The financial health of a company is a direct reflection of its ability to grow and remain sustainable. However, seven out of ten SMEs lack financial visibility, limiting their ability to act and leaving them vulnerable to unexpected challenges.

To understand how to strengthen financial management and turn challenges into opportunities, we spoke with Juan Sicardi, a finance expert passionate about empowering companies through knowledge and planning.

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Meet Juan Sicardi

Juan Sicardi holds a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires, a Master’s in Corporate Finance from Universidad Di Tella, and a specialization in finance from the University of Texas.

As co-founder of Mayma, he has held key roles at Argentina’s National SME Secretariat and served as a planning and finance manager in various companies. His professional journey has given him first-hand insight into the challenges SMEs face and how to develop strategies that lead to stability and growth.

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Financial Challenges for SMEs

According to Juan, many businesses focus heavily on improving their products and attracting customers, but overlook financial management.

 “They settle for having some numbers—maybe an Excel sheet—but neglect detailed analysis,” he explains.

It is essential to know your profit margins, identify profitable and unprofitable clients, and measure the financial performance of each business unit.

One of the biggest challenges is surpassing the breakeven point. “It’s normal to experience losses in the early stages, but it’s crucial to turn the business into a profitable model that generates cash flow,” Juan emphasizes.

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Key Elements of Good Financial Management

For Juan, managing a company’s finances is like driving a vehicle—you need a dashboard to monitor key indicators.

✅Budgets and Projections: A 12-month financial plan helps anticipate difficulties and make strategic decisions.
✅Information Systems: Knowing the profitability of each product and sales channel helps focus efforts where value is created.
✅Data-Driven Decisions: Avoid relying on intuition—strategies based on solid information reduce risks and optimize resources.
✅Monthly Financial Meetings: Reviewing the previous month’s results helps assess whether the business is on the right track.

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Professionalizing SME Financial Management

Business growth requires evolving how finances are managed.

“Many SMEs start with basic methods like notebooks or Excel. As the business grows, it becomes essential to implement an accounting system and eventually hire a professional finance manager,” says Juan.

This transition allows for more accurate information and better strategic decisions that strengthen the business.

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Recommendations for Business Owners

To improve financial management, Juan suggests three essential steps:

1️⃣ Have a Plan: Define clear objectives and project revenue and sales.
2️⃣Maintain Accurate Information: Continuously evaluate progress and understand your company’s real financial situation.
3️⃣Build a Professional Team: The difference between a financially solid business and one at risk lies in having experts to guide decision-making.

An efficient financial management system is key to the growth and sustainability of SMEs. With the right tools and a data-driven approach, challenges can be transformed into opportunities.