FP&A professionals have various desirable attributes. This article looks at these attributes from a diamond perspective – cut, colour, clarity and carat – plus culture.
Simone da Silva Collins
With 10+ years of industry experience in business partnering, Simone is currently Finance Business Partner in the UK for a financial services enterprise. She has been in both regional and corporate FP&A roles in telecoms, technology and insurance industries, supporting her partners in financial planning and analysis and business partnering. Together with other like-minded FP&A professionals around the world, Simone is engaged with Associated of Financial Professional (AFP) in job task analysis and item writing for the FP&A certification exams.
Simone is originally from Macau in SE Asia. She is a Fellow of ACCA, a certified FP&A and has an MBA from Manchester Business School.
Author's Articles
Communication is a key soft skill that FP&A professionals should master. Getting it right the first time enables FP&A professionals to be more effective and efficient. What are the top 10 considerations for effective FP&A communication?
FP&A does not work in the finance silo of providing backward looking analysis of what has happened. They arm themselves and their operational and departmental leaders with the “why” of the performances and develop insights on trends. In the leading state of the FP&A Business Partnering Maturity model, FP&A is a credible partner that the business leaders can rely on when developing a sound strategy.
Have you thought of becoming an FP&A professional? When I was studying for my accounting qualification, I assumed I would become a traditional accountant. I did not know then how wrong this assumption would prove to be. This article gives an insight to my path in becoming an FP&A professional and short guide on how to become one.