1. 100 FP&A Tips & Tricks Every Finance Pro Should Know

💡 Did you know?

📊 85% of finance leaders say that real-time data is critical for decision-making.

💰 70% of companies struggle with accurate forecasting, leading to financial blind spots.

📈 CFOs spend up to 50% of their time on reporting—but is that time actually driving better decisions?

In today’s fast-paced world, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is no longer just about compiling reports. It’s about providing strategic insights that drive action. Yet, many finance teams still face challenges like:

❌ Outdated forecasting methods – Relying on static models that don’t adapt to changing conditions. ❌ Budgeting inefficiencies – Spending months on a budget that’s outdated within weeks.
❌ Data overload without clarity – Drowning in numbers but lacking actionable insights.
❌ Slow decision-making – Waiting for reports instead of using real-time financial intelligence.

That’s why I’ve put together 100 FP&A Tips & Ideas—a practical guide designed to help finance professionals work smarter, not harder by improving:

✅ Forecasting Accuracy – Reduce surprises with better scenario planning.

✅ Budgeting Efficiency – Shift from static to rolling, agile budgets.

✅ Decision-Making Influence – Present financial insights in a way that impacts leadership decisions.

✅ Data Automation & Reporting – Use technology & Excel automation to eliminate manual work.

🚀 Why These Tips Matter

Whether you’re a CFO, FP&A analyst, business planner, or finance manager, mastering modern FP&A techniques will help you:

🔹 Save time by streamlining processes and reducing manual work.

🔹 Reduce forecasting errors with advanced modeling techniques.

🔹 Improve collaboration by aligning finance with business strategy.

🔹 Deliver high-impact insights that drive executive decisions.

In today’s world, finance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about influence, strategy, and driving the business forward.

💡 Ready to take your FP&A skills to the next level?

🔗 ​Download the high-resolution PDF here.​

Let’s make FP&A faster, smarter, and more impactful.

What’s the biggest FP&A challenge you’re facing today? Let’s discuss

2. How to Create Charts in Excel

The average executive spends just 𝟭𝟱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 looking at a one-page report before making a decision. 🕒

Yes, executives don’t have time to dig through spreadsheets.

At the same time, studies show that 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual—and people process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. 🚀

📊 What Does This Mean for Finance Professionals?

👉 Your financial data must be clear, visual, and instantly understandable.

Instead of overwhelming leadership with endless tables and figures, effective dashboards and financial data visualizations can:

✅ Highlight key KPIs (Revenue, EBITDA, Cash Flow) at a glance

✅ Use color coding to show trends, risks, and opportunities

✅ Make comparisons (Actual vs. Budget, Year-over-Year) clear and actionable

✅ Enable faster, more confident decision-making

A well-designed dashboard transforms raw numbers into business insights—helping executives make data-driven decisions without unnecessary complexity.

🛠️ How to Create Powerful Financial Charts in Excel

If you want to visualize financial data effectively, here’s a step-by-step guide to creating clear, insightful Excel charts:

1️⃣ Select the Right Data Range

  • Click on any cell in your dataset (or manually highlight the relevant data).
  • Ensure your data is structured with clear labels (e.g., months in one column, values in another).
  • Example: Select A1:B10 if column A has months and column B has sales.

2️⃣ Choose the Right Chart Type

  • Go to the Insert tab and select a chart type (Bar, Line, Pie, etc.).
  • Use Recommended Charts for Excel’s best suggestions.
  • Keep it simple—avoid overcomplicated visuals.

3️⃣ Organize Chart Elements

  • Click on the Chart to activate the Chart Design tab.
  • Add key elements like Legend, Data Labels, Axis Titles, and Gridlines.
  • Drag and position elements manually for better readability.

4️⃣ Apply a Consistent Style

  • Use Chart Styles to apply a professional theme.
  • Adjust colors to highlight key insights.
  • Keep formatting clean—avoid cluttering with too much text.

📊 How to Visualize Key Financial Metrics in Excel

🔹 Income Statement Visualization – Show Revenue, EBITDA, Taxes, Net Income in trend charts.

🔹 Cash Flow Visualization – Break down Operating, Investing, and Financing Cash Flows with bar or waterfall charts.

🔹 Balance Sheet Visualization – Display Assets, Liabilities, and Cash trends.

🔹 Working Capital Trends – Track Liquidity, Receivables, and Payables over time.

🔹 Performance Dashboards – Create executive-friendly Actual vs. Budget, YoY Growth, and Profitability Charts.

🚀 The Key to Better Financial Reporting: Visual Storytelling

💡 Numbers don’t tell a story on their own—visuals do.

Finance professionals who master data visualization create reports that are:

✔️ Easier to read – Executives can spot trends in seconds.

✔️ More actionable – Data becomes decision-driven.

✔️ More engaging – Teams and investors pay attention when insights are visual.

💡 Are your financial reports visual enough?

​🔗 Download the full Excel Charting Guide here​

Let’s discuss how finance teams can leverage better visuals!

P.S. If your company needs support in finance, my team of 20 top-tier consultants is ready. This is what we do:

  1. Building powerful management reports, forecasts, budgets, models
  2. Business valuations, support in M&A transactions, due diligence and more
  3. Developing transfer pricing policies and local or master files

P.P.S. If you want to grow your career in finance, you can take one of my courses and tutorials:

​