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FP&A Best Practices

The best of the best FP&A content out there. Report, plan, analyze, model, and forecast more strategically with our collection of essentials.

When is a rolling forecast right for my business?

A rolling forecast evolves with your business. It’s a living, breathing document that is always...
PSA: Not all metrics are KPIs - best practices

If you have a 2-page list of “KPIs,” we’re calling them the wrong thing. Not all metrics are KPIs,...
What is financial planning and analysis (FP&A) software?

Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) software helps strategic finance teams improve their...
Cash forecasting: a quick guide for busy FP&A teams (updated for 2023)

For finance teams at SaaS companies, cash flow forecasting is fundamental to help executives manage...
Getting buy-in for your next finance transformation project

So you're ready to start a finance transformation project, but how do you convince your team that...
Scenario planning: move beyond the basics

Scenario planning is a method of forecasting and analysis that takes a variety of assumptions to...
Strategic budgeting: are you getting it right? A guide for 2023

Strategic budgeting should be treated as a formal planning process. In this guide to strategic...
Top-down vs. bottom-up budgeting: which should you use?

Top-down vs. bottom-up budgeting...which should you choose? As many with things, it depends. In...
The 16 best financial forecasting software for FP&A teams [in 2023]

We've rounded up the best financial forecasting software to help FP&A teams make financial...
Cohort analysis: the secret to the best insights you've ever gotten

Learn some simple cohort analysis techniques (like acquisition vs. behavioral cohorts) so that you...
The definitive guide to an FP&A software implementation (in 2023)

When working on a financial implementation, it’s important to win and create a seamless transition...
Chart of accounts: basics and best practices

Learn the basics and best practices to setting up and maintaining a chart of accounts for your...
What’s the difference between a plan, a budget, and a forecast?

While a company’s plan, budget, and financial forecast are often discussed in the boardroom, these...
In a new finance leadership role? Here’s a guide for a successful first 90 days

How should you prepare for a new role in finance leadership? Use this guide to set your team up for...
How to accelerate your annual budgeting process (in 2023)

Many businesses dread the annual budgeting process as the fiscal year comes to a close. However,...
6 best cash flow management software tools for busy finance teams [in 2023]

These are our top picks for the best cash flow management software tools for finance and FP&A teams...
What is financial planning & analysis (FP&A)? A guide for 2023

Financial Planning and Analysis, or FP&A, is the budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis...
A full Workday Adaptive Planning review [Updated for 2023]

This is a full and honest Workday Adaptive Planning review (formerly Adaptive Insights). Pros,...
The 10 best FP&A software tools: a guide for 2023

Finance teams use FP&A software solutions to streamline and automate their work. Here's an overview...
How to empower non-financial executives to understand the numbers

Explaining financial numbers to non-financial executives can be a voyage riddled with rough waters...
Becoming a “have” in B2B SaaS starts with FP&A

OpenView released a report in 2021 that tells the difference between a B2B SaaS "have" and a "have...
Cash flow: What's the difference between the direct vs. indirect method?

Learn when to use the direct vs indirect method for calculating your business's cash flow.
What is budget forecasting?

Learn all about budget forecasting and how it's different than a traditional budget or a...
8 must-do steps for your month-end close process

Is your month-end close process taking too long, or do you think you should be doing more? Here's...
Corporate performance management: a primer

Corporate performance management (CPM) describes the methods and processes of measuring a company's...
Strategic workforce planning for CFOs: from strategy to execution

Workforce planning is a large part of your budget and determines the trajectory of your company:...
What's an FP&A job?

How do you get an FP&A job? From the analyst position to director of strategic finance, FP&A can be...
Driver-based planning: let the numbers lead the way

Driver-based planning is one of the best paradigms for your next budgeting cycle. What drives...
Slides: The top 5 mistakes CFOs make when communicating with the board

What are the top 5 mistakes CFOs make when communicating with the board? Here's the slide deck our...
What-if analysis: a beginner's guide to scenarios + goal seek in Excel

A simple introduction to what-if analysis in Microsoft Excel. We cover scenarios, data tables, goal...
What is sensitivity analysis in strategic finance?

Sensitivity analysis is a financial modeling technique that helps FP&A teams determine how input...
What is strategic financial planning and management?

Strategic planning is one of finance's most important functions. In this post, you'll learn how to...
Cash inflow and outflow: keeping tabs on your financial health

Keeping tabs on your cash inflow and outflow is how you keep the lights on and invest in growth....
Cash runway: How (and why) to calculate your company’s cash runway

Cash runway is an essential metric that helps founders and CFOs determine how much cash they have...
FP&A interview questions: a cheat sheet for landing the next FP&A role

Interviewing for a new FP&A job? Interviewing FP&A candidates and not sure what to ask? Browse our...
What are the three financial statements?

The three financial statements that make the 3-statement model are the income statement, balance...
Capacity planning: the CFO's guide

Don't overlook the importance of capacity planning. CFOs, in this guide we show you how capacity...
What's a pro forma template? [Free pro forma templates for Excel]

A pro forma statement is a hypothetical future state of a business's finances. Grab a free pro...
What is headcount forecasting? [Free headcount forecasting Excel template]

Headcount forecasting (AKA headcount or workforce planning) is essential for any high-growth...
EBITDA: What does it say about my company's financial health?

This blog post explains what EBITDA is and how it can be used to measure a company's financial...
100+ up-to-date-for-2023 FP&A statistics every CFO should know

Looking for an FP&A statistic? Look no further. We've gathered more than 100 up-to-date FP&A...
The 8+ best account reconciliation software (updated for 2023)

We rounded up the best account reconciliation software on the market to accelerate a stress-free...
The top FP&A certifications and courses for career advancement [2023]

An FP&A certification is a great way to improve your skills + advance the career ladder. But with...
Burn multiple: a quick & simple guide

Burn multiple is an essential efficiency metric. How do venture capitalists use it to judge...
Every (50+) financial ratio you'll ever need in 2023

Financial ratios are a CFO's bread and butter. Ever need to look up a financial ratio? Us too....
Our FP&A salary & career field guide for 2023 strategic finance roles

How much should you expect to get paid in FP&A? And how do you increase your salary and get...
ASC 606 revenue recognition: A 2023 guide for SaaS CFOs & FP&A teams

Complying with ASC 606 revenue recognition standards is increasingly difficult for modern FP&A...
How to create a balance sheet projection in 2023

Knowing how to create a balance sheet projection is essential for being able to companies looking...
What's a static budget? Here's what you need to know

What is a static budget? How is it different from a fixed budget? How do you make a static budget?...
Strategic finance: An exhaustive and practical guide for CFOs in 2023

Strategic finance is the core of how CFOs can be better partners to their CEOs and use the power of...
Variance reporting: What is it + how to read/write a variance report

What is variance reporting? It's when you show and explain the discrepancies between the forecast...
Account reconciliation: What it is, how it works, and what to do

Account reconciliation is an essential part of closing the books. But how do you do it, and why is...