FP&A function is changing rapidly together with our world. xP&A means “Extended Planning & Analysis” and is now slowly taking place of the traditional FP&A. FP&A Business Partnering Maturity Model as below is showing us three stages of different aspects of core FP&A competencies. xP&A is covered under the "Leading State" column. 

In times of uncertainty, we found out that traditional business planning does not work very quickly. Budget and forecast become irrelevant whereas multidimensional and integrated scenario planning is a must-have. This is where you see the importance of the concept of xP&A.

During the pandemic, we witnessed how quickly traditional budgeting and planning process become irrelevant. Traditional controlling does not work anymore. We need to ensure all our planning processes are integrated vertically and horizontally and ensure everyone that plans in the organisation work together.

To navigate the uncertainties in 2020, FP&A had to change their way of working. On the 4th of February 2021, during The Digital Swiss FP&A Board, we looked at the Scenario Planning via different perspectives. The insightful meeting was delivered by a board panel of 4 distinguished FP&A Board members. This article summarises the key case studies and polling questions. 

As more and more enterprises endeavor to move from a centralized, command and control structure to more agile and decentralized business units, the biggest constraint felt by many is the way financial control is exercised via traditional budgeting and budgetary control.

On the 27th of January 2021, I had the pleasure of facilitating the second Digital Benelux FP&A board meeting. The subject under discussion was “The Art and Science of Digitised FP&A Business partnering”, delivered by a truly international board panel of 5 members based in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.