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How to develop financial strategies for business success [2026]

Learn how finance leaders develop effective financial strategies to drive growth, manage risk, improve cash flow, and support long-term business success in 2026.

How Cube’s AI-Powered Collaboration Transforms Cross-Functional Planning

Discover the strategic value of data hygiene for FP&A leaders. Learn best practices and see how Cube's FP&A software can enhance your data management.

The Finance Fix

Need your finance & FP&A fix? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter from former serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, Christina Ross.

The Strategic Finance Hierarchy of Needs: evolving from data analyst to business partner

Learn more about the Strategic Finance Hierarchy of Needs: a layer-by-layer framework for finance teams ready to lead.

AI in finance: How CFOs are evolving beyond automation and driving strategy in 2026

Learn how CFOs apply AI in FP&A and finance to strengthen financial intelligence, improve forecasting, and move beyond automation into a more strategic leadership role.

How to create a strategic financial plan for your business in 2026

Learn how to build a strategic financial plan that aligns goals, forecasts performance, manages risk, and supports sustainable business growth throughout 2026.

Learn these 5 new skills to excel in your FP&A career

Learn these 5 new skills to excel in your FP&A career.

Benchmarking for success: use these financial metrics to guide your strategy

Explore the financial benchmarks and metrics that really matter, why they’re crucial, and how you can use them to shape a winning strategy.

A perfect pairing: How to create a great relationship between HR & finance

Wondering how to build a bulletproof relationship between HR and Finance that can take your business to new heights? Let's dive in.

The strategic value of data hygiene: Guide for finance leaders

Discover the strategic value of data hygiene for FP&A leaders. Learn best practices and see how Cube's FP&A software can enhance your data management.

Navigating financial risk: tools and strategies for today’s finance leaders

Wondering how to approach financial risk management the right way? Learn how to effectively identify and mitigate financial risks in no time.

New year, new plan: Mapping your 2026 finance strategy

Learn how finance leaders map an effective 2026 finance strategy with expert insights on planning, prioritization, and execution.

Best strategic planning software: Top Tools for SMBs in 2026

Discover the best strategic planning software for SMBs in 2026 to improve forecasting, align goals, and support sustainable growth.

Transform your finance team into strategic business partners with Cube's Finance Acceleration Framework™️

Learn how to transform your finance team into strategic business partners with Cube's Finance Acceleration Framework.

The Finance Fix

Need your finance & FP&A fix? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter from former serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, Christina Ross.

Risk management in financial planning: mitigating uncertainties for a stronger future

Dive into the crucial role of risk management in financial planning and discover a road map for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks effectively.

How to use FP&A software to drive strategic planning

Explore how FP&A software can help you take your strategic planning to the next level.

10 KPIs finance leaders need to track for organizational health

In this blog, we'll delve into the essential KPIs finance leaders need to track for organizational health to ensure you're always a step ahead.

The makings of an effective financial planning calendar

Discover the main components of an effective financial planning calendar (and best practices to set your business up for success).

Compliance management: Build a culture of compliance on your FP&A team

Learn tips and tricks to build a culture of compliance on your FP&A team.

Hiring your first FP&A analyst

Hiring is exciting. But you might have questions or reservations if you've never hired an FP&A analyst. Let's cover those in this guide.

Essential parts of a strategic plan

What's a strategic plan? And how do I know when I've included enough? Learn the essential elements of a strategic plan in this blog post.

Organizational plans: a quick primer (with examples)

Organizational plans are how the finance team creates plans for the future. Some examples include strategic, tactical, driver-based, and contingency plans.

Operational planning vs strategic planning: How they work together

Learn the difference between operational and strategic planning. Discover how these vital processes differ and align for organizational success

Strategic Finance: An exhaustive and practical guide for CFOs in 2026

Strategic finance empowers CFOs to drive growth and influence strategy. Learn frameworks, tools, and best practices to become a stronger business partner in 2026.

xP&A: How to conduct extended planning and analysis

Learn all about extended planning and analysis (xP&A), or the new FP&A: holistic financial planning. Curious about what sets it apart?

The Finance Fix

Need your finance & FP&A fix? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter from former serial CFO turned CEO of Cube, Christina Ross.

What is strategic financial planning and management?

Explore the fundamentals of strategic planning in depth, and gain insights into crafting and implementing an effective, results-driven strategic plan.

Month-end close process: Steps, checklist, and how to automate

Use this month-end close process checklist to automate and improve your month-end close process in 2025.

Strategic budgeting: Are you getting it right? A guide for 2026

Strategic budgeting helps organizations align resources with goals. Learn best practices, frameworks, and common pitfalls to improve budgeting outcomes in 2026.

FAQS

Still have questions?

What is strategic planning?

Strategic planning is creating and implementing business strategies designed to promote the long-term health of an organization. It's a disciplined effort that produces fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, whom it serves, what it does, and why it does that. 

Why is strategic planning important?

Strategic planning is vital because it helps keep an organization on track. It takes in a lot of different inputs like business activity, financial plans, and market conditions and sees whether or not they align with the company's strategic goals.

What are the 5 steps in strategic planning?

The 5 steps of strategic planning are to...

 

(1) gather stakeholders

 

(2) do research—a SWOT analysis is helpful here

 

(3) determine your goals

 

(4) make a plan around those goals

 

(5) continuously monitor your progress and adjust the plan as needed

Still have questions?

Meet our community

At Cube, we’re proud to work alongside a growing community of finance leaders who are transforming their teams. From high-growth tech startups and retail companies to global manufacturing enterprises, our customers, partners, and employees are building a future where finance moves faster and leads with confidence.

Together, we're not just solving today's problems, we’re building tomorrow’s finance function: smarter, faster, and more collaborative.