Ehab Sobhy’s Post

How I measure FP&A team success: Beyond just the numbers FP&A pros, let's talk metrics. We live and breathe numbers, but measuring our own team's success goes beyond just hitting forecast accuracy or churning out reports on time. It's about impact, Here's how I assess my FP&A team's true performance: 1. 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Sure, we deliver reports, but are we truly partnering with stakeholders to solve problems and drive strategic decisions? I gauge this through regular feedback loops, informal chats, and (gasp!) direct questions. Are we trusted advisors? Do they feel empowered to come to us with any financial questions, big or small? 2. 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬: Forecasting is great, but did our analysis influence actual results? Did our cost-reduction initiatives lead to real savings? Did our scenario planning help navigate a crisis? These are the stories we need to tell, not just the raw data. 3. 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: The business world is a whirlwind. Can my team pivot quickly when priorities shift or unexpected events arise? Do they embrace change and constantly seek to improve processes? This agility is crucial in today's dynamic environment. 4. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Is my team hungry to learn and grow? Do we invest in training, encourage knowledge sharing, and celebrate continuous improvement? A stagnant FP&A team is a recipe for irrelevance. 5. 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭: Finally, it's all about the people. Do we have a high-performing, collaborative, and supportive team? Are we attracting and retaining the best talent? A strong team culture is the bedrock of any successful FP&A function. Bonus tip: Don't forget to celebrate successes! Recognizing achievements, big or small, keeps the team motivated and engaged. So, fellow FP&A warriors, let's move beyond the spreadsheets and focus on the real prize: making a lasting impact on the business. What are your go-to metrics for measuring your FP&A team's success? Share your thoughts in the comments below! #fpa #finance #performancemanagement #businesspartnering #teamculture #fpacareer Remember, these are just starting points. Tailor your metrics to your specific team, company, and industry. ----------------------------------------------- 📥 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲: Download my work in PDF format by visiting my profile and clicking (Access my FP&A resources). Your journey towards financial excellence begins now! ------------------------------------------------ 🤝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 ⤵

Managing others, not just yourself. That’s the biggest challenge new FP&A managers face. One trick that’s helped me with that challenge? A simple team meeting to kick off the week. Sounds obvious, but not everyone does it. Your new team will appreciate it 👊 Here’s way more info on all the FP&A job levels including the challenges you’ll face and how to overcome them. https://lnkd.in/d4HAbwf7

Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in FP&A Today, I'm thrilled to shine a spotlight on a topic that's close to my heart: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). With 15 years of experience in FP&A and a steadfast commitment to leadership, I believe that fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic advantage for organizations. Here's why DEI is so important in FP&A: 1️⃣ Diverse Perspectives Drive Innovation: Diversity in FP&A brings together individuals with unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. By embracing diversity, organizations foster creativity and innovation, driving strategic insights and better decision-making. 2️⃣ Equity Promotes Fairness and Opportunity: Equity ensures that everyone has access to the same opportunities for growth and advancement, regardless of their background or identity. By promoting equity in FP&A, organizations create an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive and contribute their best. 3️⃣ Inclusion Fosters Collaboration and Engagement: Inclusive workplaces empower employees to bring their authentic selves to work and actively participate in decision-making processes. In FP&A, fostering inclusion encourages collaboration, boosts employee morale, and enhances overall productivity. 4️⃣ Better Problem-Solving and Risk Management: Diverse teams in FP&A are better equipped to identify and mitigate risks, as they bring a wider range of perspectives and insights to the table. By encouraging diversity of thought, organizations can enhance problem-solving capabilities and drive better outcomes. 5️⃣ Reflecting Customer Diversity: In an increasingly diverse global marketplace, it's essential for FP&A teams to reflect the diversity of their customers. By embracing DEI, organizations can better understand and serve the needs of diverse customer segments, driving business growth and sustainability. In conclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not just buzzwords – they are essential pillars of organizational success in FP&A and beyond. By championing DEI initiatives, organizations can unlock the full potential of their talent, drive innovation, and create a more equitable and inclusive future for all. Let's continue to prioritize DEI in FP&A and work together to build a brighter and more inclusive tomorrow! #FPNA #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DiversityEquityInclusion #LeadershipSkills #Innovation #FairnessandOpportunity #CustomerDiversity

As someone new to the FP&A field, I prioritize scheduling regular calls with industry leaders to gain valuable insights from their expertise. I believe it would be beneficial to share these insights here and hear your thoughts as well. Just last Friday, I had a chat with a new VP of FP&A from one of the fastest-growing companies in San Francisco. She told me, "In this environment, waiting until month-end feels like walking blindfolded through traffic." And she’s right. If you can’t deliver real-time insights, you’re already behind. Teams need accurate data at their fingertips—every single day—to pivot, adapt, and make smart decisions as conditions shift. What really hit me was when she said, "Finance used to just report the numbers, now we’re the ones deciding what the company should do next." That’s what it’s about: empowering your business with timely, actionable insights so they can stay ahead of the curve. It’s not just about data—it's about helping the business thrive in real-time. I wonder, how do you ensure providing insights fast enough in your business? #FP&A #RealTimeInsights #DecisionMaking #FinanceTransformation

📈 Things No One is Telling You About FP&A 📉 Alright, let's get real about FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis). There's a lot more to it than just crunching numbers and making fancy dashboards. Here are a few things most people don't talk about: 💡 #Business #Partnering Skills: It's not just about #analyzing data; it's about translating those insights into actions and #communicating them effectively. This means understanding the business inside and out, #collaborating with different teams, and being able to offer strategic advice. 💡 #LateNights Are Part of the Deal: #Deadlines don't wait for anyone. When it's time for month-end close or budget planning, you'll find yourself putting in the extra hours to ensure everything goes smoothly. 💡 The P&L #Rollercoaster : Brace yourself for multiple #iterations of the same P&L statement. As leadership's #vision shifts, so will your numbers, sometimes on the fly. Being flexible and #adaptable is key. 💡 Mastering #Storytelling : It's not enough to just have data; you need to weave it into a compelling #narrative. Whether you're presenting to leadership or your team, telling a story with the numbers helps drive understanding and action. 💡 #Confidentiality Is Crucial: You often have access to #sensitive information about company's future plans. Keeping things confidential is part of the job, even with colleagues in the same organization. 💡 #Foresight and #Flexibility: You will be looked up for your ability to #anticipate changes and #adjust your plans accordingly. Leaders might look for your data-driven opinion to take decisions. The business environment is always #shifting, and staying #agile will be your primary skill. 💡 Being the #Bridge: FP&A serves as the #connector between finance and other departments. This means mediating between the needs of different teams and ensuring everyone is aligned with the overall financial #strategy. 💡 A #Seat at the Decision-Making Table: FP&A isn't just about reporting the past; it's about shaping the future. You'll find yourself involved in major financial #decisions and #planning initiatives. Your #insights and #recommendations can directly impact the business's #strategic direction. If you're in FP&A, keep up the hard work! 🏅 You're making a real difference, even if it doesn't always feel that way. 🏅 And if you're not, well, now you know a bit more about what happens behind the scenes. Here's one from the many fun times, working with this super-talented and my favourite The Coca-Cola Company FP&A Team for INSWA Region! 😊

Check out my article about the 5 pillars of building the winning FP&A team Thanks to Larysa Melnychuk and FP&A Trends Group for giving me this opportunity. https://lnkd.in/d3TU7ADJ

𝐅𝐏&𝐀 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐅𝐎: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭 The CFO landscape is changing! We're seeing a rise in FP&A professionals taking the reins as CFOs. What's driving this trend? here's the inside scoop: 𝐅𝐏&𝐀: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: The FP&A world revolves around financial planning, analysis, and a forward-thinking mindset. This translates perfectly for CFOs who need to be strategic wizards, analyzing data to make game-changing decisions. 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬: FP&A isn't just about spreadsheets (although those are important too!). It fosters a deep understanding of different business functions and how they work together. This holistic view prepares FP&A pros to tackle the diverse challenges a CFO faces. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬: Translating complex financial data into clear, concise stories. That's an FP&A specialty! This skill is gold for CFOs who must connect with everyone, from the CEO to frontline employees. 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞: The modern CFO is more than a number cruncher; they're a strategic partner. Their expertise drives growth and innovation. FP&A professionals, with their strategic thinking and business acumen, are perfectly suited for this evolving role. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐏&𝐀 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐅𝐎 𝐩𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰?   Is there another department well-positioned to feed future CFOs? Share your thoughts in the comments! —————————————- 📥 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲: Download my work in PDF format by visiting my profile ➡️ [https://lnkd.in/dsNJG6aG] and clicking (𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐅𝐏&𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬). Your journey toward financial excellence begins. —————————————- 🤝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞, 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 ⤵ #fpacareer #fpna #cfo

I'm keen to hear everyone's thoughts on this💭 As someone immersed in the world of Private Equity, I've come to appreciate the pivotal role that a robust FP&A function plays in a business' journey either to a transaction or just scaling. Here's why upskilling FP&A isn't just a box to tick - it's a game-changer: 🎯Informed Decisions: FP&A teams provide the insights needed for strategic moves, guiding CFOs through complex decisions with clarity. 💡Streamlined Insights: With cohesive FP&A, data becomes actionable intelligence, driving alignment and action across the portfolio. 🚀Maximizing Portfolio Potential: Advanced analytics from FP&A analysts uncover hidden value, mitigate risks, and propel portfolio success. 🌐Global Insight, Local Impact: FP&A's agility delivers localized insights, empowering proactive strategies for global success. In summary, the synergy between CFOs and FP&A isn't just about data - it's about empowerment, innovation, and driving value for the stakeholders. In the ever-evolving landscape of Private Equity, upskilling FP&A isn't just a strategic move - it's a pathway to sustainable success. Keen to hear thoughts on this ... Comment or Message me! #Recruitment #PrivateEquity #Investors #FPandA #PE #Exit #Transaction #CFO #PE #Growth

📢 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗣&𝗔 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀! I want to drop some brain snacks into your feed (see what I did there?) as you're headed into the weekend... Make sure to catch this week’s FP&A Fast Track newsletter. It’s free and each edition is packed with insights and tips tailored for the FP&A professional who wants to put their career on the fast track. Sign up now, right here: https://lnkd.in/eHH5PRb8 𝗪𝗜𝗜𝗙𝗬: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂? 🧠 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀. 🎙️ Get highlights and access to full interviews with finance experts I interview each week, like this week’s episode with Christian Wattig. This is an archive episode from my interview with Christian and I will be interviewing him again to catch up on his new courses, including the Wharton-Wall Street Prep FP&A Certification collaboration he is involved in. 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱: Dive into summaries of pivotal business and personal development books. This week, we're exploring “The Fifth Discipline” by Peter Senge. When it was originally written, The Fifth Discipline was Peter Senge's shot across the bow of the management thinking of the day - namely that people should work harder and longer to produce better results. This book is distilled here for you in 17 minutes! 💬 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: Sharpen your skills with practical advice. This week’s focus? Adapting to Automation and the Need for Insightful Analysis in FP&A: In the evolving world of FP&A, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming more commonplace in more workplaces every day. While both have great benefits, it is clear there are a few areas both still have a long way to go. These are areas humans can stand out if they focus on the right things. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲? - Stay ahead in the FP&A world with expert insights. 💡 - Gain knowledge in bite-sized, manageable chunks. 🧠 - Join a community passionate about growth and learning. 📖 🌟 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀: We have partnered with Wall Street Prep and Wharton to bring you a $300 discount on their groundbreaking collaboration, the 8-week online Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Certificate Program. Find out all about it in the newsletter... To get all these resources every week, sign up now, right here: https://lnkd.in/eHH5PRb8

Everyone knows that having an upskilled FP&A team is crucial for a hyper-growth SaaS company. But not everyone knows why. In my experience of speaking to CEOs, CFOs, Heads/Directors of FP&A and even investors, they all have one thing in common. The FP&A team are crucial. Here are some of the reasons that the FP&A function holds value: Revenue Forecasting: Predicting subscription-based revenue streams. Cost Management: Optimising development and maintenance costs. CLV Analysis: Assessing customer profitability. Performance Metrics Tracking: Monitoring MRR, Churn Rate, CAC, and CLV. Scenario Planning and Risk Management: Anticipating market changes and mitigating risks. Supporting Strategic Decision-Making: Providing data-driven insights for initiatives like product development and market expansion. Investor Relations: Ensuring transparency and attracting funding. It would be great to hear your thoughts in the comments. Is the FP&A team arguably the most important when it comes to decision making?🤔 Let me know! #FPandA #DecisionMaking #CFO #Analyst #Investors #Recruitment