Managing business finances goes far beyond tracking basic income and expenses. Many companies believe they have financial control, but are caught off guard by unexpected problems and unspoken losses. A survey conducted by Sebrae (2023) reveals that 38% of small and medium-sized Brazilian businesses close due to problems directly related to inadequate financial management. This article will help you clearly identify the main signs of this lack of financial control and offer practical strategies to reverse these problems.
1. Frequent errors in bank reconciliation
Many companies perform manual bank reconciliations, taking hours and days to review bank statements and identify discrepancies. Small errors go unnoticed, leading to rework and inconsistencies in monthly financial reports.
According to a PwC survey (2022), 47% of Brazilian companies experience difficulties with bank reconciliation, resulting in an average productivity loss of up to 30% in the finance department.
Practical tip: Use automated systems like UniFinanças to perform reconciliations quickly, reduce manual errors, and ensure greater data accuracy.
2. Lack of clarity in cash flow
A constant fact in Brazil is that managers fail to anticipate financial deficits, making decisions without sufficient and accurate information. This lack of predictability leads to emergency loans and late payments.
The Deloitte report (2023) highlights that 62% of companies that went bankrupt had poorly managed cash flows, directly affecting their investment and planning capacity.
Practical tip: Automate cash flow control with online financial platforms that update data in real time, enabling quick and assertive decisions.
Also read: Business Intelligence: Empowering SMEs with Data
3. Difficulty issuing and controlling invoices
Delays in issuing electronic invoices (NF-e) and errors in tax data lead to problems with the tax authorities, fines, and additional expenses for accounting corrections.
According to data from the Federal Accounting Council (CFC, 2023), 35% of Brazilian companies regularly face problems managing electronic tax documents.
Practical tip: Use integrated tools like UniFinanças to automatically issue electronic invoices (NF-e) for sales, drastically reducing errors and ensuring tax compliance.
4. Uncontrolled stock
Imagine losing products or allowing them to become obsolete in your inventory due to a lack of adequate control, causing ongoing losses and difficulty meeting specific demands.
A Gartner survey (2023) indicates that almost half of companies face significant financial losses related to inventory, representing up to 10% of their annual revenue.
Practical tip: Implement integrated management systems that offer up-to-date and centralized inventory control, enabling better working capital management and reducing waste.
See more at: Gartner – Supply Chain Insights
5. Delays and errors in monthly accounting closing
Monthly accounting closes can become a nightmare, with incomplete documents, duplicate entries, and a lack of clarity, leading to constant rework and delays in submitting tax obligations.
According to the Regional Accounting Council (CRC, 2023), companies that don’t automate accounting processes spend up to 40% more time on monthly closes and financial reports.
Practical tip: Use centralized financial management platforms to automatically generate accounting reports, ensuring speed, accuracy, and ease of monthly closes.
Benefits of Digital Financial Integration
Digital financial integration allows all financial processes to be centralized on a single platform, ensuring effective communication between different departments. This significantly improves the visibility of financial data, providing clarity and assertiveness in strategic decision-making.
Furthermore, integration drastically reduces human error by minimizing the need for multiple manual data entries. According to a study by Accenture (2022), companies that adopted integrated solutions saw a reduction of up to 40% in operational errors related to financial processes.
Another important benefit is increased operational efficiency. By automating and integrating financial processes, teams gain more time for strategic activities and in-depth analysis, directly contributing to the continuous improvement of the company’s financial results.
Good Practices in Digital Financial Management
Adopting robust digital tools is essential. Choose secure, intuitive financial platforms with efficient technical support, ensuring your team can fully utilize them to achieve the best results.
Establish clear and standardized processes for digital financial management. This includes regular internal and external audit procedures, periodic training for the teams involved, and defining specific responsibilities and access within the systems.
Finally, foster a data-driven organizational culture where everyone understands the importance of efficient financial management. Use dashboards and automated reports regularly to ensure transparency and smooth communication between departments.