FBP Ignite - The Finance Business Partner

When it comes to reporting, budgeting and forecasting, which one of these best fits you?(Required)

There's just so much reporting, budgeting and forecasting to do that I struggle to find the time to business partner in the way I'd like to

I find it easy to balance my time between reporting, budgeting and forecasting and FBP stuff like building relationships

Reporting, budgeting and forecasting is a small part of my role, so it's not an issue

Agree a short 5 slide template with your partners and work backwards from there

Where would you say you spend the most time?(Required)

Most of my time is spent looking backwards

I've got a good balance between past and future, but it's a constant juggling act

I keep an eye on the past, but 80%+ of my time is spent looking at least 6 months forward

80%+ of my focus is on the 6-24 month future window

How much time do you spend working with people outside of finance?(Required)

Not much at all, it's hard to get time with non-finance

I get just enough time with non-finance but I know I really need more

Probably at least 50% of my time is with non-finance, and to be honest I try as spend as much time as I can with them

80% + of my time is with non-finance, sometimes I even forget I work in finance

What do your finance presentations look like?(Required)

Lots of tables of numbers

A good balance of tables and graphs, but probably a few too many

5 slides max, no tables, I just pull out the key messages

I tend to just talk through the numbers so I rarely use slides. If I do 5 max, just the key messages.

How would non-finance describe your reports and presentations?(Required)

Confusing, too many numbers

Informative and consistent, but probably a bit too long

The key messages really jump out and they're really easy to understand

Interesting, engaging and fun! They look forward to them.

You've got a question, how are you most likely to ask it?(Required)

Send an email

Pick up the phone

I'll speak to them face-to-face or on a Zoom

We'll grab a coffee and have a chat

When non-finance have an idea that sounds bad financially how do you tend to respond?(Required)

I tell them why it won't work financially

I tell them why it won't work financially and back it up with graphs and charts so they can see

I ask them lots of questions to make sure I understand what they are trying to achieve

I ignore the numbers and ask them what other options they have to achieve their aims

When do you tend to hear about decisions?(Required)

Normally after they've been made and someone needs some numbers running

Normally just before the meeting to make the decision and someone needs the numbers yesterday

I'm looped in pretty early once people have got a basic plan

I'm involved right from the start and often the one instigating the conversations

If you want some time with non-finance how easy is it to get it?(Required)

Almost impossible they are just too busy to see me

I can get time, but it's never enough

Pretty easy, they always seem to make time for me unless there's an emergency happening

Super easy, they come to me asking me for my time

How do you feel about presenting either in-person or over Zoom?(Required)

I hate it and actively avoid it

It's not my favourite thing to do, but I do an ok job at it

I love it and I do as much of it as I can

I love telling stories and find it really rewarding that my advance just get it

How well do you know your non-finance colleagues?(Required)

Well I know their name, but that's where it ends really

I know them on a business level, but not much more

I know them well on a business and a personal level

Very well, we probably spend more time chatting about life outside of work than work!

You find yourself saying no...(Required)

All the time

Sometimes

Occasionally as a last resort

Pretty much never, I've learned to influence in other ways

If you're struggling to influence what are you most likely to do?(Required)

Ask my boss for support

Do some more analysis to prove my case

Come up with some different options to get people thinking

Go for a coffee with the person and have a chat

The non-finance people I work with would most likely describe me as...(Required)

Detailed

Good with the numbers

A breath of fresh air

Very commercial, not a typical finance person

When you want to influence you tend to start by...(Required)

Running the numbers I've been asked to run

Running the numbers of a few different scenarios

Finding out what the other persons wants and needs to achieve

Focussing on the relationship, rapport is the biggest tool for influence

You spend more of your time...(Required)

Analysing data

Digging into the data to find the root causes of variances

Talking to people about the commercial drivers behind the numbers

Turning the numbers into a story to influence future decisions

Your reports and presentations mainly answer the question...(Required)

What happened last month, quarter or year

Why did it happen from an accounting point of view

Why did it happen from a commercial point of view

What can we do about it

How do you feel about building rapport?(Required)

Not really sure what it is

I can do it with some people but not others

It's easier with some than others, but I put the work to build it with everyone, even 'difficult' people

It's a massive part of my role and I've got really good at it

How often do you tell stories with your data?(Required)

Never, I don't have time!

Sometimes but I'm not really sure how to

For important things I put the extra effort it

Always

How many slides was your last budget presentation?(Required)

Over 20

Between 10 and 20

Between 5 and 10

5 or less important ones, about 150 in the appendix in case anyone asked

How do you feel about selling your ideas to others?(Required)

Scared

I try but I don't really know how to so it's a bit hit and miss

I'm pretty good but there's room for improvement

I love it and I'm good at it. Sometimes I think I'm in the wrong job!

Someone comes up with a really stupid idea, what are you most likely to do?(Required)

Say it won't work or it's not in the budget

Pull together some analysis to show them why it won't work

Ask questions to understand what they are trying to do

Ignore it and explore other options

You find yourself saying "yes but"(Required)

Too often!

Every now and then, but I do my best to avoid it

Never, I know it's not cool

I don't need to, I coach people to see the solutions themselves

Who are you most loyal to?(Required)

Finance because that's who I report into

Hard one this, I often feel like my loyalties are split between finance and non-finance

I'm loyal to me, and stand up for what I believe in right irrespective of what finance or non-finance want

I'm loyal to the deep relationships I have built and leverage those

You want to change the budget process, how would you most likely approach it?(Required)

Complain to your boss that the budget process is rubbish

Design a new process

Have a chat about the headline assumptions, the budget is just an outcome of them

Agree a short 5 slide template with your partners and work backwards from there

What do you think is the most important part of business partnering?(Required)

Getting the numbers right

Making the numbers easy to understand

Building relationships and trust

Building relationships, turning data into insight and bringing the numbers to life

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What’s your influence style?

Send Shelly an email

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