Building Strategy Into Your Financial Models: Core Methods for Analysts Have you ever created a financial model that looked perfect on paper but somehow missed the mark when it came to driving real business decisions? You’re not alone. Technical accuracy is foundational to any good financial model. But even the most precise models can fall…
How Headcount Forecasting Errors Lead to Financial Planning Issues Accurately planning for employee compensation is essential for managing labor costs, budgeting, and financial planning. But even small headcount forecasting errors can have ripple effects across payroll, cash flow, and workforce planning. Forecasts that don’t reflect real scheduling constraints, benefits costs, or payroll timing can lead…
FP&A Explained: How Financial Planning & Analysis Drives Business Strategy Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) is more than just number crunching—it’s a strategic function that helps businesses plan for the future, optimize decision-making, and drive growth. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we take a deep dive into how FP&A teams forecast, analyze trends,…
Breaking Into FP&A: How Data, Finance, and Leadership Shape Careers How do you transition from data analytics into FP&A? What skills make FP&A professionals successful? In this episode of CFI’s Careers in Finance series, we explore how data, finance, and leadership intersect in corporate FP&A, featuring Smith Lordeus, an FP&A leader with a background in…
How AI KPIs Define AI Success Can AI really make better financial decisions than humans? Without clear key performance indicators (KPIs), your organization may implement an expensive AI model only to leave your stakeholders wondering what impact it actually makes. With the right KPIs, you can confirm that AI actually meets objectives — like efficiency,…
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are complex transactions requiring deep financial analysis and strategic planning. While corporate development teams and investment banking advisors drive deal execution, FP&A teams often provide critical financial analysis and insights. The level of FP&A involvement, however, varies widely by company and deal structure. This FAQ answers key questions about FP&A’s role…
Debt vs. Equity: How Companies Make Capital Structure Decisions How do companies decide between debt and equity financing? Every corporate finance professional needs to understand capital structure—the mix of debt and equity that funds a company’s growth, operations, and strategic moves. In this episode of Corporate Finance Explained, we break down the key concepts, trade-offs, and…
Why Learning Financial Modeling is Critical for a Career in Finance Dreaming of a career in investment banking, private equity, or financial planning and analysis (FP&A)? Learning financial modeling is your ticket. This skill gives you insights into the financial health of businesses, positions you to evaluate large financial transactions, and makes data-driven financial decisions…
What is Explainable AI in Finance? Would you trust a financial advisor who refused to explain their investment recommendations? Probably not. So why should consumers trust AI-driven decisions if no one can explain how they were made? When AI decisions aren’t explainable, financial institutions risk fines, customer complaints, and a damaged reputation. Explainable AI (XAI)…
AI and Ethical Financial Decision-Making Your creditworthiness. Your insurance premium. Your ability to buy a home. AI models influence all of these decisions — but are they making them fairly? AI ethics in finance is about ensuring that AI-driven decisions uphold fairness, transparency, and accountability. When AI models inherit biases from flawed data or poorly…
