Hi everyone! My name is Anna, and I am an FP&A-holic.

Yes, I said that, I am addicted to financial planning and analysis.

I am excited when all the checks in my financial models are colored green, and I get thrilled out of digging into data and finding insights that lead to better business decisions.

After 15+ years in FP&A, I’ve learned some hard truths — things I wish someone had told me earlier in my career. Whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned FP&A pro, I hope these insights will help you stand out and thrive in this evolving field.

As FP&A professional, how often do you feel that you do something you shouldn’t?

Having unique access to data about all the activities throughout an organization, it is not uncommon that FP&A teams are often asked to perform tasks which are not necessarily aligned with their core objectives.

No wonder that discussions over understanding the scope of FP&A pop up all the time. It is crucial for us as FP&A pros to navigate the boundaries of our roles and maintain a clear focus on adding value to the company.

So, the scope of FP&A: what is in and what is out?

FP&A is the sexiest job in finance… While this may seem like an overstatement, FP&A positions are becoming incredibly popular and sought-after.

Moving into FP&A from other fields of finance, such as accounting and audit, has recently become very trendy. Internet is full of advice, courses and trainings focused on this transition.

So, what is so special about the FP&A role that it attracts that much attention and has almost become a buzzword within the finance community?

Emerging FP&A practice steps out of the shadow of other finance functions as a standalone entity and involves its own mission, goals, organization, processes, tools and skills.

This article discusses typical activities and key responsibilities of the FP&A practitioners, the range of skills required to perform these tasks, common roles and career path of the FP&A professionals and how FP&A is distinguished of other finance functions and disciplines.

Many FP&A professionals have faced the misunderstanding of the role of the FP&A function and its core activities in the company. Unfortunately, the existence and support of some of the misperceptions create a negative image of FP&A practitioners in the eyes of their colleagues and make the profession less attractive from the standpoint of graduates and young specialists. For FP&A professionals it is critical to be aware of these misconceptions to address them as soon as possible.

Fast-changing environment of the digital age requires not only rapid adaptation of business but also of the finance function, which leads to the evolving responsibilities and roles of the finance professionals.

Young people choose their career in finance as it seems to be easy to measure success: there is a beaten path from an entry-level accountant/auditor or financial analyst to finance manager and later to CFO. But with all this professional success going with a bunch of certifications and high salary, the real question that comes up is whether it is possible to be happy at work?