Esker, a global cloud platform and leader in AI-driven process automation solutions for Finance, Procurement and Customer Service functions, today announced the appointment of Catherine Plasse as Esker’s new Chief Financial Officer.

Reporting to Emmanuel Olivier, Esker COO on the Board of Directors, Plasse will manage and coordinate Esker’s Finance teams worldwide and join Esker’s Associate Board of Directors. She will lead the creation of information for the public and financial communities and ensure the maintenance of a high-level internal control environment and compliance with regulatory obligations. Plasse will also play a crucial role in steering the operational performance of Esker by managing budgetary and control aspects. In collaboration with the Board of Directors, she will also be actively involved in the development of Esker’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) policies.

Plasse brings to Esker more than 15 years of experience in strategic financial management and providing key input to executive levels at a variety of international companies. Plasse held various Financial Analyst and Controller positions at Suez Group, most notably as CFO in the U.S. for three years. She holds three degrees in International Business Administration, from Northumbria University (BA), IAE France (master’s degree) and EDHEC Business School (BA). She also holds a certification in Sustainable Transition Management from HEC Paris and in Principles of Sustainable Finance from Erasmus University of Rotterdam.

“I’m delighted to be joining Esker, an innovative company that plays a key role in the digital transformation of businesses worldwide,” said Plasse. “I look forward to contributing to Esker’s continued success and collaborating with such a dynamic and talented team.”

“Catherine brings to Esker a wealth of international experience, strong technical and managerial skills, as well as deeply held beliefs in ESG responsibility. We look forward to working with her and continuing Esker’s success story,” said Jean-Michel Bérard, CEO at Esker.

Read full press release here.

Esker UK

Unlocking Positive-Sum Growth with AI-Driven Business Solutions for P2P & O2C Cycles

Read more insights from Esker UK

The New Era for the Office of the CFO
As we all know, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides critical financial leadership for an organisation. The CFO is responsible for creating and executing the financial strategy of the company, as well as managing the financial risks associated with running a business. So with a CFO having such a profound impact on a company’s bottom line it’s essential that they have the right tools at their disposal.

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, the role of the CFO is becoming increasingly critical. CFO’s are responsible for not only managing financial operations but also providing strategic guidance to drive business growth. With the advent of advanced technologies, process automation has emerged as a game-changer for the office of the CFO. By leveraging automation tools, CFO’s can streamline financial processes, enhance efficiency, and unlock a multitude of benefits for their organisations:

Streamlined Financial Operations
Traditionally, financial operations have been burdened with manual tasks, such as data entry, reconciliations, and report generation. These tasks are not only time-consuming but also prone to human error. Process automation enables CFOs to automate repetitive tasks, reducing the risk of errors and freeing up valuable time for finance professionals. By implementing automation, routine processes like invoice processing, expense management, and financial reporting can be streamlined, allowing the finance team to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Enhanced Accuracy and Compliance
The accuracy of financial data is paramount for informed decision-making. However, manual data entry and reconciliation can lead to errors, jeopardising the integrity of financial information. Automation tools eliminate the need for manual intervention, ensuring data consistency and accuracy. By implementing intelligent automation solutions, CFO’s can enforce compliance with financial regulations and internal controls. Automated workflows can be designed to follow predefined rules, flagging potential issues and mitigating compliance risks.

Improved Financial Planning and Analysis
Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) play a vital role in driving organisational growth. However, traditional FP&A processes can be time-consuming and hinder agility. Automation enables CFO’s to gather real-time data from various sources, integrate it seamlessly, and generate accurate and timely reports. By automating budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, CFO’s can accelerate the decision-making process and provide valuable insights to key stakeholders. This empowers the CFO to make data-driven decisions, optimise resource allocation, and drive strategic initiatives.

Cost and Time Savings
The office of the CFO can benefit significantly from cost and time savings through process automation. By eliminating manual tasks and reducing the need for extensive manual intervention, automation tools reduce operational costs. Finance professionals can utilise their time more efficiently by focusing on value-added activities instead of mundane and repetitive tasks. Additionally, automation enables faster and more accurate financial closing processes, resulting in shorter reporting cycles and improved operational efficiency.

Data-driven Insights and Strategic Decision-making
Data is the lifeblood of the modern business, and CFO’s play a critical role in extracting insights from financial data. Automation tools enable CFO’s to gather, consolidate, and analyse vast amounts of financial data in real-time. This empowers them to identify trends, perform scenario analysis, and make informed, data-driven decisions. By leveraging automation, CFO’s can become strategic advisors to the executive team, offering actionable insights that drive business growth and optimise financial performance.

Embrace the Technology
Unleashing the power of process automation is revolutionising the office of the CFO, offering numerous benefits that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and strategic decision-making. By embracing automation tools, CFO’s can streamline financial operations, improve compliance, and generate valuable insights from financial data. Moreover, automation enables cost and time savings, freeing up finance professionals to focus on more strategic initiatives. As technology continues to advance, the CFO’s role will continue to evolve, and embracing process automation will be crucial for success in the digital age.

Esker’s Worldwide Chief Operating Officer, Emmanuel Olivier, recently delivered a presentation on the future of the digital CFO: Being an architect of value, strategy and resilience, at the Gartner® CFO & Finance Executive Conference 2023

Contact us for more information

Sam Townsend

Sam is Head of Marketing for Esker Northern Europe and has been part of the Esker family since 2003.

Read more insights from Sam Townsend

Aaaaahh…the end of summer…
The tan and the relaxation are slowly fading, the good memories hopefully not.

How about those memories of actually booking that vacation, though? Did the booking process overshadow the enjoyment of the trip?

First, there’s the lack of visibility: the different providers for airline, airport transportation, hotel, car rental, etc., can get confusing. You never really have a clear overview of whether prices are fair or what the real costs are (baggage fees, anyone?). Sneaky hidden costs can make for a rude awakening when the bank statement arrives after the trip…

Then there’s the question of risks: is the hotel in a safe area? Is the hotel pool unexpectedly out of service?

Are you aware of all the rules and regulations of where you’re going? Is the passport valid?

What happens when something goes wrong, like a cancelled flight? How is the rebooking best handled?

All in all, not the most relaxing way to go about taking a vacation. But we hope you had a great time anyway!

Now, to turn your attention back to work (sorry…!): If you’re a CFO or work in a CFO-adjacent function, the travel difficulties can also be applied to the source-to-pay (S2P) cycle.

Let’s look at some of the challenges frequently faced in the S2P cycle, and how comprehensive automation solutions can help with those:

• Do you have sufficient visibility and control over procurement activities?

In order to effectively manage spend, procurement needs to be transparent. S2P platforms provide thorough spend analytics so that cost-saving opportunities are quickly identified and expenditure patterns easily tracked while ensuring compliance with budgetary guidelines.

• Are risk mitigation and compliance metrics where they need to be?

Robust features of S2P solutions such as automated contract management and supplier risk assessments let you proactively identify and mitigate potential risks, enforce compliance with regulatory standards and ensure adherence to internal policies.

• Are you and the business’ vendors on the same page?

Effectively managing suppliers is a fundamental part of business success, yet it is a complex process involving multiple steps. S2P solutions can help facilitate effective supplier management by enhancing communication, collaboration and performance evaluation. Sustainable and ethical supplier practices can be promoted by incorporating strategic sourcing and vetting procedures into the procurement process. And communication tools that provide instant visibility—including performance metrics—ensure better collaboration internally and with suppliers.

• Are the numbers adding up?

Providing valuable strategic guidance to the company relies on informed decisions based on accurate and complete financial visibility. S2P platforms integrate financial data from various sources, and create a holistic view of performance, cash flow and working capital. Comprehensive visibility enables CFOs to assess the financial health of the organisation, identify areas for improvement and drive strategic initiatives effectively.

The idea behind S2P solutions is not just the automation part. It’s also about recognising that finance and procurement have shared objectives and that collaboration between the two can foster a strong partnership that enhances decision-making, optimises costs, mitigates risks, and drives sustainable growth. These factors defy the usefulness of point solutions that allows each department to remain siloed, and instead calls for a single platform solution that can manage the entire S2P process from beginning to end.

Equipped with an extensive collection of AI capabilities, Esker’s end-to-end Source-to-Pay suite enables companies to remain agile in an ever-changing world and to build resilient and sustainable businesses.

Ready to learn more about Esker?

Visit: www.esker.co.uk

Catherine Dupuy-Holdich

Catherine has been with Esker for 20 years. As Source-to-Pay Product Manager, she is the market and business expert of all things S2P. She is responsible for overseeing the development of Esker’s S2P suite, including product strategy and vision. Catherine works closely with R&D, sales, marketing and support to ensure customer satisfaction.

Read more insights from Catherine Dupuy-Holdich