For anyone in FP&A / Business Partner roles- what keeps you motivated/ engaged in the role when you’re basically a support team and rarely get the final say in decisions or are plainly an input provider ? I’ve been in FP&A for 4-5 years but failing to see when it gets interesting outside of the occasional valuation projects(again usually following the matrix structure so you don’t own the full end to end)
Rising Star
This is exactly why I left it after 1y. Did it as first job out of college and knew it had a ceiling comp wise and also was just a cost center. You do get good skills that you can try and leverage but it’ll take a bit. I’d say get out sooner then later
Thanks- wondering what you moved into as well
I’m in the same position. I’ve been in FP&A for 9 years and have been bored for the past 4 years or so. I’m looking to make the transition into a data analytics role now.
Anyone make a pivot away from FP&A? I just did the math on how long I've been doing the same thing every year....over 10 years. Same conversations, same BS, same templates, same presentations...etc. Toying with getting involved with a startup...just need two more years before I can take that type of risk financially.
I have been doing this for few years now (previously in i-banking). And this is exactly where I find myself now. I used to think my organization is running out of opportunities for growth for me but I wonder if this is the nature of the role. Increasingly, my role is becoming very limited and all “say” is being stripped away.
Actively thinking now but not sure. Because of mu background in fp&a, corp fin, i-banking and considerable experience (>15yrs plus) I am trying to get into more exec positions. Commercial ops is another area to branch into. Unfortunately irs already taken in my own organization (where too many cooks want to participate in everything remotely value add).
Doesn’t FP&A take you to CFO role over time? My role is somewhere in mid of fp&a and corp dev (financial advisor on all organic deals and capital projects). I have been trying to get something thay’s wider in scope
Yes, you’re right. That level is hard to come by as few spots and many people vying for them. Oh well, one day….
Is it safe to say - regardless of industry, the work is pretty much the same ?
Mostly yes