Dear colleagues,

FP&A Business Partners are becoming the key players in organisation-wide decision-making processes, elevating their role to new heights.

According to the findings of the 2023 FP&A Trends survey, there has been a significant 17% increase in the demand for Business Partnering skills, jumping from 24% in 2022 to 41% in 2023. This upward trend highlights the growing recognition of the value of collaboration and the urgent need to bridge the gap between finance and other key business functions.

In this digest, we will delve into the evolving role of the FP&A Business Partner, exploring the transformative power they hold within organisations. We have curated a collection of informative content on this subject, which I believe will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to enhance your effectiveness as an FP&A Business Partner.

Stay tuned!

Best regards,

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

With the ongoing impact of macroeconomic factors on the market, the pressure on FP&A teams is increasing to take proactive measures in anticipating and preparing for potential events, instead of merely reacting to unfolding situations. Scenario Planning offers a valuable framework to help organisations prepare for the future with confidence.

Since managing scenarios is one of the responsibilities of FP&A Business Partners, I encourage you to read this article presenting ten tips to empower your team in establishing a strong Scenario Planning process.

FP&A Business Partnering is not just about one person, but about how a range of skills are brought together to support organisational decision-making.

This e-book collects different articles from practitioners and thought leaders on FP&A Business Partnering. Throughout the paper, we look at its essence and the most critical attributes, and discuss how one can become and be a great Business Partner.

To access the e-book, please click here.

By Larysa Melnychuk

FP&A Business Partners are agents who challenge the status quo, transform processes and systems, educate and influence others. With their deep financial and business expertise, they provide valuable insights to optimise business performance.

This article describes the FP&A Business Partnering Maturity Model, developed by the International FP&A Board. The framework helps organisations optimise their Financial Planning and Analysis capabilities for success.

By Liping Qi

"To be a successful finance partner, you have to understand the business you are in". Without a comprehensive understanding of the overall business landscape, there is a risk of providing inaccurate or misguided input to operational leaders, which can potentially lead to a decline in business value or, worse, a destructive trajectory.

Read this article, in which the Head of FP&A at Kuiper (Part of Amazon) explains why Business Partnering is a crucial skill, based on her experiences.

By Emma Martin

Effective Business Partnering is the art of having a meaningful conversation between the FP&A department and other departments bringing benefits for everyone.

In her presentation, the Commercial & Finance Director at Ogilvy shares three behaviours for better FP&A Business Partnering:

• understanding the business context,
• knowing your audience and the people you work with, and
• building a reputation for good judgment and fair dealing.

Watch this video to learn key tips on how to model each of these behaviours in your company.

Over the last 8 years, the International FP&A Board has developed the FP&A Maturity Model, which aims to help you intelligently map the path to success. Today, it stands as a result of the invaluable contributions and insights from thousands of senior finance practitioners in 30 Board chapters across 16 countries on four continents.

FP&A Trends Maturity Model Assessment is a tool based on the FP&A Trends Maturity Model. It is an interactive questionnaire that allows organisations of any size, industry, and geography to identify the stage of their FP&A maturity compared to the leading stage and create their own transformation journey.

To start assessment, please, click here.

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