Writing For Finance Industry

Many accountants email the balance sheet and income statement to their CEOs and think,   “Job done.”  But here’s the problem: Your CEO is not necessarily trained in reading financial statements. Even if they were, you've just given them an assignment to "figure it out" If your boss doesn’t understand the numbers, then you haven’t communicated. You’ve just forwarded a report.  🚨 A financial statement without context is just data.   📊 Your job is to turn that data into insights.  How to Present Financials the Right Way  📌 1️⃣ Give a One-Page Summary 🔹 Highlight key figures—Revenue, Profit, Cash Flow, and Key Ratios.   🔹 Include clear takeaways (e.g., “Revenue grew 10%, but margins dropped due to rising costs.”).   🔹 Avoid technical jargon—simplify complex metrics.  📌 2️⃣ Answer the Big Questions   Your CEO doesn’t want numbers—they want meaning. Help them understand:   🔹 What changed? (“Profit dropped 5% due to higher shipping costs.”)   🔹 Why did it happen? (“Fuel prices increased 20% this quarter.”)   🔹 What should we do next? (“We should renegotiate supplier contracts.”)  📌 3️⃣ Use Visuals   🔹 Graphs > Tables—a well-designed chart can explain in seconds.   🔹 Use color-coded trends (e.g., 🔴 Negative, 🟢 Positive).   🔹 Keep it clean—no clutter, no distractions. 📌 4️⃣ Speak the CEO’s Language   🔹 Skip the accounting terminology—focus on impact.   🔹 Tie financials to business goals:     - Sales grew 15% → “We’re expanding market share.”     - Cash flow dipped → “We need to tighten collections.” ✅ Financial statements don’t speak for themselves—you do.   ✅ Numbers are useless without insights.  If your CEO isn’t making better decisions because of your reports, then your job isn’t done.  💡 Don’t just report numbers—explain them. That's how you add value and impact.

Selling to leadership is tough. Learn to speak finance, and everything changes. (This works for both B2B sales and internal pitches.) Speak the language of financial metrics and business impact, and you’ll earn buy-in. Whether you’re pitching a product, service, or internal idea, this skill makes you a trusted partner to decision-makers. Want to dive deeper? Download my free guide “10 Levels of Profitability” here: https://bit.ly/40pY3CQ Here’s why: Executives don’t want fluff. They need to know *how* your solution or proposal will impact their business financially. Here’s how to make your pitch resonate: 1️⃣ Talk Margins, Not Just Savings ↳ Show how your solution improves gross, operating, or net profit margins. Make it clear how it improves topline or streamlines processes to ultimately add value to the bottom line. 2️⃣ Connect to Cash Flow ↳ Highlight how your solution will boost cash flow, not just the bottom-line. Smart executives prioritize cash flow over simple revenue increases or cost savings because it keeps the business stable and flexible. 3️⃣ Show ROI and Payback Period ↳ Present clear numbers on return on investment (ROI) and how quickly they’ll see a payback. Executives need to know when their investment will yield results. 4️⃣ Impact Key Financial Ratios ↳ Explain how your proposal enhances key metrics like ROE (Return on Equity), ROA (Return on Assets), or EBITDA. This demonstrates that you understand their financial framework and how your solution strengthens it. 5️⃣ Talk Risk Management ↳ Show that you’ve considered potential downsides. Demonstrate how your proposal mitigates financial risk and supports long-term stability—not just quick gains. Why this matters: 1️⃣ You Stand Out ↳ Most sales pitches and internal proposals focus on benefits. When you speak in terms of financial strategy and impact, you differentiate yourself. 2️⃣ You Build Trust ↳ Speaking their language shows you understand their challenges, priorities, and goals. 3️⃣ You Become Indispensable ↳ When you can prove your solution impacts key business metrics, you shift from being just another vendor or team member to a trusted advisor. If you want to learn finance strategy to elevate your pitch and proposals, join 3,000 learning with me here: https://bit.ly/famcol Remember: Learn to speak finance, and you’ll open doors that most can’t. ♻️ 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to help someone else. And follow Oana Labes, MBA, CPA for more  

How to Hook an Audience—Even If Your Subject Matter Is Dry or Serious Most people find finance boring or intimidating. At first, I said no. Then I said heck no. But my client pushed back. “You have a finance background. Why not help demystify it?” And I couldn’t help but think… Can I make finance fun? I love finance. I spent 15 years on the trading floor—I still geek out over financial markets. But I also know this: Most people find finance intimidating or boring. So I took on the challenge. How do you hook an audience—even when your topic is complex, dry, or just plain serious? Simple. You don’t teach it like a textbook. 🚫 Ditch the jargon. 🚫 Ditch the formulas. 🚫 Ditch the “this is how it’s always been taught” mindset. Instead, make it human: ✅ Start with what they care about (not what you want to teach). ✅ Use stories, analogies, and real-world examples. ✅ Help them see the impact—not just the information. Because people don’t engage with data—they engage with meaning. And that’s the real lesson here—great teaching isn’t about dumping information. It’s about making people care. 💡 Want to be memorable? Meet your audience where they are. Make it relatable. Make it relevant. Make it fun. And then, at the end of the session, my client turned to me and said: “Anna, I think you should teach finance more. You made it so much fun! I can see you as a star in this area. I’ve sat through so many finance trainings, and yours was really engaging.” 🤦🏻♀️ (Face palm.) 💬 Ever had to make a dry topic engaging? What worked for you? #whatsyourstory #storytelling

In my Finance organization, storytelling is a focus area. Everyone should be able to tell a story about our financial performance, not just present the numbers. No one wants to see drab slides filled with floating numbers and percentages –finance leaders are expected to communicate captivating narratives that articulate what the data means... and recommend next steps. The same goes for any leader. 💡     If you’re wondering where to begin, invest. Invest in bolstering your storytelling muscle. A few months back, we hosted a storytelling workshop. Former journalists, communication experts, and storytellers challenged my team by sharing new frameworks and presentation tips while transforming data points into actionable insights and compelling narratives. As a result, our team observed our financial data through a new lens. Plus, we're embedding these best practices into the fabric of our work. ✅     Think of a story as “a vehicle for making a larger point,” as mentioned in this recent Forbes article: https://lnkd.in/gjwmaYt2      The big takeaways: know your message, know your audience, and elevate your leadership presence by delivering a compelling story.       As a CFO, I know firsthand how important it is to invest in this muscle to be a more effective communicator. And one more tip – preparation is key. 💪      #storytelling ServiceNow  

Want to Master Financial Analysis? But struggling to start? Here is a 30 day plan for you! Just follow it, and repeat the final 6 days on multiple companies. SAVE this post, and SHARE with your network Follow me (Peeyush Chitlangia, CFA) if you are building a career in Finance In the below plan, every day, make it a point to understand as much as you can about the topic of that day. Day 1: P&L - Understand Revenues and Costs Day 2: P&L - Profit Measures -Gross Profit, EBITDA, Net Profit Day 3: Balance Sheet Relevance Day 4: Balance Sheet : Long Term Assets Day 5: Balance Sheet : Short Term Assets Day 6: Balance Sheet : Equity Day 7: Balance Sheet : Long Term Liabilities Day 8: Balance Sheet : Short Term Liabilities Day 9: Cash Flow Statement Relevance Day 10: Cash Flow from Operating Activities Day 11: Cash Flow from Investing Activities Day 12: Cash Flow from Financing Activities Day 13: How Financial Statements Link with Each Other Day 14: Common Size Analysis - P&L Day 15: Common Size Analysis - Balance Sheet Day 16: Introduction to Ratios Day 17: Profitability Ratios - OPM, NPM Day 18: Return Ratios - ROE, ROCE, ROA Day 19: Debt Ratios - Debt to Equity, Interest Coverage, Net Debt/EBITDA Day 20: Turnover Ratios - Asset, Inventory, Receivable Day 21: Liquidity Ratios - Current Ratio, Quick Ratio Day 22: Growth Ratios - Sales growth, profit growth, CAGR Day 23: Understanding Working Capital Day 24: Cash Conversion Cycle Day 25: Case Study - Pick a company and get details of financials Day 26: Case Study - Calculate Ratios Day 27: Case Study - Working Capital Analysis Day 28: Case Study - Read Annual Report Day 29: Case Study - Identify key numbers + Notes to Accounts Day 30: Revise Key Concepts Watch your understanding soar in 30 days! Do tell me which company are you picking up and working on? ------- We have a few videos on Financial Analysis on our YouTube Channel. Financial Statement Analysis of DMart: https://lnkd.in/dYcQvPzB How to read an Annual Report https://lnkd.in/dtt674gu Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more such videos https://lnkd.in/dR4nvGxd

Copywriters: Before you write a single word of copy, make sure you're crystal clear on these 5 crucial questions: This will help ensure your message is clear, compelling, and effective. 1. What is the offer? Clearly define what you are promoting. Is it a product, service, event, or something else? Understand every detail of the offer to communicate its value accurately. 2. Who is the target audience? Identify who you are speaking to. What are their demographics, interests, pain points, and desires? Tailoring your message to resonate with your specific audience is key to capturing their attention. 3. Why should they care? Highlight the benefits and value propositions. Why is this offer relevant to them? How will it solve their problems or enhance their lives? Establishing a strong connection between the offer and the audience's needs is critical. 4. How can they get it? Provide clear and concise instructions on the steps they need to take to get the offer. Whether it's making a purchase, signing up, or any other action, ensure the process is straightforward and easy to follow. 5. How does it work? Explain the mechanics of the offer. How will the product or service be delivered? What can the audience expect after they engage with the offer? Transparency builds trust and reduces any potential friction in the decision-making process. --- Your ability to address these questions throughout your copy will make a HUGE difference in its reception and performance.

Finance writing is easy and stupid.   → How to maintain an 800+ CIBIL score → Difference between insurance and investment → How to close a 20-year home loan in 12 years   That’s it.   You take inspiration from the best-performing YouTube videos, Twitter threads, and Reddit questions.   And your job is done. You’re a finance writer.   WRONG.   Finance content is much beyond the basics of money management tips.   I write for: → A financial planner specializing in retirement planning → A SaaS platform building a GST ecosystem for CAs and CFOs → An AI accountant helping small businesses make faster decisions  → A fintech startup simplifying remittances for NRIs and freelancers   Now tell me:   Can I write “7 benefits of prepayment” or “Why freelancers need health insurance” for all of them?   No.   Because real finance content isn’t general. It’s strategic.   It builds trust and supports the reader's goals. It solves for the reader, not the algorithm. It’s based on positioning. It doesn’t chase clicks.   So no, finance writing isn’t easy.   Not if you're doing it right. And definitely not if you're writing to convert, not just educate.

Great idea, But… What’s the ROI on this investment? How will this idea help us grow our top line? What’s the margin that we will earn on this service? Raise your hand (virtually) if these questions sound familiar. I can already count 4 distinct instances just this past week where I faced such questions. Now, I will be the first to admit that I have no formal education in Finance and struggled for years early on in my career in making sense of it all. Acronyms such as ROI, ROC, GM, NPV were all foreign to me and I struggled to decipher financial jargon. But here's the good news: Financial literacy, just like any other skill, can be learned and it’s never too late to get started and improve. Regardless of your role, function, or position in an organization, understanding the language of finance is crucial. It deepens your understanding of the business and amplifies your influence - boosting your career growth. To help you accelerate this journey, I reached out to my friend Kurtis Hanni, a fractional CFO and writer of the Frameworks & Finance Newsletter - for some advice. Here are Kurtis's top 3 tips to strengthen financial acumen: 1. Ask questions of financial experts you know. The biggest issue with a lack of financial knowledge is the fear associated with not knowing. ↳I promise you: Accountants don’t understand marketing and sales. When you understand the numbers related to your part of the business, you gain a competitive advantage not only in your department but in the business as a whole. Who do you think a CEO is going to pick for a new initiative? The one who talked about the financial impact of their proposal or the one who didn’t? Ask: What financial metrics are you looking at in my department? What does success look like financially? 2. Read the Annual Report’s of your favorite companies. Boring, I know. But the best way to improve is to get more reps. ↳It’s hard to get enough in the real world, so search “Company Name 10k Report” and get to reading. Read the company background and risks sections, then look at the financials and financial notes. Do this a few times and you’ll start to understand how these businesses think about their money. Start with the businesses you know like Apple, Google, Amazon, and Nike. 3. Consume the basics. If you want to go the extra mile, find experts to learn from. ↳Take a class, subscribe to a newsletter, listen to a podcast, and consume financial news. There are an abundance of resources out there, so find one you enjoy and make it a regular part of your consumption habit. Some good ones are: Morning Brew, Acquired Podcast, and Khan Academy “Accounting and Financial Statements” course. Don’t be intimidated by the numbers, and begin developing your financial acumen today - your future career will be grateful. Do give Kurtis a follow and join over 30K+ professionals who receive his weekly newsletter Frameworks & Finance (link in the comment box).

Many financial advisors struggle to build a strong social media brand. But you don’t have to be one of them. When I first started, my social media presence was stagnant. But I quickly realized how crucial it is to build trust and credibility online For financial advisors, it's especially important to understand that your audience values authenticity and expertise above all else. I knew I needed a better strategy to grow on social media. So, I worked hard to understand my audience and experimented with different types of content. Over time, I figured out what works, and now I’m sharing these strategies with you. ✅ Share Your Daily Habits: → Let people in on the routines that shape your day and your financial expertise → Authenticity helps build a stronger connection with your clients. ✅ Highlight Your Unique Traits: → Make sure your posts reflect your true personality and financial philosophy. → Be yourself; it’s the best way to stand out in the crowded market. ✅ Understand Your Audience: → Get to know your clients' needs and connect with them on a deeper level. →Tailor your content to what they find valuable and interesting. ✅ Be Open About Your Thoughts: → Share your decision-making process and market insights. → Transparency fosters trust and credibility in your financial advice. ✅ Show Your Passion: → Don’t hesitate to be emotionally open about why you do what you do. → Genuine emotions resonate deeply and build loyalty. ✅ Engage Consistently: → Regular interaction builds trust and familiarity. → Make engagement a daily habit to stay top of mind. ✅ Share Success Stories: →Highlight your clients' achievements and how you helped them reach their goals. → Real success stories motivate potential clients and provide valuable insights. ✅ Provide Value: → Offer actionable insights or tips that can help your audience in their financial journey. → Valuable content keeps your audience coming back for more. Your authenticity is your strongest asset. Use it to build real connections and make a lasting impact. How do you keep your social media content engaging and authentic? P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Enjoy this post? Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

Master the art of Financial Storytelling 🧑🏫 Your numbers tell a story, but are you telling it right? 👇 Numbers without context are just digits on a page. The real power comes from transforming those numbers into insights that drive action. ➡️ COMMON MISTAKES IN FINANCIAL REPORTING Let's start with what NOT to do when presenting financials: 1️⃣ Dropping raw numbers without context Raw data overwhelms your audience. When you say "Revenue grew to $100K," what does that mean for the business? 2️⃣ Reading slide content word-for-word Your presentation should add value beyond what's written. Share insights that aren't visible in the numbers. 3️⃣ Rushing through without pausing for questions Financial data needs time to digest. Create moments for discussion and clarification. ➡️ BUILDING A COMPELLING FINANCIAL STORY Here's how to transform your financial presentations: 1️⃣ Start with the fundamentals Always begin by establishing context. What's normal? What's exceptional? What benchmarks matter? 2️⃣ Connect data points to strategy Show how financial results link to business decisions. If working capital improved, explain which specific actions drove that improvement. 3️⃣ Use comparisons effectively - Period over period changes - Budget vs actuals - Year over year trends - Industry benchmarks 4️⃣ Structure your narrative - What happened? - Why did it happen? - What does it mean for the future? - What actions should we take? ➡️ COMPONENTS OF GREAT FINANCIAL STORYTELLING 1️⃣ Clear Dashboards Start with a clean, focused view of KPIs that matter most. Don't overwhelm with data. 2️⃣ Strategic Context Show how financial results connect to company goals and market conditions. 3️⃣ Forward-Looking Analysis Use current data to paint a picture of future opportunities and challenges. 4️⃣ Action Items End every presentation with clear next steps and decision points. ➡️ PRACTICAL TIPS FOR IMPLEMENTATION 1️⃣ Know your audience CFO needs different details than the marketing team. Adjust your depth accordingly. 2️⃣ Use visual aids Graphs and charts can illustrate trends better than tables of numbers. 3️⃣ Practice active listening Watch for confusion or disengagement. Adjust your presentation based on real-time feedback. 4️⃣ Create discussion points Plan specific moments to pause and engage with your audience. === Remember: Financial storytelling isn't about making numbers sound good. It's about helping stakeholders make informed decisions. What techniques do you use to make financial data more engaging? Share your thoughts in the comments below 👇