Rise Above The Numbers

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Jun 2025

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Actionable, practical tips and tricks proven from the trenches to help you grow your FP&A career, all delivered with a touch of humor. 👊 fpandhey.substack.com

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28 recent

June 6, 202513 min

Great FP&A Gets the Story Straight

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYStories tell how a business performed in the past and the future.These stories can be fun to tell (crush revenue, generate more cash, hire like crazy).Or not so fun to tell (missing budget by a lot, making cuts, no end in sight).Regardless of the story’s outcome, you can help your business tell AND influence it 🫵By connecting the story to everyday operations where the doers live.Show Notes* 01:30 – AI is powerful when you have good thinking frameworks in place* 00:55 – Shout out to quality and practical FP&A content* 01:35 – IR (aka Investor Relations) is the story of your businessShout out to Secret CFO post on IR and operations, keep the great content coming* 02:35 – Talk is cheap, get your hands dirty in the operations, and help improve them* 04:25 – Your business’s story should be about what it does today, and what it wants to do in the future* 05:30 – Customer counts, customer segmentation—all metrics that help you manage your business🔥TIP: Here’s how to analyze customers* 06:25 – We respectfully disagree with Secret CFO’s take on IR; the (IR) story helps enable operational improvement* 08:20 – Stories provide clarity, especially when numbers (aka metrics) support it🔥Tip: Here’s how to create KPIs (and metrics)* 09:52 – Do investor relations reports matter? Heck ya they do—especially the transcript* 11:05 – Learn from the best business communicators, like Warren Buffett (hint: he always keeps messaging insanely simple and created a not-so-small company in the process)Check out Warren Buffett’s insanely simple shareholder letters on an insanely simple website* 13:01 – Big finish—keep writing great content Secret CFO, it’s interesting and practical 👊Conclusion: Tell a story everyone can relate toFigure out what your company’s goals are.Put numbers to them (revenue, profit, cash).Drill one level down to find a number that teams can relate to.And tell a simple story connecting what teams do to the ultimate goal.A practical way to do this is during your budget process (DO NOT leave operational groups out of this exercise).That’s storytelling that drives future business results.Go IR 👊Resources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.comDisclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

May 2, 202515 min

Practical AI Exists in FP&A

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYAI is something everyone talks about.But it isn’t something everyone uses…yet.There was a time when no one used computers.There was a time when no one used the internet.There was a time when Excel only had ~65k rows per tab.And years from now, you’ll be saying there was a time when no one used AI.Start using it, listen up to hear how.Show Notes* 00:40 – heard of AI? You will after this podcastHere’s an article we wrote for CFO Dive on AI back in 2023* 01:30 – AI is powerful when you have good thinking frameworks in placeCheck out this LinkedIn post on practical AI in FP&A from prior podcast guest Carl* 02:40 – AI can make your life easier (personally and professionally)* 04:35 – FP&A’s job is to think, use AI to brainstorm and ideate more effectively* 05:10 – learn how to present financial information, then leverage AI to speed up that process* 07:00 – AI can help you get people’s attention, then drive home a clear point, saving you from back-and-forth debates* 08:45 – information is only as good as the actions it helps people take 💪* 09:30 – researching new job responsibilities now requires asking people, searching the internet, and asking AI* 10:35 – the internet and search sped up our ability to learn vs going to the library, AI can speed up internet search* 12:40 – question everything, challenge processes, and be curious… that’s the best way to crush FP&A—and AI can help you figure out what questions to ask🔥TIP: Here’s how to crush your first 6 months in FP&A.* 14:05 – AI can even give Valentine’s Day advice—proceed with caution on that oneResources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

April 4, 202512 min

Help Your Team Fail Small and Win Big

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYWho here likes to fail?No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke.Failing leads to serious learning.It can also lead to serious reputation hits.And not just for you, but your team too.Fail responsibly, by failing small and setting you and your team up for controlled failure.Show Notes* 00:26 – doing bicep curls while recording a podcast is one way to stay in shape* 01:01 – controlled failure = allowing your team to take risks and fail while minimizing the consequences* 02:20 – new hires will fail a lot—help them do that while helping them grow a positive reputation* 03:45 – create a space that feels like the big game—there’s no experience like game day experience* 04:50 – don’t expect people to hit the ground running—make it your mission to improve their chances of success* 05:45 – bridge new analysis with old analysis to help you and your boss understand what changed and why it changed to get buy-in* 07:50 – confidence compounds over time—make it your mission to instill confidence in your team early and often* 09:15 – great football players (even Tom Brady) need teams to succeed—you as an FP&A leader are no different* 09:55 – invest in leveling up your team and retaining top talent* 10:30 – great ideas are out there to do things better—pay attention and ferociously learn about them* 11:15 – challenge yourself to learn one new thing each day—that learning will compound over time* 11:55 – wrapping things up—practice controlled failure to build skills, build confidence, build high-performing teams that consistently improveResources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.comDisclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

February 28, 202514 min

Finding the Right Size Company

👋Hey there,Thousands of people read this newsletter and listen to this podcast.Some work in FP&A for the biggest companies in the world.And some are the only Finance, Accounting, HR, and Legal person at their small company (so many hats to wear) 🎩So what’s better, working for big or small companies?Our insanely vague answer is…it depends.Each job presents unique learning and networking opportunities.And the order in which you take them in your career doesn’t matter either.This episode is about our experience working at the biggest companies in the world.AND some of the smallest companies in the world.Listen on* Apple* Spotify* SubstackExperience Comes in All Shapes and SizesBig, small, public, private, well-known, and completely under the radar.These words best describe all the companies we’ve worked for and with.There was no perfect size or type of experience.Each company offered unique learnings that set us up for the next thing.Here’s the order we went in and what we learned along the way.Show Notes* 00:30 – all it takes is a blow-up swimming pool to make kids (and adults) happy* 00:55 – FP&A can be a very different animal in large vs small companies* 02:00 – starting at large companies, like GE or P&G, gives you role rotation options🔥TIP: read this to learn why role rotation can be a career accelerator* 02:40 – journal entries help you understand business drivers, which help you drive results* 04:15 – large and mid-size companies offer business partner roles (think Sales, Marketing, R&D, Operations)* 04:55 – FP&A is planning for the future while understanding today and using the past as a history lesson* 05:50 – the smaller the company, the bigger the scope of work* 07:01 – small company CFOs have to make decisions that can make or break their company every day* 09:30 – small businesses require focus – and cash is most important because it pays the bills* 09:55 – doing an IPO and working in larger companies can grow your network exponentially* 10:55 – like we always say, jump on sales calls to learn about your business* 12:20 – advice we received early in our career—walk the production floor* 13:20 – the big finish—no one career path is the same, so keep learning and do what fits your life situationWe Started at Very Big CompaniesGE (General Electric) and P&G (Procter and Gamble) are giant companies.The odds are that you use many of their products daily.Big companies did something for both of us early in our careers that accelerated our learning and promotional track.Role rotation.Role rotation required us to take a job for a year and then take a different job the next.Each job had a very specific scope.For example:* Start as a Plant Accounting Co-op/Intern* Transition to systems implementation project team* Then become the Regional Profit Forecaster of a brand* And finally, become a Global Profit Forecaster, forecasting a collection of brandsAll of the above in 6 years.We’re exhausted just thinking back to those years.We worked long hours and connected with a lot of people.Which eventually helped us leave our big company jobs and test out the mid-size company waters.Then Dove into Mid-Size CompaniesMid-size companies offer a bit more variety when it comes to scope.Our experience was with fast-growing companies that were hiring rapidly.What’s the most important thing we offered when we splashed down at our cube for the first time?Connecting financial results to everyday business activities.Without that connection, financial performance becomes disconnected from the goals of the company.And all that hiring and spending can start to drift away from achieving the actual goals of the company.This is where business partnering roles come into play.Consider them mini-CFOs who own:* Collecting info* Understanding what it means* And providing recommendationsAll to ensure the goals of the company are achieved.The skill set to be a business partner is clear communication with the ability to get relevant information very quickly.This skill set served us well when transitioning to the next jobs we took on, which would be considered small companies.Small Companies Are a Humbling ExperienceThe scope of roles in small companies is humungous.Which can make it hard to describe what you’re actually doing on a daily basis in one sentence.Preparing for an IPO is a good example.* You need to tell the performance story* You need to understand how that performance was achieved* You need to be part of the goal setting* You need to communicate those goals clearly to everyone in the companyDon’t understand how your business works or how your coworkers tick?Your chance of success (aka business performance meets or exceeds expectations) will be low.And because you are likely one of a few (if not the only) FP&A team members, all of this responsibility can fall on you.The same goes for being CFO of a small privately held company.Cash flow, customer orders, inventory levels…you must have a handle on all these metrics every week to ensure the business can keep operating.Conclusion: What We Learned by Going from Big to Mid to SmallAt every company size, you will learn as much as you are motivated to.Go into each opportunity like a sponge.You’ll meet some amazing people.Help them do their jobs.And they will help you.That network of people may lead to your next job opportunity (it did for us countless times).And above all else, make sure you enjoy what you do.Being interested in what you're doing, who you work for, and what customers you serve matters most 👊What size company do you work for today? And how has your experience been like?Share your experiences with us by replying to this. We read and reply to every email.Now go have fun making an impact on your business and your career!See you next time 👊Cheers,Drew & Yarty👉Follow us on LinkedInLevel up your FP&A game today 👊Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

January 10, 202511 min

How to Approach Taking on More Work

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYHow much free time do you have?Many have little if any.That’s why focusing on saving time now is so important.🔥TIP: Excel shortcuts will save you hours each week.Because at some point an opportunity will present itself.It may look like someone:* Leaving the company unexpectedly and you fill that gap* Being promoted and you take on their job* Asking for help and you step in to supportAll of the above has happened to us.And many of these opportunities were unplanned.Show Notes* 00:30 – doing other people’s jobs will happen, it will be unplanned, and you can get through it* 01:11 – only take on the challenge if you can handle it – assess your situation* 01:45 – we’ve gone from solo contributor to doing the jobs of 5 people* 03:30 – you’re only as good as your team and support structure – plan and communicate your approach* 04:35 – the silver lining of people leaving – you learn💡* 05:00 – the growth mindset helps to get through taking on more than your original scope of work* 06:10 – stepping up to take on more can lead to future opportunities like working with leadership* 06:50 – sometimes your manager will leave and the opportunity to lead is in front of you🔥TIP: Here’s how to crush your first 6 months as an FP&A manager.* 08:25 – you will get beat up and you will experience failure – all lead to learnings* 10:10 – stepping up and taking on more may or may not make sense depending on what your goals areConclusion: Opportunities Make or Break Your ReputationYou will get opportunities in your career.How you take them on will feed your reputation.Reputation takes a lifetime to build up.And as you build your reputation, the number of opportunities you get goes up📈Become an opportunity magnet, and over time be selective in the ones you take on.Resources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

November 15, 202413 min

Setting Smarter Sales Targets

👋Hey there,It’s budget season.And next year’s targets are being set to support the budget.Some of you are changing targets faster than a pit crew changes car tires.Believe us, you are not alone.It’s a normal part of the budget process.And there are things you can do to minimize the number of tire changes.Tune in to hear about our own target-setting endeavors.When Setting Targets, Think of IncentivesSales Targets become KPIs.🔥TIP: Read this to learn what KPIs (and metrics) are.And KPIs become the benchmark for incentives (aka commissions and bonuses).Make sure your targets line up with your business goals.And that your various departments' targets connect so that they all work together.Show Notes* 01:30 - Sales targets motivate salespeople to sell (no kidding)* 02:10 - Balance stretch goals with reasonable ones, avoid demotivation ⚠️* 02:55 - Get grounded in your sales history* 03:30 - Keep Sales (aka Revenue) simple—volume, mix, and price🔥* 04:10 - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, talk to your Sales Teams for their input* 05:30 - Listen to Sales Rep calls for rapid learning about your selling motion* 06:14 - Understand what performance story your CFO and CEO want to tell* 07:33 - AVOID presenting targets that NOONE recognizes or demotivates* 08:23 - Leverage mind maps to visualize your thinking and get organized🧠* 10:15 - The key thing about FP&A is we’re always evaluating our performance* 11:00 - Be an advocate for your Sales Team* 12:15 - Sales Target setting is NEVER perfect, keep learning and improvingConclusion: Keep Learning and AdvocatingYour budget process and Sales Target-setting won’t be perfect.* You’ll deal with new people* May have new company goals* OR you may be in an entirely new companyLead with learning.By talking to your Sales Team and leadership.And leverage those Excel and numbers skills to help them connect their selling goals to the financial scoreboard.You got this 💪Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

October 11, 202412 min

Know the Details of Your Business Cold

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYAre you a detailed person?Details are what drive those numbers on your spreadsheet.Knowing those details can help you help your company.Which in turn can help your own career growth.Tune in to hear how diving into details helped us:✅Save money✅Drive revenue✅Grow our reputation in various FP&A jobsDetails ShmetailsMaking up words is easy.So is making up what you think happened by doing high-level algebra on financial data.Want to grow your career?Don’t guess what drives financial performance.KNOW what drives financial performance.By diving into the shmetails.🔥TIP: Here are the FP&A job levels from Analyst to CFO.Show Notes* 00:17 - Great FP&A = know the DETAILS* 01:25 - Being CFO requires knowing the details of cashflow💵* 02:28 - Growing Sales? Don’t just do algebra, understand what’s driving it* 03:25 - Use the Pareto Principle to find budget errors* 04:59 - Whitespace is a GREAT example of details leading to operational finance* 06:01 - Profit forecasting will help you learn the details of revenue and expenses* 07:20 - Use your cable bill as a way to learn details and do something about it📺* 08:35 - Looking for savings opportunities? Renegotiate your contracts.* 10:01 - Use P&L data you already have to dive into the details and learn* 11:01 - Cost centers and accounts are created for a reason* 11:44 - Big detailed finish —guess what we talk about? DETAILS💥CFOs and Cashflow Must be TightDo you know what keeps most CFOs up at night?Their bank account’s cash balance.Questions a CFO must be prepared to answer EVERY week:* How much accounts payable is due?* What’s my payroll balance?* How much money am I going to collect?* What money will I have in the bank by weeks end?How do you answer these questions?Dive into the details.Invoice aging, payroll waterfalls, hourly tracking, and accounts receivable aging reports are just a few ways to get the details.🔥TIP: Analyze those details with simple data tables and look-ups.Practice by Analyzing Your Personal FinancesWhat do you spend your money on?Some of those things may be negotiable or can be switched out for something cheaper.Like your cable, phone, insurance, etc…Understand what savings are possible by diving into the details.You may surprise yourself.Then do this same exercise for your company.Profit Forecasting Forces You to LearnWant a crash course in your company’s financial details?Run their profit and cash forecasting process.Because you’ll be accountable for hitting a certain revenue, profit, and cash target.How can you hang your reputation on something that accountable?Know the shmetails.🔥TIP: Here’s a guide to profit forecasting.Conclusion: You’ll Crush FP&A w/ DetailsTake the extra time to learn what’s underneath those numbers in spreadsheets.You’ll learn your business faster.You’ll help a bunch of people hit their company goals (hello network opportunity).And help yourself accelerate your FP&A career🫵Resources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

September 20, 202433 min

The Philosophical CFO Career Path w/ Ed Bush

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYWe sat down with Cube Software’s CFO Ed Bush in this episode.Ed’s path to CFO has been more philosophical than most.Here are some things he’s done so far:* Started as a philosophy major* Sang in Johnny Legend’s acapella group* Finance hire #3 at WeWork* Became CFO of an FP&A software tool called CubeHe’s also a husband, dad, and avid marathon runner.Takeaways from Ed’s Interview* Having a philosophy background is SUPER helpful as your career progresses, especially as a people manager and business leader.* Most of the ideas people have aren’t their own, rather they are a repackaging of other people’s ideas that they came across at some point in their career.* What makes you successful as an FP&A analyst differs from what makes you successful as an FP&A manager—the same goes for every level up to CFO.🔥TIP: Here’s a guide to navigating the FP&A career levels from Analyst to CFO.* Grit, fortitude, and the willingness to take on projects you have no experience with will help you accelerate your career more than any degree or certificate.* Balance looking ahead at predictable skill growth without being too rigid—be open to completely different experiences that will widen your skillset.* Every twist and turn of your career can serve you well, no matter how scary—it’s all about having the right mindset.* Carving out time when you are actively not trying to be productive is a great productivity hack—running is one way to do this.* Be active in communities and ask silly questions—you’ll be surprised at how willing people are to share their own experiences.* If you want to rise in your career you need to do things outside of your comfort zone.* Book recommendation, How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell.* When presenting to a large audience DO NOT convey too much information—people will remember 1, maybe 2 things that you say max.🔥TIP: Here’s how to present financial information.Show Notes* 00:46 – Ed opened for John Legend—yep this is not a typo🎤* 02:50 – The path from individual contributor to CFO is NOT straight* 03:45 – Consulting was a good entry point for a liberal arts background grad* 05:03 – Surround yourself with smart, motivated people* 05:49 – From philosophy major to being finance hire #3 at WeWork* 06:50 – Take 1 question and think about the 100 questions behind that question* 08:13 – Want to be CFO? Remind yourself to think less and less about finance* 09:36 – High-potential candidates have experience operating in a world with constraints* 12:12 – Entering and leaving college without knowing what you want to do happens* 13:30 – OPPORTUNITY ALERT—CFO asks you to start a data team from scratch* 16:27 – CFOs take their knocks too—the key is to learn from them* 18:50 – Start measuring your impact on your company, not the number of hours you work* 21:09 – Ask stupid questions all the time—it’s how you learn* 23:11 – Remind yourself to do things outside of your normal day-to-day* 25:36 – Not everyone wants to be a manager or CFO—there are many career paths to take* 27:22 – Saving time in spreadsheets = productivity, that’s why I work for and love using Cube* 28:56 – If you can spend time together in person with your team just do it—they will be rememberedConclusionEd is comfortable being uncomfortable.Taking leaps across career paths and disciplines has stretched him into the CFO he is today.Building relationships in communities, always asking questions, and actively taking time away from spreadsheets have all had a BIG influence on who he is as a leader today.You can find Ed on LinkedIn.And given the twists and turns in his career, you may also find him at your local concert venue jamming out with a legend (like Johnny).THANK YOU Ed for sharing your career story with us.Resources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

August 16, 202414 min

What Comes First: Targets or Budgets?

👋Hey there,For most FP&A teams, the budget is a distant memory.But come early August before late summer vacations hit, it will come fast and furious.Prepare yourself now to make your budgeting process as efficient and effective as possible.How can you prepare?Think about company goals, KPIs, and team metrics first.Tune in to hear about our own budget prep tips (and fails).Listen on* Apple* Spotify* SubstackIt’s All About Goals and KPIsWhat does your company want to achieve this year, next year, 5 years from now?This question isn’t just rhetorical—as a leader in your company’s budget process, you should know what your company’s goals are.Because when you do, it gives your coworkers autonomy to work towards the same common goal.Which you’ll help distill into KPIs and metrics.And come budget time, those KPIs and metrics will be your guide to fund:* More resources* Less resources* Brand new ideas🔥TIP: Here’s a guide on how to think about KPIs (and metrics).Show Notes* 00:21 - Yarty admits Drew is his favorite person—the truth shall set you free!* 00:46 - What comes first — Targets or Budgets? (Get your coffee ready ☕)* 01:29 - At GE (General Electric), targets came first—keeps teams focused* 02:56 - Want your headcount to 4x with flat revenue? Lead with Budget 🆘* 04:30 - Start with goals—they can become KPIs, targets, then budgets* 06:05 - Avoid wish lists—not a productive exercise when budget deadlines loom* 07:30 - Sales will request lower targets—use stretch goals in commission plans* 08:50 - A critical FP&A skillset is to CHALLENGE your business partners* 09:29 - Don’t scare the sh#t out of Sales with goals stretched too far* 10:39 - Understand your sales reps tenure—informs their selling capacity* 11:35 - Help your company focus on training to ramp up high-quality hires* 12:50 - Leverage tech like ChatGPT to ideate and educate* 13:38 - And the winner of Target vs Budget is…Wishlists Are Dangerous During BudgetThere is nothing wrong with wishful thinking.There’s a time and place to come up with ideas of what’s possible.That proper time is during your long-term planning cycle, usually when leadership gets together to figure out the 5-year goals of the company.But during budget season—avoid wishlists at all costs.Budget season is a time crunch—get tactical by:✅ Knowing your company goals✅ Figuring out the KPIs (and metrics) related to those goals✅ Creating a plan that fits into that framework within reason.Understand Your Sales Team Members’ TenureOne useful trick to setting Sales targets is to figure out how tenured your Sales reps are.You can’t expect rookie Sales Reps to hit the ground running and hit the same quota as your 5-year Sales Team veterans do.So when your headcount calls for a bigger Sales Team—don’t just assume quota will go through the roof.Instead, focus on sales enablement.Which is key to onboarding Sales Reps quickly and maximizing their selling skills.Good for the company (higher revenue achievement).And good for the new Sales Rep (more closed deals and higher commission payouts).Challenge Your Business PartnersEvery business partner you work with wants their teams to be fully funded with all ideas approved.You can’t blame them—you would do the same thing if asked for staffing ideas and software initiatives.The trick is to challenge your business partners.Help them balance all the things with an approach that can actually work in practice.For example, hiring is tough and usually takes longer than you think (plus don’t forget about attrition).🔥TIP: Here’s how to calculate attrition in your headcount.Understand what your company’s recruiting capacity is, and in turn help your business partners understand that limitation too.Stack, rack, and rank priorities.And many of the low-priority items will fall off.Which helps your business partners focus.Conclusion: Success Requires PreparationIn FP&A you can’t avoid the budget process.But what you can avoid is being unprepared for it.Start talking about goals, KPIs, and metrics now.Your future you will appreciate it during budget crunch time 👍How do you prep for your budget season?Share your experiences by replying to this. We read and reply to every email.Now go have fun making an impact on your business and your career!See you next week 👊Cheers,Drew & Yarty👉Follow us on LinkedInLevel up your FP&A game today 👊Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

July 12, 202417 min

FP&A Leap From Analyst To Manager

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEYWant to take the leap from FP&A Analyst to FP&A Manager?Show off your FP&A Manager skills early and often.🔥TIP: Here’s a guide on getting to each FP&A job level.You never know when that promotion opportunity will come.For us, it came in the form of a boss leaving.We were ready and got promoted once we took over.Show Notes* 00:41 - Show off mad FP&A Manager skills as an FP&A Analyst* 01:29 - Key skill to get to FP&A Manager—show ability to manage people* 03:32 - Getting thrown into an FP&A Manager role requires communication* 05:30 - Have empathy—and earn your team’s respect* 06:13 - Show up early, leave late—lead your team by helping 🆘* 07:10 - Know when to put your guard UP and DOWN—be a filter* 08:28 - Leadership isn’t always great at communicating—that’s your job🫵* 10:08 - Help your team learn from each other—create a learning culture* 11:45 - Athletes make great salespeople—learn what motivates your team* 12:40 - Manage someone the way you want to be managed* 13:10 - Practice controllable failure—safe failure = learning* 15:01 - Practice, practice, practice—it goes a long way* 16:20 - Talk to people that manage people—they will teach youSome Get Thrown Into Starting Manager RolesOne way to show off FP&A Manager skills is to do your boss’s job.Sometimes they take vacation.Sometimes they leave unexpectedly (like ours did).Or sometimes they’re injured by a giant linebacker (slide QBs, slide).Either way, use that window of opportunity to step up.Lead your team through this difficult time.While working with your boss’s boss to ensure they get continuity.You Don’t Need a Team to PracticePractice makes perfect (sorry Allen Iverson).How do you practice people management without a team to manage?Try looking for these opportunities right now:* Find an intern or new hire and offer to coach them* Take the lead in a process to practice people and project management* Offer to lead a weekly team meetingThese things may sound simple.But trust us, this practice will go a long way in teaching you the skills needed to crush your first FP&A Manager role.Lead By ExampleShowing you care goes a long way.To do that you can do a few things:* Before logging off ask your team if they need help* Do the day-to-day work that FP&A Analysts do to understand what it takes* Manage people how you want to be managedSounds obvious, but your team are people just like you.Help them achieve their goals by actively participating and supporting their day-to-day work.Conclusion: Crush Your Manager OpportunityWhen the time comes, if you’ve practiced and prepared enough, you’ll be more than ready for that leap from FP&A Analyst to FP&A Manager.Remember, it takes time to learn any new role or job.So keep learning, stay humble, and listen to your future team for feedback.You got this FP&A career thing.Resources▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.comThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com