Keeping the Numbers Steady & the Cash Flow Strong – A Finance Leader’s Perspective

Over the years in finance leadership, I’ve realised that meeting targets and keeping cash flow healthy is like balancing on a moving train — the destination is clear, but the ride is full of unexpected turns.

I remember early in my career, I used to think “Once the monthly targets are set, the rest will fall into place.” But experience taught me that the numbers don’t take care of themselves — you have to stay close to them every single day.

Here’s what I do now:

🔹 Forecast like a realist, plan like an optimist. I base projections on hard data and market realities, but I also build space for ambition. Targets should stretch us, not break us.

🔹 Treat cash flow like oxygen. I track inflows and outflows with precision, maintain buffers, and prepare for those “just in case” moments — because in business, they always come.

🔹 Spend with purpose. Cost management isn’t about cutting; it’s about making every rupee work harder, without losing sight of quality and growth.

What I’ve learned is that finance leadership isn’t just about hitting the numbers — it’s about building resilience so we can hit them again next month, and the month after that, no matter what changes around us.

💬 How do you balance achieving targets with keeping cash flow strong in your role?

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