The financial services sector has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by technological advancements and global socio-economic events. Recognizing the importance of staying ahead in this dynamic environment, The KPI Institute (TKI) is dedicated to providing leaders, professionals, and the broader business community with essential knowledge and resources.

Every month, TKI curates a collection of diverse learning materials and opportunities in strategy and performance management and adjacent fields. Some of these resources, while released years ago, remain highly relevant due to their timeless principles and adaptability to changing business dynamics, providing enduring value and insights for today’s challenges.

This month, TKI is pleased to present comprehensive, research-based resources focusing on finance.

Top 10 Finance Key Performance Indicators (FREE): Part of the Top 10 KPIs Series, this collection of posters provides an overview of how key performance indicators (KPIs) are measured in practice today, specifically in finance. Some of the KPIs profiled in this poster are % Capital acquisition ratio, #Labor multiplier, and $ Debt-adjusted cash flow.

Articles (FREE): Find practical insights related to the financial services industry from a variety of articles published on Performance Magazine, written by subject matter experts and research analysts.

• Millennials and banks: surmounting the digital divide
• Fraud in the travel industry: Is digital footprinting the solution?
• Banking conundrums: customer focus or operational performance?
• Managing bank performance with the Balanced Scorecard

The Finance KPI Dictionary: This dictionary provides valuable information on over 190 KPIs not only by defining them but also by presenting the calculation formula for each and every one of them. It is an innovative tool, essential for assessing and optimizing a company’s performance in the five main functions of a finance division within an organization: asset/portfolio management, financial stability, forecast and valuation, liquidity, and profitability.

The Top 25 Finance KPIs – 2020 Edition: This report features the most popular KPIs used in the finance sector. It offers a comprehensive practical learning opportunity with KPIs by including not just detailed documentation for each KPI but also engaging articles discussing optimal practices for selecting and documenting KPIs.

Certified Data Analysis: Professionals in the finance sector can benefit from attending this course because it equips them with essential skills in data analysis, allowing them to create accurate financial models, optimize investment strategies based on comprehensive market analysis, make informed decisions, and mitigate risks effectively. 

Certified KPI Professional and Practitioner: Professionals within the finance sector can gain considerable advantages from enrolling in this course. It is packed with indispensable knowledge and competencies needed for accurately measuring, assessing, and articulating financial performance metrics. With these skills, finance professionals can lead strategic initiatives, make informed decisions, and significantly contribute to improving the overall success and financial stability of their organizations.

Editor’s Note: This excerpt was originally published in the Ask Our Experts section of PERFORMANCE Magazine Issue No. 26, 2023 – Data Analytics Edition. Islam Salahuddin, a business research analyst and data expert at The KPI Institute, answers, “How can organizations bridge the knowledge gap between data analysts and non-technical stakeholders and decision-makers?”

Bridging the gap between data teams and non-technical stakeholders should be a multi-way effort. 

From the technical side, data analysts first have to be aware of business needs and then adopt communication best practices. Insights should be delivered in the plain language of stakeholders, eliminating technical jargon and providing business context. Data storytelling techniques should be leveraged to ensure communication is engaging and persuasive.

From the side of stakeholders, having a high level of data literacy is key to avoiding communication gaps and insight misinterpretations that can lead to distorted decision-making.

Moreover, as hierarchical organizational gaps widen in larger businesses, having mediator roles can also be beneficial. These roles can be performed by experienced business analysts or specialized positions like data translators. Making room at the management tables for data-experienced managers and chief officers will bridge the gap more easily.

From a big-picture perspective, developing a wider data culture environment within an organization can eliminate such gaps on different levels. Business data maturity can only be achieved if business objectives are aligned with and then enabled by data uses, which highlights the importance of crafting a data strategy in alignment with the overall business strategy.

Ready to bridge the gap between data teams and non-technical stakeholders? Elevate your data skills through The KPI Institute’s Certified Data Analysis and Certified Data Visualization Professional courses.