Dear colleagues,

FP&A influence is built over time through conversations, not reports. The way finance frames issues, responds to tension and positions itself in dialogue shapes how its insights are received.

This digest issue focuses on storytelling as an everyday FP&A practice. Looking at narrative framing, mindset change and humour, these pieces highlight how FP&A professionals build credibility and trust through the choices they make in communication — often long before decisions are taken.

We recently launched the 10th Annual FP&A Trends Survey, a project dedicated to uncovering trends and shaping the future of our profession, and we are grateful to everyone who has already taken part. If you haven’t had the chance yet, we invite you to join this global initiative and share your insights. Your voice matters, and your contribution can make a real difference.

Best regards,

Larysa Melnychuk, CEO and Founder
FP&A Trends Group & International FP&A Board

Each year, the FP&A Trends Survey grows through the experiences of practitioners across regions and industries. We would be glad to include your perspective. By taking part, you help build a shared, experience-based view of how FP&A is practised today — how teams plan, partner and support decisions in real organisations.

The questionnaire is short and focused, taking around 10 minutes to complete. As a participant, you’ll be among the first to receive the survey report, to be published in July 2026.

Click to start the survey

By Thomas Smith, Strategic Finance Leader and Consultant

Rarely do business decisions hinge on numbers alone. They form around what stands out in discussion, what connects ideas, and what remains top of mind. In that sense, FP&A storytelling shapes outcomes long before numbers are challenged or approved.

Read this article to reflect on how narrative awareness shapes decision-making through emphasis, sequencing, and clarity — guiding attention and creating meaning when complexity fills the room.

By Matt Poleski, NorthEast and Mid-Atlantic Regions CFO at Arthur J. Gallagher

The way FP&A frames its role influences how the business engages with it. Narratives built around constraints and inherited problems often limit momentum and ownership.

Read this article to explore how reframing mindset changes the quality of dialogue. The perspective centres on agency, responsibility, and how FP&A leaders shape perception through everyday choices in language and positioning.

By Suneet Pal Singh, Director FP&A at SE Health

Tone shapes relationships as much as content. In corporate environments, humour often signals confidence, awareness, and trust — when used with intent.

Read this article to consider the role humour plays in shaping professional presence in FP&A, and how subtle choices in tone influence trust and credibility.

FP&A Trends digital events are vendor-agnostic and complimentary. If you are not able to join the live session, you can register to receive the recording later.

February 4, 2026

FP&A insights gain influence when they are understood, remembered, and acted upon.

Register for this webinar to explore how finance professionals can structure narratives that support alignment and decision-making. The focus is on clarity, framing, and turning analysis into shared understanding.

March 18, 2026

As AI becomes part of everyday FP&A work, the role of finance continues to shift towards interpretation, judgement, and dialogue with the business.

Register for this webinar to learn how AI-enabled insights strengthen business partnering when paired with clear communication. The session focuses on how FP&A professionals translate advanced analytics into narratives that support trust, understanding and better decisions.

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