FP&A Skills for Finance Pros to Master the Sniff Test and Boost Business Success

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst chats with Brian Lanier, an experienced CFO, to discuss how FP&A professionals can become true business partners and drive meaningful impact.

Brian emphasizes one of the most critical FP&A skills: mastering the "sniff test."

It’s essential to step back and ensure your analysis makes sense. If something doesn’t look right, you need to catch it before anyone else does.

This ability to assess data for reasonableness is crucial for maintaining credibility and ensuring that FP&A delivers actionable insights, not just numbers.

Working closely with other departments—like sales and product development—enables FP&A to break down silos, align on company goals, and foster a more cohesive strategy.

By building flexible models with "what-if" scenarios, FP&A can collaborate with sales teams to temper optimistic targets and drive realistic planning.

This collaboration positions FP&A as a valuable resource in real-time decision-making.

Additional strategies include keeping FP&A aligned with business operations, understanding the levers that drive growth, and serving as consultants to each department.

Aligning teams around shared financial goals, connecting operational metrics to financial plans, and using these insights to support better business outcomes empower departments to see the bigger picture and make informed decisions.

🎧 Listen in to gain practical insights from Brian on how FP&A can go beyond reporting to become a tool for transformation. ‪@thefpandaguy‬

#FPA #FinanceLeadership #BusinessStrategy #Collaboration #DataAnalysis #DecisionMaking #FPATomorrow #Podcast #CFOInsights #FinancialPlanning