{"id":10783,"date":"2024-03-05T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/?p=10783"},"modified":"2024-12-30T09:28:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T14:28:36","slug":"saas-tech-stack-tips-recession-proof-strategies-for-cfos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/saas-tech-stack-tips-recession-proof-strategies-for-cfos\/","title":{"rendered":"How to recession-proof your SaaS tech stack: Top tips for CFOs"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/category\/strategy-legal-operations\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Strategy, Legal &amp; Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow to recession-proof your SaaS tech stack: Top tips for CFOs\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-03-05T09:00:00-05:00\">March 5, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"How to recession-proof your SaaS tech stack: Top tips for CFOs\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/saas-tech-stack-tips-recession-proof-strategies-for-cfos\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/author\/davidappelandericsleeth\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/02\/david-and-eric.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">David Appel &amp; Eric Sleeth<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As a SaaS finance leader, you&#8217;re probably well aware that recessions and market downturns are simply a fact of life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They happen, and it&#8217;s not a matter of personal choice.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What you can choose, though, is how you prepare for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this blog, we&#8217;ll be examining 1) How SaaS CFOs and their tools help software companies navigate recessions and protect cash flow and revenue growth, 2) How finance leaders can recession-proof their tech stacks to ensure financial performance and organizational health, and 3) Why early action is crucial for SaaS companies seeking to recession-proof their tech stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep reading if you&#8217;re ready to learn how to help your SaaS organization thrive during tough economic times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-role-of-a-saas-cfo-in-business-resilience\"><strong>The role of a SaaS CFO in business resilience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, if a recession hit, you wouldn&#8217;t have had much to do on the strategic management end of things. That was mostly left to the CEO.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But times have changed drastically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a modern CFO, you have a key role to play when a recession rears its head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a recession, the CFO and finance team are responsible for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Generating new customers through growth strategies while balancing budget realities in a down market.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring operational efficiency and making sure valuable time isn&#8217;t lost to legacy workflows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Running due diligence forecasts on different pricing models to gauge their impact on retention and profitability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optimizing cash management and extending the company&#8217;s cash runway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making sure your tools can accommodate modern SaaS billing models.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What does a startup&#8217;s finance tech stack have to do with all this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-legacy-tools-make-recessions-even-tougher-to-deal-with\"><strong>Legacy tools make recessions even tougher to deal with<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We just discussed your financial responsibilities in a recession, but what about the tools you use?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a downturn, your ability to respond swiftly and successfully to what&#8217;s happening around you largely depends on your tech stack.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One common problem with legacy finance tools is they don&#8217;t feature integration with SaaS metrics that business leaders need for tracking company health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Incomplete or lag-prone financial reporting can spell disaster for your strategic business operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategy is everything in an economic crisis, so you need data that&#8217;s completely trustworthy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legacy tools also lack robust scenario planning, which is a big issue in a recession.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to be able to quickly and easily forecast pricing adjustments, sales and promotions, churn levels, and much more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, legacy tools make strategic collaboration between departments difficult, which is a big problem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, if the CMO has questions about funnel performance or marketing campaigns, they need that data ASAP in order to use it profitably.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reporting lag and the lack of a single source of truth make real-time data sharing impossible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What should your strategy be for avoiding these pitfalls and recession-proofing your tech stack?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hard-times-call-for-a-tech-stack-strategy\"><strong>Hard times call for a tech stack strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we&#8217;ve reviewed the CFO&#8217;s role in generating recession resilience, let&#8217;s discuss the tools that can help you achieve it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are the secret ingredients to a recession-proof tech stack?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-finance-tech-stack-integration\"><strong>1. Finance tech stack integration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Integration, including multiple finance functions in one software solution, is crucial to recession-proofing your tech stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a recession, you&#8217;ll want to do everything you can to extend your cash runway and minimize expenses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Piecemeal tech stacks are known to be more expensive than single-app solutions due to their lack of scalability and the consistent need to upgrade or replace individual components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;re also paying for multiple subscriptions or licenses, which isn&#8217;t the case with an integrated stack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only are integrated tech stacks less expensive, they&#8217;re also more accurate and efficient.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s only natural because you and your employees aren&#8217;t jumping between several different pieces of software to do your work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"856\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-9-856x810.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-9-856x810.png 856w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-9-768x727.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-9.png 1416w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Most important of all, though, is the fact that integration frees you up for strategy formation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a recession, you don&#8217;t have the luxury of wasting time on tech stack assembly and troubleshooting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to spend your time generating revenue and shoring up retention rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-touchless-invoicing-and-subscription-management-ai\"><strong>2. Touchless invoicing and subscription management AI<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In tough economic conditions, billing mistakes or payment gateway errors that trigger involuntary churn are even more problematic than usual.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a recession, your customers will probably feel the same financial stresses you are.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means users will be thinking very carefully about where their money goes and will be less likely to forgive a billing or subscription error.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud accounting software with billing AI and touchless invoicing eliminates those risks entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-real-time-reporting-with-role-based-dashboards\"><strong>3. Real-time reporting with role-based dashboards<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recession, reporting speed and accuracy are central to a SaaS company&#8217;s strategic success.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike traditional companies, software organizations rely on a wide range of specialized metrics such as annual and monthly recurring revenue, customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, churn, and dozens of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud accounting suites provide CFOs with role-based dashboards showing real-time updates on all their financial data.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A recession is no time to let reporting lag interfere with your strategic planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And remember to select an accounting suite with real-time expense tracking for optimal burn rate management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-algorithmic-scenario-planning-and-saas-forecasting\"><strong>4. Algorithmic scenario planning and SaaS forecasting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During a downturn, your SaaS forecasting capabilities become more critical than ever.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud-based forecasts created with machine learning algorithms present numerous advantages over legacy forecasts, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Real-time forecasting and scenario planning: <\/strong>Unlike tedious legacy forecast assembly, machine learning (ML)-generated forecasts just require your initial data inputs followed by a mouse click or two. This allows you and your team to rapidly test different financial strategies to find the best moves during hard times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1122\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-10-1122x810.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12292\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-10-1122x810.png 1122w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-10-768x554.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-10.png 1420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1122px) 100vw, 1122px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Longer forecast range and lower variance rates: <\/strong>The further out and the more accurately you can forecast, the better prepared you&#8217;ll be to manage a recession. Long-range forecast clarity is important for churn management, expense tracking, budgeting, and everything else that helps a SaaS organization weather financial storms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced forecast models for modern SaaS billing: <\/strong>SaaS pricing and billing have become more complex in recent years as customers demand convenience and companies seek to generate recurring revenue in novel ways. Cloud-based accounting suites with ML forecasting can help you easily compare the effects of different pricing structures\u2013such as usage or hybrid billing models\u2013on your bottom line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What else has a place in your tech stack strategy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-robust-saas-billing-model-flexibility\"><strong>5. Robust SaaS billing model flexibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We just discussed the importance of being able to quickly forecast different billing scenarios and the value of invoice automation. Both of those are key advantages in a recession.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there&#8217;s another variable in the equation: billing model flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can your tech stack handle complex billing scenarios at scale?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can you account for billing variables among hundreds or thousands of users?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, depending on your SaaS billing model, you might have to bill hundreds or eventually thousands of users for different usage levels, feature tiers, and other billing variables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need a system with the backend functionality to handle that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Billing flexibility is crucial to maintaining your subscriber base during a recession.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People are naturally more conscious of how they spend their money, and pricing models such as usage or hybrid billing could make them more willing to try your product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-revenue-recognition-automation-and-deferred-revenue-visibility\"><strong>6. Revenue recognition automation and deferred revenue visibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No discussion of tech stack recession-proofing could be complete without mentioning revenue recognition and your ability to track deferred subscription revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Automated revenue recognition is central to recession management because:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You don&#8217;t want to risk compliance fines in a downturn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI eliminates manual revenue recognition errors and revenue leakage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cloud accounting software features automatic updates on regulatory changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to handling ASC 606 requirements, your tech stack should provide crystal-clear visibility into the size and timing of your deferred revenue waterfalls.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a key element of recession budgeting and cash runway management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1058\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-11-1058x810.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-11-1058x810.png 1058w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-11-768x588.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/03\/image-11.png 1416w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1058px) 100vw, 1058px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s one more strategic element we need to cover.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-wait-on-your-tech-stack-strategy\"><strong>Don&#8217;t wait on your tech stack strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from cloud financial management and its advantages\u2013what you could call the &#8220;nuts and bolts&#8221; of your tech stack strategy\u2013there&#8217;s the critical issue of timing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SaaS CFOs who wait until a recession hits to retool their tech stacks will be disadvantaged.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cloud accounting tools are extremely effective in good times and bad, but they&#8217;re not a magic bullet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can expect about 60 days for deployment, and then you have to train the software on your data, and train your team on using the software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, if you wait until a downturn to revamp your tech stack, it may be too late.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or, at the very least, you&#8217;ll find yourself playing catch-up instead of quickly pivoting to match the economic conditions you&#8217;re in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sage-ahead-thrive-in-any-market\"><strong>Sage Ahead: Thrive in any market<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For SaaS CFOs, times have changed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your professional and strategic responsibilities have multiplied, and you&#8217;re not just a back-office role any longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a recession, it&#8217;s largely up to you to lead your organization to the other side financially intact\u2013or, ideally, even better off than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a downturn hits, companies that have recession-proofed their finance tools tend to experience a &#8220;soft landing&#8221; compared to organizations using legacy tech.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s because they have the technological infrastructure to work with real-time data, test different ideas, and quickly pivot to a strategy that&#8217;s ideal for the new conditions they find themselves in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sage Ahead can help you do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sage Ahead is an automated cloud accounting suite built to help modern SaaS CFOs thrive in good times and bad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a streamlined solution complete with 200+ real-time SaaS metrics, 500+ subscription and usage pricing scenarios, touchless invoicing, rev rec AI, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike legacy finance tools, there&#8217;s zero tech stack assembly required, and the software is completely scalable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With easy upgrades and add-ons, it can take you from seed to IPO and beyond.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Especially in a recession, you don&#8217;t have time to waste on piecing together a tech stack and hoping it works.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see what Sage Ahead can do for your organization, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/cp\/sage-ahead-product-tour\/\"><strong>take a free product tour today<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-content__title\">Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-8949a954-88b2-43bb-8b8a-77c53eb34350\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/accounting-101\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccounting 101\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/business-strategy\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbusiness strategy\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/cfo\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFO\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/cfo-3-0\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFO 3.0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/cloud-technology\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcloud technology\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/workplace-technology\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tworkplace technology\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-14436 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-101 tag-cloud-technology business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business business_type-accountants industry-professional-services card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1178687924-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1178687924-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1178687924-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1178687924-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-03-04T09:30:54-05:00\">March 4, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">3 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/transform-professional-services-profitability\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tTransform your professional services firm with this game-changer for profitability\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tDiscover how business intelligence tools drive profitability in professional services with real-time insights and optimized utilization.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 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decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181223319-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181223319-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181223319-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1181223319-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-05-02T06:06:37-04:00\">May 2, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">8 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tCash flow vs profit: Master the twin pillars of business growth and finance\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recession-proof your SaaS tech stack with our tips for CFOs. Can your finance tools help you navigate a downturn? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1765,"featured_media":8134,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[162,169,274,221,171,264],"business_type":[99],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[],"imagine_tag":[35,278],"coauthors":[447],"class_list":["post-10783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-accounting-101","tag-business-strategy","tag-cfo","tag-cfo-3-0","tag-cloud-technology","tag-workplace-technology","business_type-medium-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ca","author_name":"David Appel &#38; Eric Sleeth","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1070958794.jpg","imagine_tags":{"35":"accounting software","278":"SaaS"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Canada English","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1765"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10783\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=10783"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}