Intro to FP&A Done Right | Ep. 1

Emma

All right, everybody, welcome to FP&A Done Right, a brand new podcast all about FP&A. That's right, I'm Emma, and I'm so excited to be joining you. Ethan, you ready to dive in?

Unknown Speaker

Oh, absolutely. I'm Ethan, and we're gonna be talking about all things FP&A—financial planning and analysis. We're gonna get into the tools, the techniques, the processes, and, you know, really how to do FP&A the right way. But I think it's important we zoom out a bit, too, right? Like, look at the bigger picture of enterprise planning and how all of that plays together.

Emma

Yeah, totally. And, you know, sometimes people hear FP&A and just think, "Oh, that's just budgeting." I used to think that, honestly. But it's so much more. I remember working with a Revelwood client who thought the same thing—just budgets and forecasts. But once they started looking at business performance management, or BPM, and then corporate performance management, CPM, it was like a lightbulb went off. Suddenly, they were measuring and managing performance, not just tracking numbers. It changed their whole approach.

Unknown Speaker

Right, and I always mix up BPM and CPM, but the way I think about it—BPM is really about measuring and managing performance, like you said, and CPM is even broader. It's about aligning strategies and operations with those big, company-wide goals. Both matter, especially for finance teams trying to make a real impact.

Emma

Exactly. And that's what we're here for—helping folks see FP&A as more than just spreadsheets. It's about driving the business forward.

Unknown Speaker

So, speaking of driving things forward, let's talk digital transformation. Revelwood's been doing some really cool stuff in this space, right?

Emma

Oh, for sure. I was looking at some of their digital transformation projects, and it's wild how much workflows have changed. Like, it's not just about automating reports anymore. It's about using data analytics and predictive modeling to actually shape decisions. I mean, scenario planning used to be, what, a bunch of "what if" tabs in Excel? Now, you can run models that show you the impact of, say, a supply chain hiccup or a sudden market shift, all in real time.

Unknown Speaker

Yeah, and I remember this one manufacturing client—won't name names, but they were staring down a major budget overrun. The old way, they probably wouldn't have caught it until it was too late. But with the new analytics tools Revelwood helped them set up, they spotted the trend early and adjusted before it became a real problem. That's the power of having the right data at your fingertips.

Emma

Totally. And predictive modeling isn't just for the big guys anymore. Even mid-sized teams can use it for scenario planning, like, "What happens if we hire ten more people next quarter?" or "What if sales dip by five percent?" It's practical, not just theoretical.

Unknown Speaker

And that's what makes digital transformation so exciting for FP&A. It's not just about tech for tech's sake—it's about making better decisions, faster.

Emma

Okay, so let's bust a few myths while we're at it. I mean, how many times have you heard, "Excel is enough for planning"?

Unknown Speaker

Oh, way too many. Look, Excel's great for some things, but modern planning needs more. You need tools that can handle collaboration, version control, real-time data—stuff Excel just can't do at scale.

Emma

Exactly. And, you know, I learned that the hard way. I was working on automating a headcount strategy for a client, and I thought, "Hey, I'll just build a fancy spreadsheet." But as soon as we tried to roll it out to the team, it broke down—too many versions, too many manual steps. We ended up moving to a proper planning tool, and it was a game changer. I learned you can't just patch things together and expect it to scale.

Unknown Speaker

Yeah, and that's where best-in-class tools come in. It's not just about automation—it's about having a system that supports your process, lets you collaborate, and gives you confidence in your numbers. That's what effective corporate performance management is all about.

Emma

So, if you're still clinging to those old myths, maybe it's time to rethink your approach. There's a better way, and we're here to help you find it.

Unknown Speaker

Absolutely. And that's just the start. We're gonna dig into all these topics and more in future episodes, so stick with us.

Emma

Thanks for joining us on this first episode of FP&A Done Right. Ethan, always a pleasure.