October 2020 Newsletter

Explore Fall Virtual Events: Read our October newsletter and discover the latest blog posts and insights from FX Initiative on currency risk management. We help finance, accounting, treasury, and sales professionals stay up to date with new training content, CPE webinars, and helpful tips & resources.

Scale the learning curve quickly and easily with our foreign exchange risk management training, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples and events at FXCPE.com. Start Training >

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Webinar Series: Mastering FX Risk Management

Program Overview

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend our webinar titled “Mastering Currency Risk Management” on Thursday, October 1st, 2020 at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. Join us for a continuing professional education (CPE) program and earn CPE credit as we address the fundamental concepts of corporate foreign exchange (FX) risk management. This informational session will share best practices on how to identify, analyze, execute, and optimize a foreign exchange (FX) risk management program. Participants will learn how to assess a firm’s FX risk profile using a step-by-step analysis framework, the four approaches for managing FX risk, the impact FX risk has on the financial statements, and key terminology and takeaways for building a world class FX risk management program.

Learning Objectives

1. Discover how leading multinational corporations identify foreign exchange (FX) risk, including transaction, translation, and economic risk.
2. Explore how to analyze FX risk management strategies, including balance sheet hedging, cash flow hedging, and net investment hedging.
3. Identify key considerations when executing FX risk management plans, including the importance of strategy, policy and financial reporting.
4. Recognize approaches to optimizing FX risk management plans by investing in personnel, resources, and operations to improve results.

Who Should Attend?

New and seasoned finance, accounting, treasury, and related professionals (CPA, CIA, CRMA, CFE, etc.) interested in international business.

Webinar Training & Workshops

FX Initiative cordially invites you to attend our upcoming 6 part webinar series titled “Mastering Currency Risk Management.” To complement our self-study video training, these sessions are designed address common FX strategies and challenges global organizations encounter when managing currency risk. Each live webinar is eligible for CPE credit, and offers the ability to interact with the instructor, engage with the audience through real time polling questions, and participate in question and answer segments.

Upcoming Webinars Sessions & Dates

Mastering Currency Risk
Thursday, October 1st 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn the fundamentals of corporate foreign exchange risk management.

FX Risk Management Policies
Thursday, October 15th 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn how to draft a corporate foreign exchange risk management policy.

FX Forward Contracts
Thursday, October 29th 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn what forward contracts are and why they are the most used derivative.

Balance Sheet Hedging
Thursday, November 12th 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn how to hedge FX receivables & payables and mitigate gains & losses.

Cash Flow Hedging
Thursday, December 3rd 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn how to hedge and account for forecasted FX revenues & expenses.

Multilateral Netting
Thursday, December 10th 2020 @ 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern
Learn how multilateral netting helps manage intercompany cash flows.

Whether you are interested in a timely session related to recent developments impacting the foreign exchange market or would like a scheduled approach to start learning FX risk management, our live webinar sessions are designed to help you solve unique FX risk management challenges that are not otherwise addressed in our video based programs. Explore our Events page to register and learn more about the learning objectives covered in our educational webinar series titled “Mastering Currency Risk Management.”

Simulating Foreign Exchange Strategies

In the field of foreign exchange (FX), companies are managing currency risk exposures and hedging strategies more effectively by using business intelligence (BI) tools that provide data analysis and visualization. To support global businesses, FX Initiative offers a unique suite of specialized simulation tools that model common FX risk management strategies and demonstrate best practices for preserving assets on the balance sheet and mitigating FX gains on losses on the income statement.

Our FX Transaction Simulator helps treasury professionals gain valuable insight by modeling the economic and accounting impact of specific hedging strategies for underlying foreign exchange exposures such as revenues, expenses, receivables, and payables. Users can simply input their company specific and foreign exchange market variables, and then test a variety of hedging strategies, which include not hedging or hedging with a forward contract, vanilla option or zero cost collar.

The resulting output is a highly detailed interactive FX risk analysis that charts the economic payoff of your selected hedging strategy, ranks the alternative hedging strategies, and reports the accounting journal entries and t-accounts with authoritative references to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Behind the scenes, our robust pricing engine and database simplifies the risk analysis process for you so you can focus on the bottom line impact to your business.

This versatile tool transforms 16 inputs into one information rich analysis in 3 easy steps. The first step is to select (1) the Underlying Exposure and input the related variables of (2) Functional Currency, (3) Foreign Currency, (4) Underlying Notional Amount, (5) Beginning Exchange Rate, (6) Currency Quoting Convention, (7) Start Date, (8) End Date and (9) the Day Count. Step 2 is to select a (10) Hedging Strategy and input the related variables of (11) Hedge Ratio %, (12) Domestic Interest Rate, (13) Foreign Interest Rate, (14) Implied Volatility, and (15) the Collar Range. The third and final step is to forecast (16) the ending exchange rate to see how positive and negative changes in exchange rates impact the cash flow and financial reporting of your selected hedging strategy.

By leveraging our suite of FX risk modeling tools, finance, accounting, and treasury professionals can address a wide variety of FX scenarios that can be customized efficiently and effectively. For example, if you want to change your underlying exposure or hedge strategy, it’s as simple as one-click. If you want to know which strategy yields the best outcome, all 4 strategies are ranked for you automatically. If you want to see how the default or elective accounting treatment differ, the journal entries and t-accounts are instantly presented side-by-side. This FX Transaction Simulator acts as your own personal quantitative analyst, and puts you in a position to make more qualified foreign exchange risk management decisions.

To start simulating FX strategies, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Conquering Currency Risk Management

Conquering currency risk management involves identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing various foreign exchange (FX) exposures, and developing and implementing a coordinated and systematic plan that utilizes company resources efficiently and effectively to mitigate and optimize FX risk. An important part of mitigating FX risk is hedging exposures such as revenues, expenses, receivables, payables, assets, liabilities, and equity.

The degree to which companies implement adequate foreign exchange risk management practices can vary substantially, from not managing the risk at all to engaging in robust hedging activities. As a result, the FX impact on the bottom line can vary widely across organizations.

Global companies face questions including, but not limited to: How to manage currency risk? How to draft a FX risk policy? Where to look for FX risk exposures? What currency risks to hedge and how? Which strategies meet FX hedge objectives? What are the economics? How to do FX accounting? That's a lot of questions! It's time to take the FX Initiative!

FX Initiative's foreign exchange risk management training starts with watching our online video series about:

1. Foreign Exchange (FX) Market Overview
2. FX Risk Exposures
3. FX Risk Management
4. FX Spot & Derivatives
5. Hedging FX Transactions
6. Hedging Foreign Subsidiaries

Then, review and test with quizzes and CPE exams, and reinforce learning using real examples with our:

• Currency Code Locator
• FX Risk Policy Drafter
• FX Derivative Speculator
• FX Transaction Simulator
• FX Subsidiary Consolidator

FX Initiative training is available 24/7 365 to help you with FX risk policies, FX accounting, FX hedging strategies, FX risk management, and more.

Are you ready to manage FX risk? Become a FX Initiative subscriber today and access our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples and events at FXCPE.com. Managing FX risk has become a higher priority for many firms in 2020 and it is now easier than ever to learn the fundamentals of currency risk management. Make this the year to reduce FX risk and reap rewards abroad by taking the FX Initiative for your international business today!

September 2020 Newsletter

Fall FX Training & Tips: Explore our September newsletter and discover the latest blog posts and insights from FX Initiative on currency risk management. We help finance, accounting, treasury, and sales professionals stay up to date with new training content, CPE webinars, and helpful tips & resources.

Scale the learning curve quickly and easily with our foreign exchange risk management training, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples and events at FXCPE.com. Start Training >

View Newsletter

Hypothetical FX Hedging

To become proficient in any skill, including currency risk management, practice makes perfect. To help companies practice, FX Initiative’s Foreign Exchange Transaction Simulator addresses a wide variety of FX scenarios by stress-testing hypothetical FX hedging strategies.

This interactive risk modeling tool illustrates the economics and accounting of the most common hedging strategies for underlying foreign exchange exposures such as revenues, expenses, receivables, and payables. You can simply input your company specific and foreign exchange market variables, and then select your hedging strategy, which includes not hedging or hedging with a forward contract, vanilla option or zero cost collar.

The resulting output is a highly detailed interactive FX risk analysis that charts the economic payoff of your selected hedging strategy, ranks the alternative hedging strategies, and reports the accounting journal entries and t-accounts with authoritative references to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Behind the scenes, our robust pricing engine and database simplifies the risk analysis process for you so you can focus on the bottom line impact to your business.

This versatile tool transforms 16 inputs into one information rich analysis in 3 easy steps.

• Step 1 is to select (1) the Underlying Exposure and input the related variables of (2) Functional Currency, (3) Foreign Currency, (4) Underlying Notional Amount, (5) Beginning Exchange Rate, (6) Currency Quoting Convention, (7) Start Date, (8) End Date and (9) the Day Count.
• Step 2 is to select a (10) Hedging Strategy and input the related variables of (11) Hedge Ratio %, (12) Domestic Interest Rate, (13) Foreign Interest Rate, (14) Implied Volatility, and (15) the Collar Range.
• Step 3 is to forecast (16) the ending exchange rate to see how positive and negative changes in exchange rates impact the cash flow and financial reporting of your selected hedging strategy.

This FX risk management web application customizes strategies and can be modified efficiently and effectively. For example, if you want to change your underlying exposure or hedge strategy, it’s as simple as one-click. If you want to know which strategy yields the best outcome, all 4 strategies are ranked for you automatically. If you want to see how the default or elective accounting treatment differ, the journal entries and t-accounts are instantly presented side-by-side. This Foreign Exchange Transaction Simulator acts as your own personal quantitative analyst, and puts you in a positions to make a qualified foreign exchange risk management decisions.

To begin practicing hypothetical FX hedging, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Currency Learning Center

As the end of August approaches and schools are back in session, FX Initiative offers access to our online Learning Center for paid training and free content to help your company conquer corporate currency risk management safely and remotely. Explore our FX articles, videos, courses, tools, and webinars. Our goal is to help sharpen your FX skills, contribute to your professional development, and add to your firm’s performance and profitability.

Explore FX Learning Center >

We look forward to sharing more FX updates and insights with you in 2020 and beyond. Whether you are new to foreign exchange or a seasoned professional, continue following FX Initiative for your FX risk management formula. To learn more, start your FX risk management training today, which provides 24/7 365 access to our complete suite of foreign exchange (FX) continuing professional education (CPE), examples & events at FXCPE.com.

Supporting Student Opportunities

FX Initiative is pleased to offer Student Opportunities for WindyCityWebinars.org, a student supported remote learning platform that helps companies promote their brand and showcase their expertise with continuing professional education (CPE) webinars. Join us as we facilitate collaborative projects to create educational webinars between corporate sponsors and student leaders. We offer students unique opportunities to create webinars with sponsors to grow your network and gain useful knowledge.

Are you an undergrad or graduate student looking to upgrade your business skills and grow your network? You are invited to apply for this opportunity! Windy City Webinars is a remote learning platform designed to safely serve the professional development and networking needs of the Chicago business community by sharing business best practices and industry insights with students and professionals. Students work with a corporate sponsor on creating a highly engaging and educational webinar project.

Our portfolio projects aim to connect you to internship and employment opportunities by showcasing your learning abilities, skill sets, and work ethic to the Chicago business community. If accepted, you'll be a part of a robust community of diverse students and produce high quality projects. To help to identify and plan out your potential project, submit your application online at https://www.windycitywebinars.org/students.html or request a copy of our Student Opportunities guide by emailing info@windycitywebinars.org.

Serving Corporate Sponsors

FX Initiative is pleased to present our 2020 Sponsorship Guide for WindyCityWebinars.org, a student supported remote learning platform that makes it simple to promote your brand and showcase your expertise with continuing professional education (CPE) webinars. We are excited for you to participate and enjoy the recognition our sponsors receive as we facilitate collaborative projects to create engaging educational webinars between corporate sponsors and student leaders to realize synergies and foster community. 

Our dynamic Sponsorship Opportunities help to showcase your firm even better in 2020. Each sponsorship level has been tailored to offer significant value based on the frequency of webinars you would like to offer, with Platinum (monthly), Gold (quarterly), and Silver (individual) levels of Sponsor Commitment. The logo of each sponsor is promoted on the WindyCityWebinars.org website, email invitations, and promotional materials to ensure your organization’s brand is positioned prominently in front of clients and prospects.

By sponsoring WindyCityWebinars.org, you are helping fulfill our mission is to keep learning alive and accessible to all during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Your contribution helps us provide students with unique opportunities to assist with webinar projects to gain work experience, explore career paths, develop and refine skills, network with professionals, and acquire knowledge and confidence as they transition into the workforce. To request your 2020 Sponsorship Guide, please email info@windycitywebinars.org.