* 09:52 â Do investor relations reports matter? Heck ya they doâespecially the transcript
* 11:05 â Learn from the best business communicators, like Warren Buffett (hint: he always keeps messaging insanely simple and created a not-so-small company in the process)
âȘïž Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com
Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com
Practical AI Exists in FP&A
Friday, May 2, 2025 âą Duration 15:35
"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
AI is something everyone talks about.
But it isnât something everyone usesâŠyet.
There was a time when no one used computers.
There was a time when no one used the internet.
There was a time when Excel only had ~65k rows per tab.
And years from now, youâll be saying there was a time when no one used AI.
Start using it, listen up to hear how.
Show Notes
* 00:40 â heard of AI? You will after this podcast
Edâs path to CFO has been more philosophical than most.
Here are some things heâs done so far:
* Started as a philosophy major
* Sang in Johnny Legendâs acapella group
* Finance hire #3 at WeWork
* Became CFO of an FP&A software tool called Cube
Heâs also a husband, dad, and avid marathon runner.
Takeaways from Edâs Interview
* Having a philosophy background is SUPER helpful as your career progresses, especially as a people manager and business leader.
* Most of the ideas people have arenât their own, rather they are a repackaging of other peopleâs ideas that they came across at some point in their career.
* What makes you successful as an FP&A analyst differs from what makes you successful as an FP&A managerâthe same goes for every level up to CFO.
* Grit, fortitude, and the willingness to take on projects you have no experience with will help you accelerate your career more than any degree or certificate.
* Balance looking ahead at predictable skill growth without being too rigidâbe open to completely different experiences that will widen your skillset.
* Every twist and turn of your career can serve you well, no matter how scaryâitâs all about having the right mindset.
* Carving out time when you are actively not trying to be productive is a great productivity hackârunning is one way to do this.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
What Comes First: Targets or Budgets?
Friday, August 16, 2024 âą Duration 14:53
đHey there,
For most FP&A teams, the budget is a distant memory.
But come early August before late summer vacations hit, it will come fast and furious.
Prepare yourself now to make your budgeting process as efficient and effective as possible.
How can you prepare?
Think about company goals, KPIs, and team metrics first.
Tune in to hear about our own budget prep tips (and fails).
You never know when that promotion opportunity will come.
For us, it came in the form of a boss leaving.
We were ready and got promoted once we took over.
Show Notes
* 00:41 - Show off mad FP&A Manager skills as an FP&A Analyst
* 01:29 - Key skill to get to FP&A Managerâshow ability to manage people
* 03:32 - Getting thrown into an FP&A Manager role requires communication
* 05:30 - Have empathyâand earn your teamâs respect
* 06:13 - Show up early, leave lateâlead your team by helping đ
* 07:10 - Know when to put your guard UP and DOWNâbe a filter
* 08:28 - Leadership isnât always great at communicatingâthatâs your jobđ«”
* 10:08 - Help your team learn from each otherâcreate a learning culture
* 11:45 - Athletes make great salespeopleâlearn what motivates your team
* 12:40 - Manage someone the way you want to be managed
* 13:10 - Practice controllable failureâsafe failure = learning
* 15:01 - Practice, practice, practiceâit goes a long way
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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Discover shows related to Rise Above The Numbers, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
* 10:35 â the internet and search sped up our ability to learn vs going to the library, AI can speed up internet search
* 12:40 â question everything, challenge processes, and be curious⊠thatâs the best way to crush FP&Aâand AI can help you figure out what questions to ask
âȘïž Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com
Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn.
Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn.
* 06:14 - Understand what performance story your CFO and CEO want to tell
* 07:33 - AVOID presenting targets that NOONE recognizes or demotivates
* 08:23 - Leverage mind maps to visualize your thinking and get organizedđ§
* 10:15 - The key thing about FP&A is weâre always evaluating our performance
* 11:00 - Be an advocate for your Sales Team
* 12:15 - Sales Target setting is NEVER perfect, keep learning and improving
Conclusion: Keep Learning and Advocating
Your budget process and Sales Target-setting wonât be perfect.
* Youâll deal with new people
* May have new company goals
* OR you may be in an entirely new company
Lead with learning.
By talking to your Sales Team and leadership.
And leverage those Excel and numbers skills to help them connect their selling goals to the financial scoreboard.
You got this đȘ
Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn.
* 00:46 â Ed opened for John Legendâyep this is not a typođ€
* 02:50Â â The path from individual contributor to CFO is NOT straight
* 03:45Â â Consulting was a good entry point for a liberal arts background grad
* 05:03Â â Surround yourself with smart, motivated people
* 05:49Â â From philosophy major to being finance hire #3 at WeWork
* 06:50Â â Take 1 question and think about the 100 questions behind that question
* 08:13Â â Want to be CFO? Remind yourself to think less and less about finance
* 09:36Â â High-potential candidates have experience operating in a world with constraints
* 12:12Â â Entering and leaving college without knowing what you want to do happens
* 13:30 â OPPORTUNITY ALERTâCFO asks you to start a data team from scratch
* 16:27 â CFOs take their knocks tooâthe key is to learn from them
* 18:50 â Start measuring your impact on your company, not the number of hours you work
* 21:09 â Ask stupid questions all the timeâitâs how you learn
* 23:11 â Remind yourself to do things outside of your normal day-to-day
* 25:36 â Not everyone wants to be a manager or CFOâthere are many career paths to take
* 27:22 â Saving time in spreadsheets = productivity, thatâs why I work for and love using Cube
* 28:56 â If you can spend time together in person with your team just do itâthey will be remembered
Conclusion
Ed is comfortable being uncomfortable.
Taking leaps across career paths and disciplines has stretched him into the CFO he is today.
Building relationships in communities, always asking questions, and actively taking time away from spreadsheets have all had a BIG influence on who he is as a leader today.
Disclaimer: This content is not investment advice or financial advice. The views expressed and stories told are our own. We may be investors in the companies discussed. Do your due diligence when considering applying what you learn.
