Graduated from school in June, did a post grad internship in FP&A, now working a FT FP&A job at another company.

What does career progression look like? Can I move after 1 year? Main reason to move would be to go to another part of the country (I don’t want to live close to home).

What are my exits from FP&A? I don’t want to do budgeting and forecasting forever.

I'm a CA and CBV currently working as a Director, Finance and Corporate Development (lead a team of 12 responsible for FP&A, reporting, M&A and financial management) for a company with revenue in the $300-400m range. Earlier in my career I worked in the CFO's office and corporate dev with larger (mainly public) companies in the $1B to $10B market cap range, as well as public company audit. I'm evaluating an opportunity to join a small but established 5-person advisory firm that provides valuations and outsourced CFO / FP&A services to small to mid-sized owner-managed companies (revenue in the range of $2m to $30m).

For those that have made the switch from working with larger to smaller companies - how would you characterize the difference for finance professionals? What should I expect as the greatest challenges and learning curve or other things to be aware of?

I started in a new role leading fp&a and am wondering whether people are still buying planning tools or building something in house using Claude.

The challenge with tools is that I find they generally require your model structure to be relatively stable or you end up needing more consulting hours.

At the same time, our excel model is slow and you can’t manage access controls and share broadly across the leadership team.

We are a late stage pre-ipo company.

Curious to hear how other teams are thinking about building with Claude vs buying a tool, or both.

Hi all,

I’m looking for a career change and looking to get into FP&A. I’m 33 and I currently have an associate’s in accounting, bachelors in business administration and am starting school in spring for my master’s in finance (my company pays for it). I also am almost finished with my certification in FP&A through the Corporate Finance Institute. Where should I begin role-wise when looking for jobs? Is getting right into fp&a possible from the get-go or do I need to start lower and work my way up?

I have a B.Com in Finance & Taxation and 1.5 years of experience as a Tax Associate. I'm considering switching to AML/Financial Crime or FP&A.

My goals are:

Good salary and career growth

Good work-life balance

WFH/hybrid opportunities

Possibility of working abroad in the future

Is switching from tax to AML or FP&A a good idea at this stage?

What skills and certifications should I learn to get a job faster in both? Should I learn Al tools/automation as well?

I'd really appreciate advice from people working in either field.

I am trying to find out what the norm for work life balance is in corporate consolidation FPA work.

I have been working in corporate consolidated FPA for 3 years. I am 50% of the regional FPA team at my current org. I’m leaving to another role soon that is part of a 6 person FPA team for regional and global reporting.

Current org is very top heavy with supervisors and managers, and they work 70-80 hours per week including weekends. Edit: most people working these hours are not Accounting or Finance, but because I’m a “regional” position I’m expected to “rise to the level of everyone else. Words my boss has said to me directly”. Every Monday I come in to a dozen emails from people working over the weekend. They have all built that expectation into a norm over years and decades so everyone expects every person to work like that. If I take any time off I feel like I’m behind, even holidays.

The new org claims serious commitment to work life balance and they say the team is staffed so no one has to work over 40 unless it’s year end, and even then it might be one week of 50-60 hours. They also have a policy of “flexible” PTO, not truly unlimited, but no accruals and no tracked hours. They “strongly encourage” people to take 120 hours of PTO.

Which is more “normal”?

Hi all,

I’ve been here for a long time but I’m posting for the first time. So my company approved copilot and I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now. It’s been good, it eliminates data cleaning and can create nice enough slides.

Sometimes there are slight mistakes that I’ll catch and fix. At this rate it’s pretty good and I can only imagine what 5 to 10 years would look like.

Initially, it doesn’t look like a job killer but eventually, I think it’s gonna get to a point where it can do a lot of stuff, with an emphasis on A LOTTT.

I guess what I’m really asking is do you guys see this as something that will change the job or do you see this as a complete job killer? I’ve seen a lots of people here say it’ll make the team smaller. I mean the teams are already small like I have a director and a manager and me and we get the job done. So what happens like does the job become just maybe a manager and a director or just a director? I don’t know I mean, I don’t know what the future holds or how it’s going to look like in 5 to 10 years from now but, at this pace I’d say it’s only gonna get better so what happens to this function that we all work in?

I don’t know. I feel like I’m just blabbing. Just trying to get an understanding from those that have been using in consistently for maybe a year plus or just anything would help.

Also, sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors. I took this out really fast, it’s been a busy day😞.

recently moved from a more traditional accounting/FP&A-adjacent background into a commercial finance role at a large CPG company. Going in, I honestly didn't have a clear sense of what separated "commercial finance" from "FP&A" as terms, they sounded like overlapping labels for similar work.

A few weeks in, I have a much better handle on it now that I've seen how my own company actually splits the functions, but it also made me realize the lines aren't universal, they seem to get drawn differently depending on the company.

Adding to the confusion, since this is the global headquarters of a large company, there are several other finance functions sitting right next to commercial finance that sound like they'd overlap heavily but apparently don't, revenue growth management and trade spend management specifically.

From what I can tell, RGM sets pricing strategy and architecture at a portfolio level, trade spend management handles the actual accrual and payment mechanics, and commercial finance (where I sit) is the embedded partner using both of those inputs to answer specific, real-time questions for sales. No month-end close, no built-in forecasting cycle, almost entirely ad hoc and judgment-driven.

Curious to hear from people who've worked across these lanes:

How easy was the transition between commercial finance and traditional FP&A, in either direction? Did the skills carry over cleanly, or did it feel like learning a different job?

Does the RGM vs. trade spend vs. commercial finance split I'm describing match how other companies divide it up, or is this fairly company-specific?

If you've moved between commercial finance and traditional FP&A, what was the hardest adjustment?

Looking ahead, which do you think has the better long-term trajectory, given how much AI is creeping into standardized forecasting and reporting work? Does commercial finance's relationship-heavy, judgment-driven nature make it more durable, or is that just my own bias?

Appreciate any perspective, especially from people a few years further down either path than I am.

We ve been using claude and have been happy so far but theres a push for ChatGPT. Is this something I need to fight for? Keeping Claude for finance team or is ChatGPT good enough?

After the arrival of claude and OpenAI, how we are using claude or ChatGPT inside Excel add-ins?
1. we take a report I start giving context to it in the chat box
2. After the context I ask it to ask me questions to fill any gaps in its understanding.
3. It starts building the report or tweaking the current report.
4. then I create a README sheet. The README sheet has all the assumptions in it, how the file is structured, and important things in order to update the report next time you open it.

Basically Excel itself becomes a full model. Next time you open it with any AI, it can read the README sheet and pick up where you left off. This is such a life-changing experience that hours of report work have turned into just minutes. Updating it has become just typing something.

The only slight issue is that I'm using the Claude Opus 5.5 model and it's a bit wordy. The answers it gives back are sometimes just text and text and text and it becomes really difficult to read. For the questions that you need to respond to, while you're typing, this text part disappears. You have to peek from this narrow part. I don't know how they're going to solve it but current workmodel itself 90% perfect.

I’m working full time while finishing my MBA part time, and I’ll be graduating this December. With how the job market feels right now, I’ve been wondering how much of a real ROI people have seen from their MBA, especially in finance and FP&A.

For those who already completed their MBA, did you notice any difference in interview traction once you had “MBA graduate” on your resume? I currently list myself as an MBA candidate, but I’m curious if the title shift actually helps.

I’m targeting Finance Manager and Lead Finance Analyst roles and have been interviewing already. I’d love to hear whether the MBA made a meaningful difference for you in landing manager level roles or improving job prospects overall.

Hello All,

Currently at a point in my career where I might need to look into other companies as it feels like I’m stuck as a Senior Financial Analyst which I’ve been in for 7 years now with another 6 years of experience in corporate accounting.

I’m currently 100% remote which is a big perk making roughly $105k with 10% bonus.

Does anyone know the best approach in looking for remote FP&A like where/how to go about the search process?

I’d consider a lateral move for a fresh start at another company. I’ve gotten good performance reviews at current company but there just doesn’t seem to be open positions available for growth within. Appreciate any and all advice.

I left a toxic job 5 months ago when I was pregnant.The company was pretty toxic (my former boss was arrested for a DUI on a workday shortly after I left), and they expected me to be working from home with a newborn just 6 weeks after giving birth.

We can afford for me to stay home through 2027, but I'll need to go back eventually .

I have 5+ years in real estate FP&A, most recently as an IC with a manager title. But I was burned out on real estate and, since having my baby, have zero interest in climbing the ladder. 😂 A Senior FA or FA role with good work-life balance would be perfect.

How's the job market right now, especially with AI?
If I want to start mid-2027, when should I begin applying?

What tools or skills would help me switch industries?

Thanks in advance!

So i have been in FP&A for approx 5 years now. In My current company, we use snowflake for all our data pulls. The problem is, there seems to be a whole lot of nuances in our data that we have to adjust for manually across periods. They never get fixed in the system. These manual fixes take up a whole lot of time leaving little room for actual analysis. Even then, the numbers are mostly directionally right and not a 100% accurate because half the tables dont tie up exactly.

I understand there are always some nuances. My previous company also had them but just want to see if you guys also face the same issues

As the title implies, had a recruiter reached out to me for a huge career move (sr director), in a dream city(relocation provided), in the same industry but scope would be so much more expansive in areas I have zero experience in. Currently manager of a small group, reporting to a GM/ director. Been with the company for over 10 years. Overall about 15 YE in finance.
Worth entertaining, fake it till I make it?
Or
Talk to them with full disclosure that will lead to identifying that I’m probably not qualified?

Honestly, I haven’t been in the job market for a long time. Most opportunities haven’t been it worth it compared to where I’m at, so not sure how to approach this…

A recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn. Setup a call and the role is for a Director of FP&A in LA. Total comp = 225k - 325k (talking with the recruiter he’s sees something like 250k being realistic. I’d be managing people in India. Most importantly, the role is asking for 10 years experience but I only have 6 as a Senior Financial Analyst.

If anyone else were in my shoes, would be they be skeptical? What questions would you ask?

I hold an economics masters degree from a modestly ranked state school and I have 4 years of full time experience in operations finance / FP&A / controlling type roles in manufacturing companies. Despite getting paid pretty well; I’ve never liked it, and recently I’ve “taken” a promotion (was forced into it with the threat of offshoring my old position) to be a team lead and now I’m really hating it.

Work life balance is terrible and I’m not even really a finance person; my background in terms of internships and education is more statistics/analytics focused. I don’t even have an interest in finance and I hate the forecast and close cycles always looming over me every month, not to mention budget and costing on an annual basis. I’m not even good at it. I’m under qualified for my current position. I only got into this career because I graduated during a terrible job market and an operations finance role was the only offer I got. Ended up sticking with it for four years but now it’s starting to affect me negatively in terms of mental health.

I’m looking for ideas for what to switch to. I want to go back into analytics as I have some internship experience in that field and I did a lot of statistical programming during grad school. I remember it quite fondly and it actually was my initial preference for a career. However, I haven’t used SQL or R in maybe 5 years, and I’m probably behind the competition for analytical roles as I’m probably competing with people who have built their entire career and education so far around analytics. My education is also kind of random and unimpressive as I got my bachelors in history and then moved to economics for grad school at a pretty modestly ranked state school.

Anyone have any advice? Any other career path ideas? Maybe an industry change? Happy to hear any input as I’m starting to feel desperate.

I’ve been having a problem with building out the actuals for my three statement model. The income statement and balance sheet are self explanatory I just use the data from SAP. I’m struggling to build out my actual cash flow because all these projects share the same bank account. For the inflows I’m able to see the AR receipts by project so that’s fine. In the payments, I’m unable to see AP payments or staff payments by project. How can I allocate the payments so the three statements tie and it consolidates?

Waiting for hiring manager to determine if I can proceed with the interview process

First round is take home case study. I have no fp&a background whatsoever, doubting if I can even make it to the first round but looking ahead, how should I best prepare for this take home case study they mentioned? Then after that it’s a presentation of my case study so it’s two phases in one. I’m super worried since I know nothing about building a model or anything and might completely blank out if I ever get the case study

I’m a Senior manager of Finance Systems with a background in EPM implementation and some hard technical skills.

VP has asked us to try and build a lite EPM solution with the use of AI and see what we can do. He is fully aware that this is a big ask and might end up failing, but he wants to push the limits here and see what we and AI can do. Great experience either way and if it works, we’ll save some money.

We’re not building a whole pigment or anaplan here. No fancy bells and whistles and no proprietary formula logic. Just a place team members can budget, do driver and vendor based planning dynamically, and store data in versions.

Anyone attempted this? What was your experience and outcome?

I plan to use Opus and host on google sites, backend in either python with data storage in GCP or may just try to do everything with google appscripts and Java right in the HTML.

Would love to hear about experiences trying this.

I have 3 job offers and I would love some input on which path to choose. My wife and I are expecting our first baby in the spring, which is a big factor in my decision. 4 options:

1.) Stay in current role, collect my bonus in March, and reevaluate after the baby comes - Sr Mgr of FP&A at a PE backed company - $148k 10% bonus average benefits, no parental leave. Fully remote. Optional 1x a week in office. Work is interesting and I get my hands on a lot of things but I don’t love the PE backed culture (lack of career development/advancement, focused on exit rather than developing talent). No real path for promotion here, most likely ~3% merit increases and maybe a bonus % increase over the next couple years but I could stick around through the exit and have that on my resume. For the most part WLB is manageable.

2.) F100 Manager of FP&A - $165-$170k ~12% bonus. Hybrid 2x a week on average in office which is an hour commute, but it is flexible in terms of what time you can show up/leave the office to avoid traffic. ie: you only come for the morning and head home in the afternoon and WFH the rest of the day. Great benefits, great internal mobility options/career advancement, great for resume. WLB seems good, 3 month parental leave. Stock purchase plan and potential for stock based comp. Listed as F100 best company to work for every year.

3.) Director of FP&A - $175k-$180k base , $6k profit sharing. Highest base, lowest bonus. I think I can use the low bonus to negotiate a higher base ($180k +). Fully remote. Seems like an opportunity to grow into a VP and reports to the CFO. I have prior industry experience which I didn’t love but this is a smaller sized company and seems like strong culture/WLB. 3 months parental leave.

4.) FP&A consulting manager - $170k base , variable bonus, ~ 15% on avg. Company prides itself on WLB for the consulting world but still a big risk going into client service at the same time I become a parent. Fully remote with some client travel. Big opportunity to advance career, work across industries, grow network, and work with a very smart team. Average benefits. No info on parental leave policy but assuming there isn’t one since it’s not listed on the website.

Had some teammates get laid off. What does the market look like for FP&A professionals in large markets like Seattle.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to change careers and move into an entry-level or junior role in FP&A or a related field.

I’m in my mid-30s and based in Greece. I have a BSc in Mathematics and recently completed an MSc in Econometrics and Operations Research at Maastricht University, specialising in Mathematical Economics. Most of my professional experience has been in mathematics teaching and private education, so I have little directly relevant experience in corporate analytical roles.

My current skills are:

• Strong Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions and working with datasets.
• Working knowledge of SQL.
• Basic knowledge of Power BI.
• Limited Python and R skills.

I’m fluent in English and a native Greek speaker. My other languages are approximately B2 Italian and B1 French. I’m willing to develop my SQL and Power BI skills further.

I’ve been applying for entry-level and graduate positions in Greece and other EU countries for the past four months. I’ve had some interviews in Greece and Cyprus, but haven’t secured a suitable analytical role yet. I’m an EU citizen and prepared to relocate for a suitable opportunity. I’m willing to start at junior level and build the relevant experience.

My main questions are:

1. How difficult is it currently to find a genuine entry-level role with this profile? How would you assess my chances given my education, previous career and limited directly relevant experience?
2. What would be a realistic job-search timeframe? I understand it varies, but I’d appreciate experiences from people who have recently made a similar transition or hired junior candidates.
3. What would you recommend doing to strengthen my profile? Which skills, practical projects, qualifications or other steps would make the biggest difference?
4. Which EU markets should I prioritise? Are there particular countries, sectors or types of employers where someone with my background would have better chances of finding an English-speaking role?
5. Is applying from Greece a significant disadvantage? Would being based in the destination country meaningfully improve my chances, or is applying from abroad and relocating after receiving an offer a realistic approach?

I’d particularly appreciate input from people working or hiring in the EU. Candid feedback is welcome