Finance-On Balance

NOT SURPRISINGLY, given the personal attention they must pay to corporate governance and financial compliance issues as a result of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the U.S. and similar regulations elsewhere in the world, senior executives remain hesitant to outsource finance functions. They fear a loss of control that could result in extremely serious consequences. Indeed, 51% of the 203 senior executives responding to a recent online Accenture survey said concerns over their ability to maintain governance and compliance best practices were standing in the way of their companies deciding to outsource finance functions.