Geopolitical shocks like the US-Israel war with Iran result in devastating loss of life. They can also carry major consequences in global trade and commerce, as seen with blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. Thus, it should be no surprise that CFOs are attuned to heightened geopolitical volatility.

Aidana Zhakupbekova, CFO of expense-management software firm Rydoo, said that although organizations may want to increase their investments in areas like technology and R&D, macro issues like geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs make it “much harder to control and plan investments.” (The IMF recently lowered global growth expectations.)

Zhakupbekova recently chatted with CFO Brew about budgeting, visibility into spending, and pivoting quickly to keep down costs.

Keep reading.—AZ

With an almost entirely new slate of members and a new chair, the PCAOB is seeking input on its future strategic priorities.

During an open meeting on March 31, the audit overseer announced it had issued a request for public comment to help shape its 2026–2030 strategic plan. It’s accepting comments through May 15.

“I believe the PCAOB functions best when it is informed by the perspectives of participants from the full financial reporting ecosystem,” PCAOB Chair Demetrios (Jim) Logothetis said in a news release.

The board is specifically keen to hear the public’s thoughts on where its priorities should lie over the next two to five years; what changes it should make to inspections; how it can be more transparent with stakeholders; and in what ways it should “consider deploying technology, including AI, to help further its investor-protection mission,” among other things.

Keep reading.—AZ

Starbucks will pay its employees, called “partners,” on a weekly basis beginning in August, the coffee chain recently announced.

The move from biweekly to weekly pay is part of a broader set of changes to Starbucks’s compensation program that includes merit bonuses of up to $1,200 annually, as well as additional options for customers to tip baristas. Starbucks is in the midst of a turnaround strategy that it says will prioritize improving employee experience, but has also included store closures and layoffs.

In a memo to employees, Starbucks Chief People Officer Sara Kelly said the chain made the decision to pay workers on a weekly basis after hearing “that getting paid sooner would help.” From August on, “you’ll get the money you earn, faster,” she said.

Under pressure. Starbucks’s decision represents a departure from the norm, as most US employers pay workers on a biweekly basis, per Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2023.

Keep reading on HR Brew.—CV

“Single source of truth” sounds nice until you try to build it. On May 7, join CFO Brew to learn how finance leaders are making it real—connecting their systems, avoiding common pitfalls, and creating a foundation that supports growth instead of slowing it down. Register here.