FP&A Explained: How Financial Planning & Analysis Drives Business Strategy

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is more than just number crunching—it’s a strategic function that helps businesses plan for the future, optimize decision-making, and drive growth. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we take a deep dive into how FP&A teams forecast, analyze trends, and influence major business decisions.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The fundamentals of FP&A and how it differs from accounting
• How FP&A helps companies launch new products, expand markets, and make strategic decisions
• Real-world FP&A case studies, including Amazon’s AWS launch and Tesla’s adaptive planning
• The key tools and software FP&A professionals use, from Excel to AI-powered forecasting tools
• The role of scenario planning, variance analysis, and driver-based modeling in FP&A
• How FP&A teams collaborate with other departments to guide financial strategy
• The impact of automation, AI, and real-time forecasting on the future of FP&A
• Essential skills for FP&A professionals and how to break into the field

Who Should Listen?

✔️ Finance professionals looking to transition into FP&A
✔️ Business analysts and data professionals interested in finance roles
✔️ Aspiring finance leaders who want to sharpen their strategic thinking skills
✔️ Anyone curious about how companies use financial planning to stay ahead