve their financial goals and capitalize on the growth of this vibrant market.

Visit: https://pmfadvisors.com/

[sylphidine]

[Fic] Call Signs, Chapter 25

Fandom: Deltarune

‘Verse: Human AU

Pairing: Swatch/Spamton [Swatchton]

POV Characters: Ballew Addison, Kirov Rouvin, Regina "GiGi" McCray, Indigo Dyer, Catechu Dyer

Out-of-focus characters: Swatch Paletta, Spamton Addison, T.M. Tanner

Rating: Mature

Chapter title: Behind The Black

Chapter summary:  A kaleidoscope of varying viewpoints, during what may or may not be a significant week in the lives of our characters.

Author notes: The usual content and trigger warnings for discussion of alcohol abuse, emotional manipulation, misgendering, intellectual hypocrisy and guilt-tripping. The chapter title "Behind The Black" refers to the change of focus from Swatch and Spamton to some of our secondary characters, told from their own POVs. It can seem sometimes like they've always been slightly offscreen, when in actuality they've been here the whole time.

___________

Monday, February 21, 2022

Ballew Addison's office door was closed, as it usually was on Mondays.

His employees knew not to disturb him on Mondays and were accustomed to funneling their questions about workflow through his personal assistant.

This practice served Ballew well this morning, although at the present moment he was not working on anything urgent. 

To any casual observer, it would look like he was trying to find an empty place on one of his bookshelves for an antique cloth doll,  dressed in satin and stuffed with sawdust. It was a jester garbed in black-and-white motley and sporting rouged cheeks, like the joker card found in very old decks of playing cards.

Anyone who knew Ballew more fully would recognize that the CFO was lost in thoughts deeper and darker than simple redecoration.

He'd thanked his new girlfriend Nixie for the late Valentine's gift during the weekend they’d just spent together; she had wanted to give him something from her own childhood. He was fairly sure he’d hidden any sign of discomfort from his face or his body language; they didn’t know each other terribly well yet.

She couldn't know how much of a devastating emotional trigger puppets and marionettes had become for him in the last few years.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Javits Center always seemed both airy and stagnant during the Electronics Expo. The beautiful crisp skies of September could be seen through the glass walls of the atriums and walkways, but inside the ballrooms of the trade show itself, the crowding together of demo booths fostered an atmosphere that could sometimes feel oppressive.

Eos had begged off from the Expo this year, claiming “gadget fatigue”, but Ballew still enjoyed the chance to get out from behind his desk and do the meet-and-greets that would accomplish business-to-business lead generation. 

Harvard Business School had given him the social polish and the managerial background to coordinate the financial success of the company that bore his family's name. If Ballew had ever regretted the missed opportunity to study engineering, as Eos had done at MIT… well, that was old, old water under a long-gone bridge.

Addison Cybernetics didn't usually take a booth at events like this.  The company dealt mainly in streamlining solutions, rather than in research and development, but it kept on top of such cutting edge improvements in fields like MEMS sensors, IoT technology, and biochips for prosthetics.

Ballew wandered the trade show floor wearing his usual poker face, not revealing the giddiness he still felt at the sheer inventiveness  surrounding him.  He collected business cards from various sales reps, both startups and established businesses. They ranged from companies that aimed to revolutionize medical consultation through augmented reality and artificial intelligence, to firms that dealt in safety management for drone operations, to businesses that handled illumination applications, and so much more.

He made a mental note to tell Eos later about the startup that was producing affordable 3D printed musical instruments. His older brother would react like a sweets-loving kid being given a lifetime supply of candy.

It was a great time to be alive.

And then Ballew’s mood soured as he rounded a corner and saw an unexpected face.

The person was a good thirty feet away from him, but there was no mistaking who it was. Ballew’s younger brother Gainsboro stood under a banner reading “HAVE YOUR HOME RUN LIKE CLOCKWORK!” in the GASTER Smart Homes Hub booth.

The younger brother who Ballew hadn’t seen in more than two years. 

The younger brother who had left home in anger, taunting Ballew that he, Gainsboro, was not going to let Ballew turn him into a puppet the way Ballew had done with Eos, and had gone to work for a shady, shifty, fly-by-night company that seemed to have sprung up from nowhere. 

From a distance, Gainsboro looked older.  Well, of course he did. He was two years older.  But there was something in the way his face was lined and the way that he carried himself that reminded Ballew of the grandfather who had died before Gainsboro had been born. A pale, lined face, stiff arthritic joints. 

Ballew couldn’t help himself. As angry as he was at his baby brother, he also missed him terribly. So instead of following his first impulse and turning around, he walked towards the GASTER booth, noting the old-fashioned text and the image of some kind of child-robot on the banner.  As he got closer, the realization as to why Gainsboro looked so unnatural became clear.

The youngest Addison still had his hair dyed jet black, as he had when he came home for that last shouting match and his final break with the family. But what made him look so odd was that he wore theatrical makeup styled to make him appear like a ventriloquist’s dummy, and he was handing out cards to passersby with motions that mimicked a wind-up toy.

Really?  The best use that this two-bit, shady, shifty, fly-by-night company could make of Gainsboro Stanton Addison was as some sort of…booth mascot?!

It boggled the mind.  

It took every ounce of restraint that Ballew had, but he made only the briefest eye contact with his youngest brother as he took the card held out to him. Gainsboro’s face was frozen in a rictus grin, and his eyes gave nothing away behind his two-toned sunglasses.

Ballew couldn’t help tossing a parting shot over his shoulder as he walked away from the booth.

“So who’s the puppet now? Seems to suit you. Hope you’re enjoying it.”

His feet suddenly felt heavy, as did his heart.

Monday, February 14, 2022

In Yantal, it would have been grounds for severe punishment for Kirov Rouvin to publicly celebrate Valentine’s Day, even if his tastes had run to women. As a man who was attracted to other men rather than to women, that punishment might have led to imprisonment or worse, as had been going on for years in Argun.

Here in America, though, he was safe. 

Well, safer. There were still reports in the newspapers about beatings and deaths in this country, but such crimes were usually committed by private citizens on each other.

Kirov knew how to joke and laugh with women so that they knew he was bantering rather than flirting with them.  He knew how to joke and laugh with most men in a way that led those men to believe that he liked women as much as they did.

He’d learned what his American sponsor had termed “protective camouflage” over the last two years that he had been in this country. He’d had casual dates with a few interested and interesting men in the last year, but there was only one man for whom his heart thumped as though it would tear itself out of his chest.

Luck had been with Kirov lately, in finding ways to gaze upon that enchanting, incomparably beautiful man.  Bless the fates that had arranged that chance encounter with Stanton at the library yesterday, and bless his own ingenuity for arranging a purposeful encounter tonight.  

Although he didn’t even really have to manufacture an excuse… he really DID need to use one of the library’s reserve copies of Harington’s “Orlando Furioso” to complete his “compare and contrast” assignment with the Waldman version for Dr. Nagle. 

After his two reserve hours were up, Kirov waited until there was no one else in line at the circulation desk. Stanton’s back was turned to him while he was sorting some titles on a shelf; he was wearing a black cable-knit sweater over a white turtleneck. No tie today. Pity.  

Trying to seem casual, he carefully put the Harington folio back on the counter and placed his gift-wrapped box of Twinings next to it. He had tied a red satin ribbon around the box and had pinned the samovar badge to the ribbon. He then cleared his throat politely and Stanton walked over in response.

“Thank you for the use of the text. It was most helpful for my assignment.” Kirov turned to go, as though he had forgotten his parcel, and as he expected, Stanton called after him.

“W-wait, Kirov! You left something.”

Kirov turned back, trying hard not to smile too widely at the flustered look on Stanton’s face. He said, “No, I did not.  It is for you. A small token of my esteem. Is today not a day to give such tokens to a person one esteems?”

Stanton stared back at him without speaking.  His thin cheeks became flushed. He blinked rapidly, and Kirov’s confidence started to falter. The seconds ticked by.

Finally Stanton seemed to find his voice again. “I’m - I’m v-v-very - flattered, Kirov, but I c-can’t accept this. I thought you knew I w-was seeing someone. A romantic - romantic s-s-someone.”

It took all of Kirov’s acting skill, but he managed to pull off a realistic-sounding amused laugh and to reply, “No, not a romantic gift!  It is just tea, a gift for a colleague whom I esteem! To repay you for your good teaching last semester.”

“Ah,” said Stanton after a long moment. “I ap-apologize if I got the - the wrong idea.”

“No, it is I who must apologize!” Kirov gave a big exaggerated wink and took a step back from the counter once again. “Please share the tea with your… romantic someone.  He must be a very special fellow.” 

His former tutor nodded and murmured, “Yes.  Yes, they are.”

They?

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Regina McCray smoothed one hand over her lacquered helmet of blue-black hair while texting her roommate with the other.

Tabbycat I Can’t Believe I’ve Been Dating The Same Guy For Six Weeks Can You???! Me!!! Hard As Nails Me LOL!!!!!

The reply came gratifyingly quickly.

GiGi it surprised me too but i think you got a good thing going

And nice to see you happy

Only real surprise is how good you are with Leroux’s kid

GiGi smiled, even though T.M. couldn’t see her do so from the other end of the dorm suite. She picked up her oversized blue martini glass and waggled it in an impromptu salute, somehow managing not to spill a single drop of her Mountain Dew.

Lance Is A Brat Sometimes Like Any Other Kid But He Can Be Really Sweet Too Did You Know He Gave Me A Nickname???

A little longer pause this time, before T.M.’s new text appeared.

Oh what is it

Does he call you queenie😃

She took a big swig of soda and set the glass off to the side safely away from her phone.

Nope He Calls Me Girldad

A much longer pause this time.

It can’t be easy for the poor kid with one of his dads in jail

But don’t you think his bonding with you is rushing things a bit

As always, T.M. could be counted on to cut through any tangle to get to the heart of any matter. GiGi typed back quickly before she lost her nerve.

I’m So Scared WHat Do I Do Now

She didn’t wait for a reply, but shut the phone off and stumbled, blinded by panic, to T.M.’s room. The other woman was standing in the doorway, as though reading her mind as to what she needed. GiGi let T.M. wrap her arms around her and didn’t resist when she made her lie down with her on the bed. 

They were very nearly the same height, although T.M. was much curvier than GiGi. 

GiGi sank into those curves like a drowning sailor. She buried her face in T.M. 's shoulder and concentrated on the scent of her roommate’s English Leather cologne.

She didn’t cry.

GiGi never cried.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

It had been two days, but the rejection still stung. 

Walking from one end of the hilly Inwood campus to the other, multiple times, had not helped. Burying himself in his coursework and starting to work on assignments that were not due for weeks had not helped.  There was no one left back home to write to and pour out his broken heart.

Perhaps it was time to take the advice of some of his friends in the freshman dorm and drown his sorrows like a man.

And so Kirov found himself on a Wednesday night looking up at the very tall, very stern-looking bartender at Plato's Cave and holding out a $10.00 bill.

"A Smirnoff Ice please, good sir!" He plastered what he hoped was a winsome grin on his face.

It was apparently not winsome enough, because the man did not return Kirov's smile, nor did he take Kirov's money. Instead, in a surprisingly light tenor voice, the bartender asked, "May I please see your ID?"

“Of course!” He continued to grin, not wanting to show how annoyed he was that yet again, he’d have the disconnect between his class year and his age to explain.  To forestall the inevitable, Kirov put the money down on the polished bar, pulled out both his campus ID and his New Jersey state-issued photo ID, and pushed all three in front of the brooding brown giant, feeling his own lack of height keenly and sure that his own face was pinker than ever.

The bartender, who wore an intriguing pair of eyeglasses and had long curly hair pulled back in a ponytail, picked up the two IDs, which were dwarfed in his massively large hands. Kirov waited for, and got, the apology he was expecting, as the man handed back the laminated cards and said in that same mellifluous voice, “I do regret the inconvenience, but I am not supposed to serve alcohol to underage patrons.”

“You are only doing your job, sir, and I congratulate you on your thoroughness. Although babies drink vodka where I come from. Since I am a Joisey boy, you know.”

That got the bartender to smile slightly, as the line usually did. The man replied, “I can imagine. Someone with such a distinguished manner of speech could only be from New Jersey." He pulled out the requested bottled beverage and continued, “I’m afraid we only have the black cherry flavor at present.” He deftly popped the cap off with a bottle opener and asked, “Would you like me to pour?”

“Certainly, if you’ll join me in a glass.” 

“I’m afraid that we wouldn’t both fit, sir.” The bartender smoothed down the front of his somewhat gaudy half-black, half-white vest. He then turned to ring up the sale and make change, displaying a VERY nice backside in snug-fitting black jeans.

Kirov laughed, pleased at having someone to flirt with again. 

Thursday, February 17, 2022

As Indigo Dyer propelled his shopping cart towards the produce section, a familiar fluffy head of gray-streaked hair, attached to a familiar short skinny white dude in a familiar red hoodie, caught his eye.

He used his long-legged height advantage to catch up to Spamton. “Hey, Spam-man! Long time no see!”

Spamton’s gurgling laugh accompanied his protest. “You j-j-just saw me yesterday for lunch! It’s n-not like it’s been - it’s been YEARS.”

“I know, man, I know.” Indigo fell in step beside the shorter man as they both pushed their carts through the aisles between displays of fruits and vegetables. “But five minutes here, twenty minutes there, every couple of days… it’s not like it was.”

“I g-guess.” Spamton tilted his head to look his former roommate in the eye. “Why - why do I g-g-g-get the feeling you’re trying to ask me for a f-favor?”

No flies on this guy . Indigo grinned to himself. He was tempted to spin a long rambling tale to wind Spamton up, but then he thought better of it. Honesty almost always worked out best in the long run.

“Okay, you got me. And it’s not really a favor so much as me hoping both you guys might be open to a little tweaking on this Sunday’s plan.”

“Oh? I’m l-listening.”

“Good. Tabsy and me were talking, and first off, we love the idea of  fraction birthdays. You are a genius , man, for coming up with that.”

Spamton nodded as he grabbed a bag of carrots and dropped it into his cart. “My - my sister st-started it, and it kind of - kind of c-caught on.” He moved further along the corridor of vegetable bins, and said in a mock-sarcastic way, “If I ever g-gave T.M. a cutesy n-nickname, you’d be scraping b-b-bits of me off the wall.”

Indigo hooted and slapped the handle of his own cart. When he was able to stop laughing, he got back to the mission of selecting produce while returning the conversation to the celebration for Swatch.

“As I was saying, Tabsy and I wondered if maybe we could invite a few other people to this shindig.  Make it something separate from our Sunday family dinners.”

Spamton seemed to be giving it serious thought; Indigo could almost see the wheels turning in his head. At least it didn’t look like the Spam-man was taking offense at the idea; he hadn’t started yelling or carrying on. In fact, it almost looked like Spamton was trying very hard to not bust out smiling.  But the little guy was definitely holding some of his cards close to his chest as he answered, “How m-many extra p-people are we talking about?  The house isn’t - isn’t that b-big, remember.”

Score! That almost sounds like a “yes”.

Indigo tried to sound casual as he counted off on his fingers, “Well, obviously, you, Swatch, me and Catto and Tabsy. Then I was thinking about Catto wanting to bring Kendra, and that means some of the other fencers that Swatch knows, like Nishay and Liam, might want to come. And then there’s some guys on the basketball team that Swatch has been close to for years, like Romar and the two Adams —”

He broke off as Spamton interrupted him with a handwave, saying, “You’ve s-sold me! I'll ask Swatch t-to-tonight what - what they think. And I’ve b-been trying to - to think of a way to thank Leroux and GiGi for their help m-m-m-moving me and Swatch in, last m-month, so I’d invite them, t-too.”

The shorter man was practically glowing when he finished speaking, and Indigo had a sudden sneaking suspicion that Spamton had known of this plan the whole time and had just been waiting for Indigo to bring up the possibility.

“I’d be happy to do all the cooking and have the party at Overlook,” Indigo blurted out. 

Spamton seemed taken aback for a few seconds, but then he chirped cheerily, “That’s v-very nice of you. And cheaper than t-t-takeout for a gang of - of athletes - ”

“Hey, we’re not a GANG, mister - “

“Okay, okay!  Truce!”

“ - but I insist you make a couple of pots of your chicken soup. Me and Catto have missed that good stuff, man."

“Oh, the truth c-comes out, you d-don’t miss me, you just m-miss the soup.”

Spamton’s voice was a bit softer now and not quite so cheerful. Indigo looked around to make sure that the two of them were not blocking any shoppers who might want to get past them, then knelt down to give the shorter man a bear hug. So that no one would suspect him of turning mushy, he also gave Spamton a noogie on the top of his head.

Spamton sputtered at the indignity of the noogie, but clapped Indigo on the back a couple of times, like he was playing the bongos.

Sunday, February 20, 2022

This party couldn’t have been timed more perfectly, in Catechu Dyer’s opinion.

The men’s basketball team was coming off three straight wins, two away games earlier in the week and a home win just a few hours ago. He had his arm around Kendra, who was also coming off a winning tournament round in both saber and epee, and was smiling fit to beat the band. She was channeling her idol Nikki Franke this year with her close-cropped ‘fro. “Saves on shower time,” she’d told Catto the first time he’d spent the night with her. 

His twin and the Spam-man both seemed to be in their element, bringing out various platters of appetizers and finger food as soon as they were ready from the oven.  Of course, Indo had somehow convinced their former roommate to make some of his signature chicken soup, but neither Catto nor his current roommates were going to complain. He’d noticed Ryan and Watson going back to the kitchen for seconds and even thirds.

Everyone seemed to be mixing well together. The guy with the SERIOUSLY long silver beaded braids who ran the radio station was having a grand old time trading lighthearted Shakespearian insults with Nishay from the fencing team. T.M.’s roommate was perched on the clanky old radiator like it was some kind of rocket-powered throne, holding court with an attentive group of basketball players.

T.M. herself was circulating, never in one spot for long. The air seemed to be crackling with electricity around her; Catto made a mental note to try to catch her tomorrow for lunch and see if something was bugging her.

Indo stopped in front of the couch with a tray of pigs in blankets; Catto snagged a hot handful and dropped them on his plate. Spamton followed with a tray of broccoli bites, and Kendra took some in a far more civilized manner for herself. As they moved away to offer food to the other guests, Catto heard his brother tell Spamton, “You know, you really should think about joining the hospitality industry.  You’d be a natural at it!”

Spamton shot back, “Only if - if I can wear a sharp suit like Swatch does at P-Plato’s.”

The little guy’s stutter was barely noticeable tonight. 

In a corner, Swatch was standing and talking with Romar, their old teammate. They were both leaning up against the wall, a pose that Catto hadn’t realized how much he’d missed from his cousin. You couldn’t guess from looking at Swatch that just three months ago their leg had been smashed to bits. 

Romar was apparently continuing the harangue he’d gone off on during the bus trip back Tuesday night. Some of the players on the opposing team had been suspended earlier in the year for sneaking “lean” into team afterparties, and Romar wanted no part of that. He was audibly thanking Swatch for making sure this party tonight was a dry party, without overtly saying that he knew where Swatch was coming from regarding mutual experience.

Aunt Claudine had thought she had the kids fooled when she called her homemade red wine coolers spiked with cough syrup  “grape juice for grownups”. Those had been her downfall, literally.

Catto was grateful to his grandmother Fairlight that she had never outright forbidden him, Swatch, or Indo to drink alcohol on occasions when the extended family got together, but let the three of them make their own decisions as they went through puberty and high school. She also didn’t shy away from discussing in graphic detail what the abuse of alcohol had done to her daughter’s brain wiring, something that even his own mom and dad downplayed.

He didn’t abstain the way Swatch did, but if he had a few beers every couple of weeks, that was a lot for him.

Watching Swatch’s face now, he could venture a guess that Swatch had Aunt Claudine on their mind as well, and not in the “happy memories” way.

And almost as if the two of them had the same near-telepathic link that Catto and Indo had, Catto wasn’t surprised to see Spamton cross the room to Swatch and gracefully extricate Swatch from what was becoming a difficult conversation by asking for their help in tasting whether the macarons were ready.

“That’s true love for you,” Catto said out loud, and squeezed Kendra tighter. She started to snort derisively, but her dark face softened when she watched Swatch walk into the kitchen, arm-in-arm with their partner for the whole room to see.

“Yeah, that’s love.”

Monday, February 21, 2022

Ballew was jolted out of his reverie by the vibration of his cellphone. The incoming text was from Swatch Paletta.

May I set up an appointment to discuss business with you? And also possibly the topic of love?

[sofiadragon]

All the above is focused on personal hurt, but this goes for professional situations as well.

I worked for someone who went hard on the "I don't want to hear any excuses" thing. I was a manager of 2 locations, one of the stores and the central warehouse, and the CEO of the regional business hated hearing reasons. "No, no. You just say sorry, and do better." She would repeat that line all the time. Eventually I had to have a conversation with the rest of the management team about listening to the reason why a problem occurred so we can fix the root problem.

She didn't understand it was bout her. She didn't get that her shouting over someone for telling them why they did something the way they did was what I was talking about. Her scientology- infused attitude of not giving negative things any attention and only wanting to hear the solution to a problem was the issue. She asked which shift leaders were doing it. I looked at the CFO. My man. My sanity touchstone. Her husband. The only one who could say it in the entire room.

"Ellen, you trained them that way."

There followed a 'not all excuses are bad' explanation wherein the idea that someone could be wrong and sorry and not want to do it again, while also having a completely understandable good reason for why they messed up that if not addressed will almost ensure they do it again. Sometimes, not all the time, ya both wrong. You won't know unless you listen to the explanation. The person apologizing to you might not even know you are the one who did the thing that started the domino chain.

"Sorry I'm late, I couldn’t find my [thing]." Says the wife, and the husband realizes he moved the thing. This isn’t turning blame on the husband, she isn’t accusing him with this sentence. She could, there are absolutely ways to phrase it that are passive aggressive or even full on aggressive, but this is just an apology and a explanation. You can even see it as an assurance! Won't happen again, it was just this weird thing that happened. Totally out of character for me I know.

Even if you didn't have a hand in why something went wrong, you can still be part of the solution! Friend not sleeping well? If they are a good friend you may already know why and offer support somehow. Scheduling conflict? Maybe move next week's 'cosmos and gossip' back fifteen minutes.

Instead of taking it as a personal attack that other people have things going on in their lives, engage in the communication. Even if there is nothing to be done about the traffic, listening to the people in your life the way you would want them to listen to you is so important.

idk when we decided that explaining yourself shouldn't be part of an apology but like. if someone was a dick to me and apologizes but I still don't understand why they did it I'm not gonna feel any better