PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
Barclays, the U.K. financial firm, is having a tough go of it with its new DIY investment website , with customers facing all sorts of problems from not being able to log into accounts to missing transactions. According to a news report in The Financial Times , the new DIY investment website is a replacement for its stockbroking service, with it moving more than 200,000 customers over during the long weekend.
Katz,Sapper&Miller
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Katie Culp, president of KSM Location Advisors, part of the Katz, Sapper & Miller Network, recently joined Tracy Betz, partner at Taft Law, and Marian Hodges, VP of operations at Data Realty, as a panelist at the IWL Foundation’s eighth annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Rafael Sanchez, president and CEO of Indianapolis Power & Light Company, moderated the panel.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) startup space is no longer in the limelight, but this week venture capitalists put their own spotlight on the industry, providing more than $75 million to four firms in the sector. The companies range from product life cycle management solutions to those that help other SaaS firms retain clients. Plus, backers showed an interest in small business finance and B2B eCommerce.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Scientists have discovered that Siri, Amazon’s Alexa and other voice assistant programs can be controlled using inaudible ultrasound commands. The Verge reported news that researchers at China’s Zheijiang University have found that these inaudible commands can be a new cyberattack method for hackers targeting phones, tablets and even cars. To prove their theory, researchers created a program to translate normal voice commands into frequencies too high for humans to hear using harmonics.
Advertiser: Paycor
Mid-year performance reviews aren’t just boxes for HR to check. Paycor’s toolkit empowers leaders to: Identify high-potential team members. Boost engagement with meaningful feedback. Support struggling employees. Nurture top talent to drive results. Learn how to ignite employee potential through meaningful feedback. When you nurture top talent, everybody wins.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
NACHA, the Electronic Payments Association, announced Friday several staffing changes along with realignment of some responsibilities – efforts the overseer of the ACH network said would dovetail with new strategic directions. . Those strategic directions involve reducing friction and boosting use of the ACH Network, with additional aims of diversifying the organization itself.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
A new study has found that the number of payment cards issued globally reached 14 billion last year and is predicted to rise to 17 billion by 2022, boosted by an increase in overall debit card issuance. RBR , a strategic research and consulting firm, recently published its “Global Payment Cards Data and Forecasts to 2022” report. The firm found the number of payment cards worldwide increased by 8 percent to 14 billion in 2016, and those numbers are expected to rise by 22 percent to 17 billion by
Accountant Advocate brings together the best content for small business accounting professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
Walmart is raising the bar on product delivery after two years of study on how goods flow from suppliers and retail distribution centers onto store shelves. According to an article published by Arkansas Online , findings unveiled that a four-day delivery window was actually 10 days long. The study also revealed products were rather inexact in their journeys: Some show up early, some arrived late and the whole supply chain suffered as a result.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
When organizations take in and pay out purchase orders and invoices, what does the perfect payment look like? Bob Sneed, vice president of corporate payments for the payment processing and information management service company WEX , said in a recent interview with Karen Webster that the profile will be different for every organization. Sneed said that efforts to manage corporate payments strategically will fall short until organizations can answer this question.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Uber is the focus of a federal investigation in New York as authorities determine whether the ridesharing company used software to interfere illegally with its competitors. The Wall Street Journal reported on the investigation, citing sources familiar with the process. The probe, led by the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, is focused on a defunct Uber program, known internally as “Hell,” which could track drivers working for r
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Generally speaking, the merits of brushing teeth are not a hard sell for must humans and have not been for the last 5,000 or so years. Because yes, brushing one’s teeth is a shockingly old tradition. The first “toothbrushes” appeared in 3,000 BCE, making the invention of proper oral hygiene roughly contemporary with the invention of written language.
Speaker: Victor C. Barnes, CPA, MBA
In the climb from contributor to leader, the rules quietly change. But if you’re aiming for the summit, the air gets thinner, and what got you here won’t be enough to get you to the top. 🗻 What made you successful early in your finance career—technical accuracy, sharp analysis, flawless execution—won’t be what carries you to the next level. The higher you go, the more your effectiveness depends on how you connect, adapt, and communicate.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
The U.K. is leading contactless payments adoptions 10 years after the technology first emerged, according to a new report from Visa. The credit card company’s annual Digital Payments report, released Friday (Sept. 1) and sent to PYMNTS, found that two-thirds of the 2,000 consumers surveyed in the U.K. say they have used contactless card technology to make a payment since the technology was first launched in September 2007.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Football season is here, and with it, everyone’s favorite stadium food (and least favorite stadium snack prices). According to The Cheat Sheet , a slice of pizza sees a markup of 69 percent to 75 percent at most sports stadiums. Popcorn is looking at 82 percent to 92 percent. And in many cases, snow cones are closing in on 100 percent markup. Thirsty?
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Lifestyle brand Rebecca Minkoff has announced an expanded partnership with Alipay which will allow customers in the U.S. to pay with the payment method at Rebecca Minkoff retail locations and online at rebeccaminkoff.com. The announcement precedes the launch of the brand’s fall line, currently being unveiled at New York Fashion Week. Going forward, all locations in the U.S. — including its New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles stores — will be accepting the Alipay mobile wallet
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Corporate spend on business trips is headed towards $1.6 trillion by 2020, according to the latest figures from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The figure represents a 5.6 percent increase in travel spend among corporations each year between 2015 and the end of the decade. This may be great news for travel and entertainmen (T&E) service providers and travel suppliers, but for the corporate spenders themselves, this is a lot of corporate cash.
Speaker: Kim Beynon, CPA, CGMA, PMP
The most overlooked, yet most critical, element of transformation is preparing people for change. Automation and AI aren't just technical upgrades, they’re cultural shifts which can challenge identities. That’s why change management isn’t a side project—it’s the foundation. In finance, where precision and process rule, navigating change can feel especially disruptive.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Mastercard announced news that it is expanding its Digital Vendor program with the launch of Mastercard Engage. The company’s Digital Vendor program is a list of vendors serving issuers around the globe to help them bring to market their Masterpass digital wallets and tokenize payment credentials in an easy and quick manner. The directory lists both global and regional vendors and provides information about each vendor’s digital payments offering and geographical presence.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Sweden is looking to become an epicenter for entrepreneurs and hopes to entice small businesses to set up shop, thanks to tax legislation changes in the country. Reports Tuesday (Sept. 5) in Reuters noted Sweden, which has its sights set on having the lowest unemployment rate in Europe by the end of the decade, is planning to cut taxes for small businesses that are hiring their first employees.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Amazon.com has issued a request for proposals (RFP) from local and state government officials as it looks to open its second headquarters (Hq2) in the U.S. In a company press release , the eCommerce giant said it will invest more than $5 billion in “construction and operation of Amazon HQ2,” and that the second Amazon headquarters will be home to as many as 50,0000 high-paying Amazon jobs.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Cross-border B2B payments company Veem is integrating with cloud accounting platform Xero. Veem announced Thursday (Sept. 7) that a partnership with Xero means joint corporate users will have access to global payments capabilities, with companies able to sync invoices from Xero into Veem to pay bills. Users can now pay their bills directly from within the Xero platform, the companies said, with support for multiple currencies and payments to more than 60 countries.
Speaker: Mark Gilham, FCCA, CPP
Finance used to be the function that counted, now it's the one that’s counted on. 📊 For accounting firms, controllers, and finance leaders, expectations are rising faster than headcount. Businesses want agile forecasts, granular analysis, seamless reporting, and smart automation—often without added resources while demanding uncompromised accuracy and compliance.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Google has added a new partner to its Google Home voice ordering portfolio. Home Depot announced Thursday (Sept. 7) it is the newest retailer to team up with Google as it looks to expand its digital sales horizon. Home Depot has confirmed it will now begin selling products on Google Home devices as well as via the Google Express commerce portal online and on mobile.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
Top credit card companies are taking an early opportunity to ensure their corporate cards work with new smartwatches. Reports in Business Travel News said Friday (Aug. 31) that American Express, Mastercard and Visa have all enabled their commercial cards to work with Fitbit Ionic, a smartwatch launching in October, and Mastercard and Visa have enabled theirs for the Vioactive 3 smartwatch.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Weeks after reports surfaced that some small business accounts at HSBC had been frozen, a result of the FI revamping anti-money laundering (AML) crackdowns, HSBC has said it is compensating some of the businesses affected. Published by Reuters on Thursday (Sept. 7), reports noted HSBC has offered to pay some of the U.K. small businesses, according to unnamed sources.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
It’s been more than two years since the Federal Reserve issued its Strategies for Improving the U.S. Payment System paper, in which the Fed outlined initiatives for the payments industry and its stakeholders to promote progress. For the Fed, progress means improving the speed, security and efficiency of the payments system, and to focus on international payments capabilities and promote collaboration within the field.
Advertiser: Paycor
Great leadership development is the key to sustainable business growth. Are you ready to design an effective program? HR can use Paycor’s framework to: Set achievable goals. Align employee and company needs. Support different learning styles. Empower the next generation of leaders. Invest in your company’s future with a strong leadership development program.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Target recently announced it has lowered its prices on thousands of items, a news report which resulted in its stock price falling more than 3 percent. In a company blog post , Target noted it has put its “prices and promotions under the microscope.”. “We want our guests to feel a sense of satisfaction every time they shop at Target,” says Mark Tritton, Target executive vice president and chief merchandising officer.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Humans produce an almost staggering amount of waste each year. People purchased 480 billion plastic bottles in 2016 and are on track to increase that figure by more than 100 billion by 2021. More than 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been manufactured since the early 1950s. While some fraction of it is recycled annually, the vast majority of it ends up in landfills or in the ocean.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
There are those who get excited about AI and those who fear it — and for everyone in between, there’s speculation. The AI industry is never short on innovations, but some people questioned this week whether making innovations quickly is a good thing. With speed, accuracy can suffer. However, in the world of AI, sometimes there are no limitations.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
The outlook for small- and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. remains steadily positive, with the latest employment figures showing strong jobs growth. But there is more to SMB success than employment data. A recent report from Paychex released last week found that there are a host of regulations that small business owners are keeping their eyes on as state- and local-level policymakers initiate change.
Speaker: Cheryl J. Muldrew-McMurtry
Distributed finance teams are rewriting how the back-office runs, and attackers are taking notes. Disconnected workflows, process blind spots, and rising cyber threats are more than just growing pains—they’re liabilities. The challenge isn’t just going remote. It’s building resilient systems that protect accuracy, control, and speed across every transaction and touchpoint.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017
Payment processor company Visa and BillDesk, an India-based electronic payments provider, announced Wednesday (Sept. 6) they had successfully enabled 50 large service providers for the Bharat QR payments acceptance platform. In a press release, the companies said the achievement occurred in a month, extending the digital payment facility to potentially more than 300 million consumers.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 5, 2017
In Europe, Brexit may be setting up to have an outsized effect on small and mid-sized firms, hitting them in the form of higher costs tied to banking. The Wall Street Journal reports that the impact looms as banks could see nearly $18 billion in restructuring costs once the U.K.’s severance from the EU becomes reality. There could be billions more in new capital requirements, which means that lending (and thus, borrowing) may become more expensive.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Wells Fargo saw a federal appeals court Thursday (Sept. 7) order a federal district judge to take another look at a whistleblower lawsuit lodged against the bank. According to a news report by Reuters , the lawsuit is by two ex-employees who contend they were let go for trying to report misdeeds by lenders that Wells Fargo later acquired. The 2nd U.S.
PYMNTS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
In China, pearly whites may get you supper, at least at one KFC location in one Chinese city. Reuters recently reported customers at one of the firm’s outlets in Hangzhou will be able to pay for their meals with “Smile to Pay” biometric facial recognition technology. The payment method’s adoption is part of a movement by chain owner Yum China Holdings to bring in business from a younger consumer subset.
Speaker: Frank Taliano
Documents are the backbone of enterprise operations, but they are also a common source of inefficiency. From buried insights to manual handoffs, document-based workflows can quietly stall decision-making and drain resources. For large, complex organizations, legacy systems and siloed processes create friction that AI is uniquely positioned to resolve.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
65 
Let's personalize your content