Essential Soft Skills for FP&A Analysts to Influence Decisions and Build Strong Relationships

In this special episode, Paul Barnhurst, aka the FP&A Guy, recaps key insights from the past six months of interviews on the "FP&A Tomorrow" podcast. He reflects on the soft and technical skills needed for financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professionals, shares standout advice from his expert guests, and dives into what makes great FP&A.

Paul Barnhurst, known as the FP&A Guy, is a finance professional with years of experience in the field of FP&A. Through his podcast, Paul brings in thought leaders to share their expertise, providing actionable advice for finance professionals looking to level up their skills. The episode is packed with tips from top CFOs, finance leaders, and FP&A professionals who have shaped the field.

Expect to Learn:

• Learn the human skills that will help you collaborate better and drive impact in your organization.
• Discover why financial modeling, Excel mastery, and understanding data are critical for FP&A success.
• Hear expert perspectives on what makes FP&A teams truly world-class, with an emphasis on technology, data, and strategy.
• How to translate complex financial data into actionable insights that your business partners can easily understand.
• Why anticipating business needs and solving complex problems are vital traits for anyone in finance.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "In FP&A, communication skills are crucial because you're translating complex finance into actionable insights." - Paul Barnhurst
• "Learning to simplify is an art. Great FP&A professionals can take complex models and make them understandable." - Paul Barnhurst
• "Understanding data architecture has been huge in my career—knowing how systems work together can set you apart." - Paul Barnhurst
• "Great FP&A comes down to having the right people with the right skills, all working toward the same goal." - Paul Barnhurst

From mastering technical skills like financial modeling to honing soft skills like empathy and storytelling, Paul highlights how FP&A professionals can drive real business impact. By empowering teams with data, communicating clearly, and anticipating future needs, FP&A becomes more than just a financial function—it becomes a strategic partner to the business.

Follow Paul:

Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

World-class Digital FP&A Course Bundle: 

Signup for over ten hours of video content with 4 different courses and 8 modules on FP&A topics including: Business Partnering, Data Analysis, Financial Modeling Design Principles, and Modern Excel. Use code Podcast to save 25%. What are you waiting for signup now: https://bit.ly/4decOf3

Enroll for Financial Planning & Analysis Certificate Program:

Sign up for the 8 week online financial planning & analysis certificate program by Wharton Online and learn the art of forecasting, analysis, business partnering and financial storytelling: https://bit.ly/4debs46 Use Code: THEFPAGUY300 to save $300.

Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[01:29] – Introduction and overview

[03:27] – Key soft skills in FP&A

[09:44] – Essential technical skills

[15:50] – Personal dinner choices

[20:10] – Defining great FP&A

[26:25] – Courses and training for FP&A

[31:41] – Business partnering in FP&A

[36:37] – Final reflections and wrap up