by Robin Bergholm, Head of Working Capital Management, Wholesale Banking, Nordea
Working capital management is a critical function of business — maintaining smooth cash flows may sound simple but for today’s sophisticated, multinational organisations, it becomes a hugely complex task.
Vital, but misunderstood
Surveys show that leaders recognise the importance of working capital management. For example, it was ranked as a “significant priority” for CFOs in Protiviti’s 2014 Financial Priorities Survey1. It is easy to see why: companies that manage their capital well benefit from better cash flow; they enjoy greater return on their invested capital; and they minimise the cost of borrowing.
But Nordic organisations are having a tough time of it. PwC’s 2013 survey2 of working capital performance found an overall 7% deterioration in working capital ratios in the Nordics, while the rest of Europe improved year on year. Working capital in the Nordics stands on average at a 21% of sales, far higher than many European counterparts.
Sign up for free to read the full article
Register Login with LinkedInAlready have an account?
Login![](https://tmi-p4publishing.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/App@2x.png)
Download our Free Treasury App for mobile and tablet to read articles – no log in required.
Download Version Download Version