Welcome to FP&A Tomorrow, where we discuss financial planning and analysis, examining its current state and future prospects, with your host Paul Barnhurst.

The title sponsor for this week’s episode of FP&A Tomorrow is Abacum, the leading mid-market FP&A solution trusted by hundreds of companies to eliminate the spreadsheet struggle. https://www.abacum.io

In today’s episode, Paul sits down with Jon Laudie, to discuss integrating FP&A into strategic planning and decision-making across businesses.

With Jon Laudie, CFO at Zerorez, plunge into Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and learn from Jon's rich experience and strategic insights. From his initial roles in investment banking to his current position as CFO, Jon shares his valuable lessons.

Key takeaways from this week's episode include:

Here is a concise summary of the key points from the discussion:

The transition challenges and learnings involved in moving to a CFO position, including dealing with complex financial operations and integrating multiple acquisitions.

FP&A functions are evolving to become more aligned with strategic finance, significantly enhancing their impact on business decision-making.

Emerging technologies are streamlining FP&A processes, making them more efficient and reducing reliance on manual tasks.

Strategies for FP&A professionals to become more strategic and operationally focused are discussed, including building relationships outside of finance and understanding the broader business context.

Quotes:

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode about FP&A and CFO insights:

“I think great FP&A in my mind is a function that is deeply integrated into the strategic planning and the decision-making of any organization.”

“We still come across things that surprise us, like, 'Oh, we didn't realize how this is or this contract existed.”

Follow Jon:   

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonlaudie
• Website - https://www.zerorez.com

Follow Paul:

• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions. For AFP FPAC certification answer the questions and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

Welcome to FP&A Tomorrow, where we discuss financial planning and analysis, examining its current state and future prospects, with your host Paul Barnhurst.

The title sponsor for this week’s episode of FP&A Tomorrow is Abacum, the leading mid-market FP&A solution trusted by hundreds of companies to eliminate the spreadsheet struggle. https://www.abacum.io

In today’s episode, Paul engages in a conversation with Richard Tame, to discuss the essential elements that define excellent financial planning and analysis.

Richard, CFO of Coeus Institute, with over 25-plus years of experience in finance across various sectors, including his significant role at Aurora, brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the evolving landscape of FP&A.

Key takeaways from this week's episode include: :

Here is a concise summary of the key points from the discussion:

• FP&A is rooted in having the right team. The focus is on hiring the right people with the necessary skills and ensuring they work well together.
• FP&A teams are not just about number crunching, they should also influence business decisions. The ability of FP&A to be involved in strategic discussions varies by company culture, from being central to decision-making to being viewed as a back-office function.
• FP&A professionals adapt their strategies to fit the culture of the company, whether it's a traditional corporation or a fast-paced tech startup.
• It is important to prepare an organization structurally and financially for potential public offerings or other major corporate transitions.

Quotes:

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode about FP&A mastery:

"I've been in companies whereby finance has a really strong seat at the table and you know, you can't blow your nose unless finance is holding the handkerchief. Then I've been in companies where finance is seen as an inconvenience at best."

"You have to make the relationships not about you. You're there to partner with the business, and invariably the business knows more about the business. You need to have a relationship such that you can influence them. You're serving them."

We had built the company in a way that we would have expected to go public at some point, and one of the things that I'd seen at Lyft, for example, I joined Lyft the day after the IPO, and it became clear that perhaps they hadn't built the infrastructure in the way that they could of to make life easier and that was very messy."

Follow Richard:   

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardtame
• Website - https://coeus.institute

Follow Paul:

• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions. For AFP FPAC certification answer the questions and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

Welcome to FP&A Tomorrow, where we discuss financial planning and analysis, examining its current state and future prospects, with your host Paul Barnhurst.

The title sponsor for this week’s episode of FP&A Tomorrow is Abacum, the leading mid-market FP&A solution trusted by hundreds of companies to eliminate the spreadsheet struggle. https://www.abacum.io

In today’s episode, Paul engages in a conversation with Carl Seidman to discuss why mastering presentation skills, and understanding the needs of the audience is crucial for excelling in your FP&A career.

Carl is a premier FP&A and Fractional CFO expert, providing financial advisory and leadership development services to top companies including Deloitte, Verizon, and Walmart. Carl is known for his impactful training programs and advisory work that drive success in financial planning and analysis.

Key takeaways from this week's episode include: :

Here is a concise summary of the key points from the discussion:

• In FP&A, the ability to distill complex information into a concise, impactful message is paramount. It's not about how much you know, but what you can communicate effectively.

• The ability to distill complex information into a concise, impactful message is paramount. It's not about how much you know, but what you can communicate effectively.

• FP&A isn't just about numbers, it's about storytelling with data, painting a vivid picture of the financial landscape that guides strategic decisions and drives organizational success

• Anticipating potential disruptions or changes in the business environment is a fundamental aspect of FP&A. By identifying risks and developing strategies to mitigate them, FP&A professionals can help the organization stay ahead and adapt effectively.

Quotes: :

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode about FP&A and product working together effectively:

"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 at that point in time."

"I think that Great FP&A looks like a team of people who are equipped, from a technical standpoint, to be able to execute the kinds of requests that are being asked of them."

“The demands in business, the increasingly fast-moving environment, competition, the risks of getting some of this planning wrong are pushing the need of FP&A to be a whole lot more proactive, a lot more agile, a lot more well rounded and thinking instead of just being about financial planning and reporting."

Follow Carl:   

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlseidman

Website - https://seidmanfinancial.com

Follow Paul:

Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions. For AFP FPAC certification answer the questions and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.