For small entrepreneurial businesses, equity compensation can be a very attractive way to attract and retain highly talented employees. In a nutshell, equity compensation is defined as non-cash remuneration that takes the form of stock options, restricted shares, employee stock purchase plans, and other vehicles that provide employees with an equity stake in the company. Equity compensation may also apply to non-employee services provided by independent contractors, board members, or advisors.

We often hear different terms used to describe forward-looking versions of a company’s financial statements. People frequently use these terms interchangeably, with some having a deeper understanding of the nuances in terminology than others. Forward-looking financial documents may include budgets, projections, forecasts, and pro forma financials.

Read any overview of how the finance and accounting function is changing, and you will notice several common themes. Three of the most important of these are: cloud migration, data standardization, and interoperability. The aim of technology in finance is to remove friction. With cloud migration that means making upgrades, licensing, procurement and maintenance simpler with software-as-a-service (SaaS) models.