Clinical finance: the challenge you can’t afford to ignore.

This article discusses the challenges faced by clinical finance professionals in the world of clinical research. The author explains that clinical finance is different from other functional areas and requires a unique set of skills and knowledge. The author highlights the importance of clinical milestones in the success of biopharma companies and notes that clinical leaders prioritize clinical progress over financial matters. However, the author also points out that clinical finance professionals must be skilled at accounting and finance in order to excel in their roles. The article highlights the importance of understanding the nuances of clinical trials and the varying methods of accounting for clinical expenses used by different companies. The author also discusses the optimistic nature of clinical professionals when it comes to budgeting and the challenges this presents for finance professionals. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of clinical finance and promising further discussion of the topic in part two of the series.