FLORHAM PARK, N.J., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Executives
International (FEI), the leading professional association for CFOs and other
senior financial executives, has announced that IBM Business Consulting
Services has joined the FEI Strategic Partners Program. Through its Strategic
Partners Program, FEI provides more than 15,000 program members with timely
and in-depth information on emerging issues and trends facing financial
executives, with the ultimate goal of assisting in the business
decision-making process.
    "Through their extensive interaction with CFOs from the world's leading
companies, and innovative research such as their recent Global CFO Survey and
Sarbanes-Oxley studies, IBM has a solid perspective on the evolution of the
finance function," notes Colleen Sayther, FEI President & CEO. "This
perspective will be invaluable to FEI members, who are increasingly called
upon to grow and sustain value at their organizations."
    According to the IBM Global CFO Survey, nearly 70% of CFOs believe that
their top area of focus is supporting their CEO in creating shareholder value.
As the nexus of business strategy, process and information, CFOs and finance
organizations are uniquely positioned to integrate enterprise focus,
performance management, governance and cost variability in support of
shareholder value creation.  IBM believes finance professionals are also well
positioned to integrate process, technology and people across the business
necessary for the ultimate transformation of the enterprise.
    Through the FEI Strategic Partners Program, IBM Business Consulting
Services continues its commitment to helping CFOs and finance organizations
navigate today's critical issues and re-shape their organizations to be more
adaptive, effective and resilient. As part of its sponsorship, IBM will be
involved in FEI chapter meetings, conferences, web events, thought leadership,
surveys and studies, and more.
    "Finance is being asked to become a true partner to the business,
supporting core needs across the enterprise while still maintaining their
traditional guardianship and risk management roles," said Tom Whelan, Canadian
Leader, Financial Management, IBM Business Consulting Services.  "Our
sponsorship of FEI will enable us to share the insights we've gained through
years of working with global finance organizations in every industry, as well
as tap into the wealth of knowledge that FEI members have to offer."
    Other members of FEI's Associate and Strategic Partners Program include:
Hyperion, KPMG, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and Marsh, Inc.

    About IBM Business Consulting Services
    With consultants and professional staff in more than 160 countries
globally, IBM Business Consulting Services is the world's largest consulting
services organization.  IBM Business Consulting Services provides clients with
business process and industry expertise, and the ability to translate that
expertise into integrated, adaptive, on demand business solutions that deliver
bottom-line business value.

    IBM's Financial Management practice helps clients optimize the finance
function by better integrating business processes, information and underlying
technologies. They focus on helping organizations:

    * Drive enterprise-wide profit improvement and shareholder value

    * Create a "finance on demand" organization that is responsive, variable,
      focused and resilient

    * Reduce the cost of finance through efficient transaction processing

    * Achieve real-time reporting and improve forecasting by providing
      decision makers at all levels with the right information, when and where
      they need it

    For more information, visit http://www.ibm.com/bcs/financialmanagement.

    About FEI
    Financial Executives International (FEI) is the leading advocate for the
views of corporate financial management.  Its 15,000 members hold
policy-making positions as chief financial officers, treasurers, and
controllers.  FEI enhances member professional development through peer
networking, career planning services, conferences, publications, and special
reports and research.  Members participate in the activities of 86 chapters,
75 of which are in the United States and 11 in Canada.  For more information,
visit http://www.fei.org.

     Contact:
     Chris Allen
     (973) 765-1058
     callen@fei.org

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