FP&A Tomorrow

Jack McCullough, President of the CFO Leadership Council joined us for an amazing episode. Often when we talk FPA&A we focus on modeling, critical thinking, and storytelling but in this episode, we spent a lot of time talking about empathy and kindness in the workplace, something Jack lives and preaches as one of the top global finance leaders.  Key insights from our conversation with Jack: ➡️ Great FP&A empowers better, faster decisions by focusing on the future and adapting to changes. ➡️ More CFOs are now coming from FP&A backgrounds, highlighting the strategic importance of the role. ➡️ When preparing board decks, understand your audience and define clear objectives. Avoid surprises! ➡️ Regular communication with board members, including one-on-one meetings, is crucial for CFOs. ➡️ FP&A professionals should focus on understanding the business and strategy, not just the numbers. ➡️ Leadership qualities like empathy, transparency, resilience, inspiration, and collaboration (TRICE) are essential for finance leaders. ➡️ There's a need for greater cross-functional respect and understanding of FP&A's value across organizations. This episode is packed with valuable insights for finance professionals at all levels. Whether you're aspiring to be a CFO or looking to enhance your FP&A skills, you'll find something to take away from this conversation. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here https://lnkd.in/gpNQmxvq #FPANDATomorrow #FinanceLeadership #CFOInsights #PersonalDevelopment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst  📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Jim Caltabiano, a seasoned finance leader with over 30 years of experience, shared invaluable insights on the latest episode of FP&A Tomorrow.  His journey from Syracuse University to leadership roles at major companies like Procter & Gamble, General Mills, and Campbell Soup Company has given him a unique perspective on the evolving role of FP&A. Key takeaways from the episode: ➡️ Great FP&A is about connecting insights for the business, not just producing data  ➡️ Active listening is a critical and underutilized skill for FP&A professionals  ➡️ Learn the business through site visits and conversations, not just reports  ➡️ Triangulate data from multiple sources and use ranges for better decision-making  ➡️ Data cleanliness and master data management are crucial, especially with AI on the rise Jim's advice for being a better business partner? "Shut up and listen." This simple yet powerful approach can unleash goodwill, help you learn the business, and build strong relationships. Don't miss this insightful episode of FP&A Tomorrow.  Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/g52VuNRR ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at @Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy  📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

In our latest FP&A Tomorrow podcast episode, Leslie Stuart, CPA, CA shares invaluable insights from her experience leading FP&A transformations. We appreciate her emphasis on how implementing new systems, and making changes in an organization is an evolution not a one-time event.  Key takeaways from our conversation: ➡️ Great FP&A leverages technology and data for better insights  ➡️ Focus on people and processes, not just technology in transformations  ➡️ Start with 'why' and get leadership engagement  ➡️ Conduct thorough current state assessments before implementing changes  ➡️ Embrace agile, iterative approaches over traditional waterfall methods  ➡️ Develop strong communication skills between finance and technology teams  ➡️ AI and machine learning are reshaping finance  ➡️ View transformations as ongoing evolution, not one-time events Leslie's personal experience shines through as she shares, "You know, it was one thing to have a bird's eye view from an audit lens, but to actually get in there and do the work and the realities of it, it's not perfect. It's not ever perfect."  This candid perspective highlights the importance of understanding the day-to-day realities when driving change. Whether you're a seasoned FP&A professional or just starting your journey, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate the complexities of finance transformation. Don't miss out on Leslie's wisdom - tune in to the latest episode of FP&A Tomorrow now! 🎧📊 https://lnkd.in/gj3z8TCw ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at @Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy  📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Unlocking the Power of Modern FP&A: Insights from Liran Edelist, Ph.D. In our latest FP&A Tomorrow podcast episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Liran, a seasoned expert in finance and FP&A technology from running his own company to serving a president of Jedox for the America's.  Key Takeaways: ➡️ Modernized FP&A minimizes manual work and leverages technology effectively  ➡️ Balancing people, processes, and technology is crucial for success  ➡️ Implement FP&A tools as systems, not just Excel replacements  ➡️ AI augments human capabilities in FP&A, not replaces them  ➡️ FP&A should be the "front office" of an organization  ➡️ Modernization is an ongoing journey, not a one-time transformation  ➡️ Data understanding and business process knowledge are essential skills  ➡️ Storytelling is key for effective business partnering Dr. Liran shared a personal anecdote about an FP&A team that impressed him by focusing on the often-overlooked "learning and growth" aspect of the balanced scorecard. This innovative approach showcased how FP&A can drive organizational growth beyond traditional financial metrics. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion! Listen to the full episode to gain deeper insights into modernizing your FP&A practices and staying ahead in the rapidly evolving financial landscape. https://lnkd.in/gY9BcqJY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

From Silicon Slopes to Startup Success: Insights from Renato V. Renato Villanueva's journey from harassing a startup founder for a job to becoming the CEO of his own FP&A tool startup is a testament to the power of persistence. In our latest FP&A Tomorrow episode, Renato shares valuable insights from his experiences at Divvy and beyond. Key takeaways: ➡️ Great FP&A involves deeply understanding company goals and each leader's role in achieving them ➡️ Building strong relationships with business leaders is crucial - focus on making their lives easier ➡️ When adding expenses, always look for offsetting efficiencies to maintain financial discipline ➡️ Soft skills, like presenting difficult news positively, are more critical than technical skills in FP&A Renato's personal experience of transitioning from risk to FP&A at Divvy offers a unique perspective on the value of keeping doors open in your career. His current venture, Parallel, aims to empower founders with the financial insights they need to make better and bigger bets. Don't miss this episode packed with practical advice and inspiring stories from the frontlines of finance and entrepreneurship. Click here to listen: https://lnkd.in/grX8afm6 #FPAndAToday #FinanceProfessionals #StartupFinance #BusinessPartnering ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

In this clip Richard Tame shares his best advice for being a great FP&A Business Partner. Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gTNbFzDA ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

From Rugby to FP&A: Insights from a Finance Athlete 🏉📊 Zachary Rial, Senior Director of Finance and Strategy at @Peak, brings a unique perspective to FP&A. A former rugby player and track athlete, Zach applies the same versatility and adaptability to his finance career. Speaking of Great FP&A Zach said: "Great FP&A is great partnerships. It's understanding the business, understanding what drives the different departments, functional areas of the business." In our latest FP&A Tomorrow episode, Zach shares valuable insights: ➡️ Great FP&A is about building strong partnerships and truly understanding the business  ➡️"You can't hear the screams in the forest unless you listen to the whispers." This proverb, shared by Zach, emphasizes the importance of paying attention to small details to understand the bigger picture in business. ➡️ Being a 'finance athlete' means adapting to various finance roles and responsibilities  ➡️ Operational experience is crucial for finance professionals  ➡️ Effective communication focuses on what the audience hears, not just what you say  ➡️ Making data-driven decisions and focusing on smart growth is key 🎧 Listen to the full episode to learn more about becoming a finance athlete and elevating your FP&A game! https://lnkd.in/guZYsi6f ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

One skill that comes up again and again on FP&A Tomorrow is communication. Learning how to communicate with others is critical to being a successful FP&A professional. Below are 10 great books on communication. Let us know in the comments what is your favorite book on communication 1) How to Win Friends and Influence People 2) Just Listen: Discover the Secret to getting through to Absolutely Anyone 3) Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others 4) Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results 5) Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler 6) Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear by Dr. Frank Luntz 7) Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time by Susan Scott 8) We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter by Celeste Headlee (she/her) 9) Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell 10) The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh Develop a plan today to become better at communicating with your stakeholders.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

From A to Z a list of people to follow in Finance, Excel and FP&A The list is far from complete so please add your names to the list in the comments and lets learn the ABc's of Influencers.  A is for Aliyyah Abdullah MBA CPA & Asif Masani B is for Brett Hampson C is for Christian Wattig, Chris Reilly & Carl Seidman, CSP, CPA D is for Danielle Stein Fairhurst E is for Every Excel Post and Eric Limansantoso F is for David Fortin, CPA G is for Glenn Hopper and CJ Gustafson H is for Jason Hershman I is for Ignacio Ramirez Moreno, CFA J is for Josh Aharonoff, CPA K is for Kathy~ Svetina L is for Anders Liu-Lindberg M is for Christian M. N is for Nicolas Boucher and Nathan Liao, CMA O is for Oana Labes, MBA, CPA P is for Ken Puls Q is for Anyone with Quality posts R is for Ron Monteiro, CPA, CMA S is for Soufyan Hamid T is for Ted Belinky U is for Larysa Melnychuk, it has a U   V is for Oliver Vander Horn W is for Wassia Kamon, CPA, CMA, MBA X is for the platform formerly known as Twitter Y is for YouTube a place to learn from all Z is for Zachary Rial an awesome FP&A professional ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst  📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Listen to the most popular FP&A Tomorrow episode to date. We are 20 episodes in and the most listened-to episode is Carl Seidman, CSP, CPA. Carl provides a ton of practical advice for FP&A professionals at all stages of their career.  One of my favorite lines is the below quote about presentations: "You're not going to go to a nice restaurant and pay a lot of money for a delicious dish, and then have it be delivered in a greasy brown paper bag. Right. So the deliverable matters a whole lot. It can actually significantly dismiss the credibility or value of everything that came up before that point in time." It is a reminder that the presentation matters a lot and great analysis is not enough.  Other key insights and talking points from the episode include: 1.) Great FP&A requires a team with strong technical skills, the ability to anticipate the company's direction, familiarity with business operations, and acting as strategic partners. 2.) FP&A is evolving from just budgeting, forecasting and reporting to being more proactive, agile, strategic and well-rounded in its thinking. FP&A professionals need to act more like "junior CFOs". 3.) Technology is enabling FP&A teams to do their work in new ways and will accelerate the shift towards being more strategic and commercially driven business partners.  4.) The skills needed in FP&A vary significantly based on company size. At small companies, FP&A may do everything, while at large companies roles can be very specialized. 5.) Presenting and communicating effectively is vital for FP&A professionals to influence and build credibility. Focus on the audience's needs over your own ego. 6.) Simplify your message and make it resonate with the audience. Condense information to what they need to know upfront before going into details.  7.) The ability to anticipate what is coming and how to respond is a key skill in FP&A. 8.) Mastering Excel modeling frees up time to focus on analysis, insights and influencing stakeholders.  9.) Critical thinking and communication skills are the top technical and soft skills needed in FP&A. 10.) Carl has the best Rumpelstiltskin voice ever Check out the full episode at https://lnkd.in/gwhTSSxb ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📰 Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j 🧔 Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst 📺 Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A