[This article is based on a presentation given by Tim Page - Head of FP&A at Ex-Capital Economics, at our FP&A Summit, Boston, in 2023. Catch up with this presentation, and others, using our OnDemand service. For more exclusive content, visit your membership dashboard.]

As the Head of FP&A, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can better connect the dots between cross-functional teams and upper management.

In my experience, it’s easy for FP&A teams to get siloed, treated as mere number crunchers rather than the strategic partners we can and should be.

However, our role is crucial in bridging the gap between what happens on the ground and what the executives see and decide in the boardroom. In this article, we'll explore the challenges and strategies with collaboration as an FP&A Lead and the importance of aligning incentives with business goals.

Read on to discover:

The reality of FP&A in organizational structures

In most organizations, FP&A often sits on the periphery of business operations. We’re expected to be the "air traffic controllers." Yet, in many instances, we find ourselves more as spectators, analyzing data from the sidelines rather than being central to decision-making processes.

This peripheral positioning can be a significant challenge. I’ve seen firsthand how this structure can limit our ability to contribute strategically. The reality is that FP&A teams are often underutilized, not because of a lack of skill or insight, but because of a disconnect in how we’re integrated into the business.

The key to overcoming this is increasing our interaction with different business units, establishing ourselves as trusted partners rather than just another cog in the corporate machine.

One way I’ve approached this is by actively seeking out opportunities to collaborate with other departments. Whether it’s sitting in on marketing strategy meetings or getting involved in product development discussions, the more we understand the challenges and goals of other teams, the more effectively we can contribute.