Our practical advice
Why Financial Forecasts Are Lying to You And What to Do About It
In theory, financial forecasts are usually one of the most rational and data-driven activities in the organization, supported by models and multiple checks and controls.
Spreadsheets, sophisticated models, and detailed assumptions provide a comforting sense of control and foresight - a feeling that we can predict and manage the future. However, again and again, forecasts miss their targets, budgets are overspent, and strategic plans fall apart.
This happens not because finance teams are incompetent, but because the very nature of financial forecasting is full of traps that distort reality.
Forget the Sorting Hat: Discover Your FP&A House
If you are a fan of Harry Potter, you know Hogwarts students are sorted into houses: each with its own unique qualities, strengths, and blind spots.
FP&A is a lot like that, except instead of a Sorting Hat we have… a budget cycle. By version 27 of the budget, it’s pretty clear who’s who.
Most FP&A professionals fall into one of four houses. Knowing which house you (and your teammates) belong to helps you double down on strengths, avoid blind spots, and build a team that balances each other out.
Your First 90 Days in an FP&A Role: A Tactical Guide to Building Credibility and Impact
Whether you're transitioning to FP&A from accounting, starting your first finance job, or moving into a new company as a seasoned pro, the first three months will define how influential you'll be later on.
In FP&A, those 90 days are your one shot at establishing yourself as someone who understands business and makes things better. Get it right, and you’ll be seen as a go-to person who drives decisions. Commit early missteps, and you’ll be seen as back-office analyst forever.