So why are we as finance professionals so slow to adopt digital transformation when there are so many proven benefits to us and the companies we operate in? I believe this is due to three main fears.

FP&A teams all over the world are undergoing a major transformation via the Integrated FP&A model. Data is the fundamental building block for this transformation.

In an uncertain world, plans with a single focus are no longer sufficient. Management needs to constantly scan the business environment, assess what lies beyond the ‘span of predictability’, and be prepared for a multitude of realities.

The world is changing, the business environment is changing, and finance needs to re-imagine itself as well. ZBB mindset supports finance teams on this journey by pushing them to deeply understand the business and connect the dots, build relevant insights based on available data, and use a new set of skills to influence the future direction.

xP&A is more than an attempt to ‘fix’ the planning process. It is a complete transformation of the FP&A function to continually challenge the status quo, to educate, shape and influence management decisions on how the organization achieves its goals.

FP&A is getting more and more relevant in the organisations as a key role to support the strategy and decision making. This article covers the main skills FP&A professionals should develop to succeed in the context of 2030s, highlighting the mix of technical skills such as data analytics and data architecture with soft skills such as influencing and storytelling.