7 Finance Best Practices to Help Your Business Thrive in Times of Uncertainty

From economic ups and downs to supply chain disruption, here’s how smart finance teams are staying resilient, adaptive, and ready for anything.

Disruption has become a permanent fixture in today’s business landscape. Whether it’s economic volatility, geopolitical shifts, regulatory change, or a global pandemic, the unexpected keeps showing up and reshaping how we operate.

So how are finance leaders in Australia and New Zealand building the resilience their organisations need?

As a finance leader, your ability to adapt, respond, and build resilience is what sets you apart. But agility doesn’t happen by accident, it’s a result of intentional strategies and smart technology.

At SAP Concur, we’ve seen first-hand how companies that adopt 7 core best practices in spend and financial management are better positioned to face uncertainty with confidence. These practices empower CFOs, finance directors, and procurement leaders to respond to change quickly and make smarter decisions without losing control.

7 Best Practices for Weathering Unexpected Change

How to build a resilient, adaptable business that can endure sudden changes in business climate.

Download best practices

Here’s a sneak peek at what works:

1. Prioritise Visibility

When you can see where your money is going, across travel, expenses, and invoices, you’re better equipped to make fast, informed decisions. Visibility allows you to identify trends, reduce risk, and respond with confidence when the unexpected hits.

2. Control What You Can

Change might be inevitable, but control is still possible. Organisations that centralise spend and automate workflows are better able to manage risk and enforce compliance. With automated policy enforcement and smart approval paths, you’re not left guessing.

3. Stay Agile with Automation

Manual processes can hold your team back when speed is critical. Automating time-consuming tasks like expense submissions, approvals, and invoice matching frees up your team to focus on strategy, not paperwork.

4. Monitor and Adjust

Successful finance teams continuously monitor performance and spend trends. With real-time reporting and analytics, you can adjust budgets and policies on the fly, ensuring you stay on track even when conditions shift.

5. Adapt Quickly

The faster you can respond, the better your outcomes. Whether it’s implementing new travel policies or reallocating budget during a crisis, businesses that use integrated digital tools can pivot with less disruption.

6. Think Ahead

It’s not just about reacting, it’s about preparing. Finance leaders should take lessons from past disruptions to identify future risks and opportunities. Proactively updating processes, policies, and systems can build true financial resilience.

7. Empower Employees

Your people are your front line. Make it easy for them to comply with policies by giving them user-friendly tools for submitting expenses, booking travel, and making purchases. When employees are empowered, compliance improves, without the friction.

What These Best Practices Mean for You

No matter the size of your organisation, these strategies can help you weather the next storm:

• Small Businesses benefit from agility and automation that lets them scale without chaos.

• Mid-size Companies can streamline processes while maintaining control and visibility.

• Large Enterprises can enforce global policies consistently while staying adaptable and efficient.

Ready to build a more resilient finance function?

👉 Download Now: Seven Best Practices for Weathering Unexpected Change