This book addresses a significant research gap by delving into the Finance Business Partnering (FBP) model within the not-for-profit sector of the Gulf countries, with a specific emphasis on Qatar Foundation. While an extensive body of literature explores the FBP model in developed nations, there exists a notable dearth of research in the Middle East and third-world countries. The book aims to rectify this imbalance by offering practical insights derived from Qatar Foundation, showcasing the advantages of adopting the FBP model. It goes beyond theoretical frameworks, presenting in-depth data analysis that substantiates the pivotal role of FBPs in supporting effective decision-making processes. By delving into essential concepts such as change management, contingency theory, and organizational culture, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing the successful adoption and implementation of the FBP model. Notably, it introduces practical examples and real-world applications to underscore the model’s efficacy, making it a valuable resource for both scholars and practitioners in the fields of management and financial accounting.

Finance business partners are accountants who work alongside different business departments, providing financial information, tools, analysis, and insight to executives, challenging their thinking, helping them make more informed decisions, and driving business strategy. The book is highly readable because, after three early chapters to set the scene, the focus is on engaging case studies which describe what some of these leading companies are doing, the challenges they face, and the lessons learned. The concluding chapter then puts forward some provisional conclusions which should contribute to a healthy ongoing debate about the best ways to define, identify and develop the right set of skills for the Finance Business Partners of the future.

A Business Partner is a professional who supports and advises strategic and operational decision-making through insights that drive better business performance. Often as a result of external changes, business partners must respond quickly to map out the future strategic development, keep the firm competitive and ensure all objectives and legal requirements are met. In this book, business partnering expert Steven Swientozielskyj introduces a framework that provides a set of practical tools and techniques via a simple six stage model that, when replicated, will take the practitioner from start to finish through strategic change; from the formation and agreement of the strategy to its delivery and sustainability. Business Partnering is a one-stop shop for understanding this important phenomenon and as such will be vital reading for practitioners and academics in the business arena.

A practical approach to business transformation Fit for Growth* is a unique approach to business transformation that explicitly connects growth strategy with cost management and organization restructuring. Drawing on 70-plus years of strategy consulting experience and in-depth research, the experts at PwC’s Strategy& lay out a winning framework that helps CEOs and senior executives transform their organizations for sustainable, profitable growth. This approach gives structure to strategy while promoting lasting change. Examples from Strategy&’s hundreds of clients illustrate successful transformation on the ground, and illuminate how senior and middle managers are able to take ownership and even thrive during difficult periods of transition. Throughout the Fit for Growth process, the focus is on maintaining consistent high-value performance while enabling fundamental change. Strategy& has helped major clients around the globe achieve significant and sustained results with its research-backed approach to restructuring and cost reduction. This book provides practical guidance for leveraging that expertise to make the choices that allow companies to: Achieve growth while reducing costs Manage transformation and transition productively Create lasting competitive advantage Deliver reliable, high-value performance Sustainable success is founded on efficiency and high performance. Companies are always looking to do more with less, but their efforts often work against them in the long run. Total business transformation requires total buy-in, and it entails a series of decisions that must not be made lightly. The Fit for Growth approach provides a clear strategy and practical framework for growth-oriented change, with expert guidance on getting it right. *Fit for Growth is a registered service mark of PwC Strategy& Inc. in the United States

In managerial literature the challenges of ramping-up, growing and enhancing a (Finance) Shared Services Organization are regularly neglected. Therefore, the compilation will address two objectives: First, based on a generic phase model of an SSO’s development, frequently arising questions related to the management of SSOs shall be systematically discussed and practicable solutions derived. Secondly, a picture of the future of SSOs shall be elaborated, resulting in new future management implications.