Financial Planning and Analysis - Kicking It Up a Notch

Until recently, the financial planning and analysis professionals had a hard time explaining to neighbours what he or she did for a living. But due to the cataclysmic events that shook the global business community in 2008-09, the answer has become simple. "I'm a business navigator. I help my organization avoid submerged hazards. And, once in a while, I spot unforeseen opportunities opportunities for us to really shine."

It's the FP&A professional that has a strong grasp of business operations, marketplace dynamics, and economic value creation.

FP&A professionals are keen to meet the challenge. But preparedness varies. The truly fortunate...

The True Grit of FP&A Process Innovation

According to a recent survey conducted by APQC, the role of the FP&A professional has gained prominence in the past three years. The financial crisis and Great Recession taught CEOs and CFOs that strategic planning—and the day-to-day execution thereof—can be precarious. Senior executives now know they need more than a good plan and competent managers to prosper. They know their organizations need to be agile—that is, able to draw on credible data to sense and respond to fast-moving market forces that can easily decimate plan assumptions.

For some, the key is to become what’s called an “analytic competitor”—a business that...