ARTICLES
With years of combined experience in executing critical projects, finance operations, world-class IT architecture, and efficient business operations, Penon Partners has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to drive the results you need. Explore some of our articles, then connect with the Penon team to start building your solution.
Successfully Executing a Project: 4 Essential Pillars
The execution phase is often where projects go off track. Yet, it’s also where everything is decided. Here are 4 key levers to ensure smooth, aligned, and controlled implementation from kick-off to delivery.
Your finance team won’t adopt new technology… and that’s your problem to solve
Key Takeaways Skills gaps and poor change management are the real reasons finance teams fail to adopt new technology….
How the right analytical dimensions cut financial reporting time by 30%
Key Takeaways Poorly designed analytical dimensions are one of the most underestimated causes of slow financial…
2 tricks to master the Design phase of a project
Key Takeaways The Design phase is where most transformation programs either gain traction or quietly lose it….
Stop building IT architecture for yesterday’s AI requirements
Key Takeaways Most enterprise IT architectures were designed before AI-native platforms existed. By 2030, 40% of…
Hidden Cost of Fragmented Record-to-Report in Multi-Entity Finance
The hidden cost of an unstructured Record-to-Report process in multi-entity finance operations Key Takeaways An…
Why Your AI Project Failed (And Why You Need External Expertise to Fix It)
Key Takeaways Most AI projects fail not because of bad technology, but because of weak governance, misaligned…
Transformation Is a Never-Ending Process — Manage It That Way
Key Takeaways Transformation is a never-ending process, not a finite program. Organizations that still manage it…
AI HR Assistants: 3 Errors That Sabotage Adoption (and how to avoid them)
Key Takeaways Intelligent HR assistant deployments fail in 69% of cases due to lack of adoption, according to…
Digital Transformation in France 2026: Where CAC 40 and Mid-Market Companies Really Stand
Key Takeaways In 2026, 94% of French companies are accelerating their digital transformation, but maturity gaps remain…
5 Mistakes I Made with Claude on Excel (and How to Avoid Them)
Key Takeaways I tested Claude on a mission tracking Excel model. Result: visually perfect but unusable: hardcoded…
3 tricks to Master the Plan Phase of a Project
Let’s develop the “Plan Phase” of the Penon’s SAIL method to drive projects from start to finish. This framework in 6 phases (vision, plan, build, deliver, operate) helps project managers achieve outstanding results, whether for small projects or large-scale initiatives.
How Organizations Can Leverage AI Within ISO/IEC 27001:2022
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in business operations, organizations must ensure that…
Your First U.S. Hire Determines Your Entire Market Entry Success — Here’s What I’ve Learned
Your first U.S. hire will make or break your expansion.
In the U.S., speed, adaptability, and cultural fluency matter more than perfect résumés.
This first person becomes your brand, your credibility, and the foundation for every future hire.
SAP Post-Merger. The 3 costly Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Have you just merged and your SAP project threatens to paralyze everything or cost you much more than expected?
Or maybe you just want to avoid getting to that point…
Discover my 3 key tips for securing this transition without having to start all over again.
Back to Basics – The Method for Tackling Complexity
When situations become complex, our first instinct is often to add more: more tools, more meetings, more spreadsheets, more analysis… Yet, the best – whether athletes or leaders –> do exactly the opposite: they go back to basics. A tennis player in difficulty doesn’t try to invent a new shot. They return to their serve, their positioning, their tactics, and their breathing.
Give your Finance Teams their Evenings Back: How High-Performing Teams Close Faster.
The first week of every month shouldn’t feel like a marathon of spreadsheets, late nights, and missing invoices. Every finance team dreams of a smooth, on-time close, without the pressure, errors, or stress.
The good news? It’s achievable with structure, automation, and the right mindset.
Here are 5 proven ways to take days off your closing deadline and give your team their evenings back.
Skills Adaptation to AI: A Focus on Relationships, Analytical Reasoning, and Ethical Decision Making
The CEO community is split on how to incorporate AI into increasing productivity and managing costs. Some companies are using AI to replace workers, while others are figuring out ways that AI and humans collaborate with each other. Many are doing both. AI can do many things, but it can’t replace these three human superpowers.
Navigating Workforce Planning Amid Tariff Uncertainty
In 2025, navigating tariff and trade uncertainty remains a top priority for global businesses. As costs fluctuate in increasingly short cycles, companies are under pressure to adapt quickly, but many overlook the critical role of workforce planning (headcount and required skills) in this equation.
Is your Order-to-Cash process slowing down your growth?
In many companies, the Order-to-Cash (O2C) process (from customer order confirmation to cash collection) is still…
Be Light and Salt: The Unspoken Power of a Consultant or Interim Manager’s Presence
When stepping into a new mission—whether as a consultant or an interim manager—much is expected: expertise,…
3 Steps Every CFO Should Take Before Launching an ERP Project
Most ERP failures don’t happen during implementation—they’re even built into the project before it even begins. If your data is messy, your processes are unclear, or your teams are not aligned, your ERP project might not deliver the results you expect. The good news? You can avoid most of these issues by preparing a few things in advance.
CFOs, Take Care of Your Finance Factory!
As a CFO, you position yourself as the CEO’s strategic business partner—driving strategy, enhancing performance, and ensuring visibility. But have you taken a step back to assess your own Finance Operations? Are your internal processes as structured and efficient as those you optimize elsewhere?
5 Reasons Your Company Needs ISO 27001 Certification
These days, keeping information secure is more important than ever. Achieving ISO 27001 certification not only protects your data but also gives your business a real advantage. Here are five reasons why it’s worth pursuing:
Skills-Based Hiring in 2025: The Key to Your Company’s Economic Future
Many clients aim to hire the “best” talent based on credential-centric hiring. Until recently, this was the norm, but in 2025, most companies now prioritize skills-centric hiring over credential-centric. Below is the difference:
Differences Between Consulting and Transition Management
Both consultants and interim managers are hired to provide services and their expertise to clients, whether it’s…
Streamlining Financial Operations: A New Perspective
Financial teams often request other departments to improve their processes and reduce costs in order to focus on…
CFOs: 6 ways to free up time for finance transformation
CFOs and finance leaders often find themselves overwhelmed by deadlines: reporting, budget, forecast, strategic plans,…
Ready to Unlock Your Consulting Potential?
Are you an operational leader or executive in transition, considering a move to consulting? If you’re exploring options and recognize the need for a solid framework, brand identity, administrative support, coaching, and a collaborative environment, then Penon Partners is the right fit for you.
Is Your Company Ready to Level Up Its Marketing Capabilities?
We’re excited to introduce our comprehensive marketing execution practice in partnership with Bloom Marketing,…
How smart CFOs choose the right KPIs
Regardless of your industry or strategy, some financial indicators are essential: you must track key figures like Gross Margin, EBITDA, Working Capital, Cash Flow, Return on Investment (ROI), Debt-to-Equity Ratio… But there’s more to it: tracking the right financial metrics could be the difference between informed decision-making and wasted effort.
International Companies Operating in the U.S.? Here’s Why You Need an American HR Leader.
Operating in the U.S. offers strategic advantages for foreign businesses, making it an attractive destination for global growth. The workplace culture, legal and compliance landscape, employee relations, and compensation models are all vastly different in the U.S., posing significant risks if not properly managed. Failure to adapt your HR practices to the U.S. market’s unique legal, cultural, and regulatory landscape can lead to costly lawsuits, severe financial penalties, and lasting reputational damage.
Taming the Wild West: How Architectural Standards Can Transform Your IT Development Practices
Is your IT development shop feeling more like the Wild West because everyone is doing what they feel like instead of following any rules? If it is, you are missing out on the benefits architectural standards can bring to your development organization. Benefits like:
6 Strategies to Enhance Your Cash Collection Process
Collecting payments from customers can be a complex and sometimes frustrating task. To convert sales into cash more…
Our Key Principles to Succeed Your Digital Business Transformation
Despite significant effort and team mobilization, many digital transformations fail to deliver the intended outcome…
IT is too expensive!
If you work around IT, you have probably heard someone say “IT is too expensive” or better yet… “I can purchase a…
CFO: How AI Can Transform Your Finance Operations
Most of us have already integrated AI into our daily routines: refining emails, summarizing articles, reviewing code,…
Is Your Company Ready to Elevate Its HR Performance?
At Penon Partners, we’re thrilled to introduce our new HR solutions designed to elevate your company’s HR…
Think Your Old IT Assets Are Free? Think Again!
I have worked with several executives who like to continue using their IT assets beyond their financial lives. This is…
Streamlining the Purchase to Pay Process
Am I the only European surprised by how frequently checks are used in the United States? In a world where digital transactions are nearly instantaneous, it’s interesting to see the continued use of paper checks. When assessing a P2P process, I always recommend transitioning to Automated Clearing House (ACH). It’s a compelling solution for better efficiency.
Why Hiring a Strategy Execution Firm Could Be Your Next Best Business Decision
To capitalize on the benefits of your company’s transformation, whether it’s in the realm of business, digital, or…
I tried AI Powered Meeting Tools…and I liked it
For me, the art of taking comprehensive meeting minutes and managing action items efficiently can be quite challenging. Engaging actively in meetings is crucial, but it often detracts from my ability to document discussions accurately.
Evaluating the Need for Finance Transformation Consulting: A Comprehensive Quiz
In today’s fast-paced business environment, maximizing financial operations is crucial for staying competitive and achieving sustainable growth. However, many companies find themselves facing challenges in effectively managing their financial processes. Take the quiz below to determine if your organization could benefit from the expertise of a finance transformation consultant.
Maintaining your IT Roadmap
The creation of an IT roadmap marks the commencement of an ongoing journey rather than a finite task, necessitating…
Transitioning to Power BI: Why Power Query is your critical first move
Moving from Excel to Power BI is a significant step for finance teams. More than just switching tools, it’s…
Who’s on 1st? Building a Transformation Roadmap
Congratulations you have a list of all the projects you need to complete the transformation of your area. However, how…
The Perils of Inexperienced Program Management
Introduction In the realm of digital transformation, the role of an experienced program manager cannot be…
Is Power BI The New Excel? 8 Reasons Why You Should Switch your Finance teams to Power BI.
The evolution from Excel to Power BI is not just a software upgrade—it’s a strategic development of your finance…
Optimizing the Sales Pipeline in Your CRM
Having a rock solid and accurate sales pipeline is vital to maximizing both your top and bottom-line revenues….
Is an Interim CFO the Answer to Your Company’s Challenges?
In the dynamic world of business, a temporary Chief Financial Officer (CFO) often becomes necessary. They offer…
Train Your AI
Through a series of insightful interviews about Artificial Intelligence (AI) with IT executives and interactive…
Navigating the IoT and Connected Devices Landscape
As we navigate the dynamic landscape of the digital era, the potential for innovation and growth through connected devices, 5G, and IoT has never been more promising.
At Penon Partners, we are excited to be at the forefront of this transformative journey and are eager to share our expertise with you. Our comprehensive services span across key areas of IoT implementation, offering tailored solutions to meet your unique business needs.
Four Perspectives Of A Successful IT Executive
It may feel like middle age torture, but a successful IT Executive does need to be “drawn” and “quartered”. They…
Agile “Mess” Organization
Most technology and services companies know agile methodologies, they may have tested it or implemented it in some…
You can’t cut your way to success
Are you tired of managing your IT budget and constantly feeling a target on your back?
Anybody who has ever managed an IT budget knows there is a target on their back
Person vs Persona
Have you ever heard about the importance of distinguishing Who you are (The Person) and What function/role do you play…
Cut Your Costs Without Cutting Your Staff
In the face of economic challenges, many employers are exploring ways to reduce costs. Before thinking about staff…
E=MC is Powerful
We all know the famous Einstein formula e=mc² ; but do you know that e=mc is another powerful formula for business and…
Tech Talent Tango: Finding the Perfect Match for Your IT Team!
In today’s globalized world, businesses have access to a diverse pool of IT talent which offers numerous possibilities for optimizing IT staffing strategies. Companies must carefully consider several factors, such as cost, expertise, cultural compatibility, and must decide between onshore, nearshore, and offshore staffing models. Companies must also determine whether to utilize insourced or outsourced IT services and how much senior staff vs junior staff is needed. Each of these choices presents unique challenges and benefits. This article explores staffing options and provides insights into finding the right balance for optimal IT team composition.
Building an IT Service Cost Capability
Welcome to part IV of my five-step approach to finding the financial waste in your IT budget. Part IV is not for the…
Find Cash in Your IT Contracts
Welcome to part III of my five-step approach to finding the financial waste in your IT budget. Are you reviewing your…
Optimizing Financial Operations: A Fresh Perspective
Financial teams often request other departments to improve their processes and reduce costs in order to focus on…
Do you have immature ITIL processes?
If you do, you are wasting some of your valuable IT operating budget and losing company revenue. Welcome to part II…
Let’s Manage Programs Together Like Pros
Do you want to perform at leading your programs and have fun while doing it? Do you want to drive programs (large…
Are my IT assets too expensive?
If you are asking yourself this question or if your leadership is telling you they are, then you can be assured they…
Accounts Payable Manager: 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Your New Solution
Don’t you think the a utomation of f inancial processes has been largely neglected ? It seems to me that t here are…
Costs of Inefficiencies, Unlock the 10X Investment
Have you ever regretted spending $300,000 when you actually could have only spent $30,000? By hiring a consultant for…
Don’t fall into these traps: 4 reasons your business transformations are failing and how we can solve it
Despite a tremendous effort and mobilization of teams, many companies started transformations but didn’t achieve the…
Billing and Accounts Receivable: 7 factors to consider before Choosing a New ERP
Not all ERPs offer the same features. Therefore, it’s important to assess your needs, what’s mandatory, nice to have, or not really necessary. 2 companies can generate the same annual revenue, one with one monthly invoice of $1M to one customer, the other billing $12 dollars one million times a year to thousands of customers; they will surely have very different requirements.
Unmasking the Invisible Dashboards: What Happens When FP&A Teams Stop Sending Reports?
FP&A teams are often overwhelmed by operational dashboards and KPIs they must deliver, in addition to the official reporting. But what if… they suddenly stopped sending them? Just stopped, without notifying anyone… This exercise could be extremely interesting!
Penon Partners Named Most Promising Digital Transformation Service Provider in 2023
8 Questions to Drive More Revenue and Profit in Your B2B Business
Key tips for B2B companies that want to increase their growth and revenue without expanding staffing or physical space. Tips include implementing a proven method of pipeline management, identifying the one thing salespeople must focus on, ensuring accurate sales projections, determining who is responsible for generating leads, using market research to better understand the market, and addressing any misalignment between key departments. Additionally, the article encourages companies to consider whether their delivery teams and client services should be operated as profit centers and to assess whether decision-making processes are preventing growth.
The Key to Succeed with Digital RFP Management
When millions of dollars of business value and optimization depend on one process, leaders better care for that process.
In this article, we’ll view Requests for Proposals (RFP) from the demand perspective – the company that places the Request for Proposal. RFPs are estimated to have generated close to $500 billion of company spending, in 2022, globally. A large part of this spending is allocated to digital projects, of which only over a third are correctly implemented, according to recent research.
With so much spent through RFPs, and so little of it succeeding, shouldn’t it be a priority to optimize your RFP management process?
You will find below an overview and practical takeaways for managing RFPs.
Chargebacks could hurt your Shared Service
Shared services are when a business consolidates its support functions to better serve the corporation and its business units. Typically, this includes services such as human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and other front and back-office services.
By consolidating these services into a centrally managed organization, businesses can achieve efficiencies that would otherwise be difficult to achieve with decentralization. These efficiencies could be consistency in processes and reporting, or they could be reduced costs.
How to start your consulting gig like a pro
You have just been hired to perform the work as a consultant. The first meeting with your client is starting; this is the time to begin your engagement.
First and foremost, I would recommend not behaving as an employee who might wait for their “boss” to give them the tempo and lead their onboarding.
But instead, I suggest taking the initiative immediately with a proactive attitude and organized behavior. It implies starting by doing this:
For Finance, Master Data matters!
Master data is the core data used across your enterprise, for instance: customers, vendors, items, and chart of accounts. They are non-transactional, which means they should not change over a period of time.
Everyone agrees that master data is important and should be treated as such: better efficiency, improved decision-making, compliance, and security… but Master Data Management is costly and time-consuming. The Finance and Administration department is directly involved and impacted by these hideous hidden costs!
Building IT Service Cost Capability
Welcome to part IV of my five-step approach to finding the financial waste in your IT budget. Part IV is not for the…
Learn some Consulting skills – Yes You Can!
It’s not by magic neither by pure gift that experienced consultants give such positive thoughts about their work and…
Find cash in your IT contracts
Are you reviewing your IT contracts and invoices on a consistent basis? You should be because there is always money to be found there.
Offering Package – Restoring a Digital/IT Project in Difficulty
You are facing critical difficulties in your projects’ execution. Our team of experts solves these issues for you so that you can reap the expected benefits of your project.
6 Tips To Improve Your Cash Collection
Collecting money from customers can be challenging. To ensure those sales become cash in the bank, consider the…
5 Tips For Effective Cash Management
Cash shortages can be a nightmare for companies and the current “econovid” crisis is making businesses extremely…
Building a Better Operations Team – Morale
Maintaining a strong technical professional team requires more than just hiring quality individuals. The real challenge lies in retaining and maximizing their performance. In the article “Building a Better Team – Sense of Purpose” (Gunter, J.G., 2023), the author highlights the significance of the quality “Sense of Purpose” in building a successful team.
Building a Better Operations Team – Sense of Purpose
Many of us have encountered the unfortunate situation of hiring team members who appeared to be of high caliber only to discover that they fell short of expectations. Despite having the appropriate credentials, experience, references, and interview skills, these people frequently failed to demonstrate a capacity to generate value. They might have required regular encouragement to work, constantly found themselves distracted by personal matters, or struggled to maintain high standards of work quality when presented with difficulties.
How to Navigate your Business As a Service Transformation in B2B
Moving to a “Business As A Service” model is quickly becoming a requirement in today’s market. Navigating your…
Brainstorm, Decide and Execute
In your professional context, have you ever been annoyed by subjects that are circling around, that have already been discussed or decided, but come back to the surface again and put back on the table?
Are my IT assets too expensive?
If you are asking yourself this question or if your leadership is telling you they are, then you can be assured they…
Can you say – My digital transformation project is on track?
Are you confident enough to say that your digital transformation project is on track? Be able to clearly answer…
3 differentiators that make you valuable as a consultant
I had a great conversation with clients and consultants about the differentiators that make a consultant provide great…
Am I Leading or Contributing to This Action?
Have you ever lived the situation in which people were expecting the others to do things, or in which things have been…
“Where is the printer?”
“Where is the printer?” (This Article is the first of 3 articles on Corporate Print costs reduction) Who has not heard…
Do You Have Immature ITIL Processes?
Do you have immature ITIL processes? If you do, you are wasting some of your valuable IT operating budget and losing…
Offering Package – Diagnosis and recommendation to reduce your IT Cost
Do you need some help to make IT savings or want to learn about more ways to save money on your IT ? I can help you to…
Do you need to add an Inside Sales Team?
If you do not have an Inside Sales Team, in addition to a “Field Sales Team”, now would be a great time to add one. …
Sales Training and Coaching – a winning combination in effecting change
Sales leaders are always looking for new ways to go to market. They think about changing their messaging, employing…
How to Succeed in Your Remote Onboarding
As a new employee joining a company, especially in this remote work environment, don’t you think it is a real…
Is Servant Leadership a new concept?
Is Servant Leadership a new concept? Does it provide a modern and relevant new perspective to serve people? What is…
How well connected are your Inside Sales and Field Sales Teams?
How well connected are your Inside Sales and Field Sales Teams? For companies that have both Inside Sales and Field…
The Workplace of Now
I keep hearing the question, what is “the future of work” or “the workplace of the future” and I think we are asking…
Is it time to change how you implement changes?
A lot gets said about change. “Change is inevitable”. “Change is hard”. “Change is necessary”. “The only constant…
