Hi Reader,

Managing cash flow used to give me headaches - constantly chasing payments, wrestling with messy forecasts, and debating tough expense cuts.

But over the years, I've developed a practical system that transformed those headaches into clear, actionable steps.

Today, I’m sharing my personal playbook—the CASH system. It’s simple, pragmatic, and, most importantly, it works.

Before we dive into my framework, I want to inform you about a webcast you can't afford to miss.

Why AI Needs Clean Data

AI is only as smart as the data you feed it. And most companies? Their data’s a mess—scattered across teams, tools, and formats.

I believe having all your data in one place is going to be one of the biggest key competitive advantage for companies.

That’s why, when SAP asked me to share their webinar about how they can help with data, I knew it was a perfect fit for you—my regular readers.

At the event, you’ll see how businesses are actually using SAP Business Data Cloud to:

• Make faster, more confident decisions thanks to better organized data
• Build a foundation that’s ready for AI (not stuck cleaning up spreadsheets)

If data chaos is holding you back, this is the kind of event that could change things for you.

​Reserve your seat here​

This event is organized and sponsored by SAP.

The C.A.S.H Framework

C – Collections Efficiency

If you only focus on one thing, make it this.

Getting paid faster is the easiest cash win out there. Why?
Because it's in our hands—not operations, not sales, Finance owns this.

Here’s how to tighten it up:

• Automate your invoicing. Manual billing is a time-waster and an error magnet.
• Set up a 3-step dunning process. Polite reminder → Stern warning → Escalation.
• Incentivize early payments. Think discounts, perks, or even VIP treatment.​
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You’re not a bank. Stop financing your clients’ operations for free.

A – Accurate Forecasting

Forecasting isn’t about looking smart in Excel.
It’s about not getting blindsided when payroll hits.

How I build real-world cash flow models:

Cash In:

• Start with issued invoices (adjusted for client payment behavior)
• Add projected sales (with realistic payment assumptions)
• Include any one-off inflows (grants, asset sales, funding)
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Cash Out:

• Use historical averages for recurring expenses (adjusted for growth, inflation, headcount)
• Layer in CAPEX and debt repayments
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Bonus tip: Get input from Sales, Ops, and Procurement.
Forecasting is not only our job and should be done with the other departments (but in a pragmatic way)

S – Streamlined Expenses

I’ve helped my previous companies unlock real cash here by cutting not blindly but smartly.

The 10/20/30 Rule I used:

• 10% = Low-hanging fruit. Stuff no one will miss.
• 20% = Negotiable costs. You’ve gotta do some work, but it’s worth it.
• 30% = Hard calls. Strategic cuts that might shake things up.

H – Healthy Inventory

This is the trickiest part—because it often depends on other teams. But I’ve learned how to push the conversation.

Here’s my go-to 4-step playbook for inventory reviews:

1. Pull the data. I suggest you identify the top 10 slow inventory movers with the biggest value
2. Sit down with the supply chain. Don’t come with blame— come with questions
3. Together, pinpoint what went wrong (planning issues, old SKUs, supplier delays)
4. Follow up religiously. This is what differentiates achievers from the rest (and obviously, this is the hardest part!)

Inventory isn’t cash until it moves. Otherwise, it’s just expensive storage.

My C.A.S.H. Framework Summarized:

• C: Get paid faster with automation and structure
• A: Forecast realistically and update it often
• S: Cut costs smartly using the 10/20/30 method
• H: Work cross-functionally to reduce slow inventory

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I developed this framework years ago, and it's been tried and tested.

Let me know how it impacts your company's cash flow.

Best,
Nicolas
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​PS. Learn best practices on getting AI-ready data for your business:

​Sign up to see how learn how SAP does this.