Financial Analysis in FP&A: Top 14 Resources to Build Your Skills

Written by CFI Team

Reviewed by Jeff Schmidt

Read Time 4 minutes

Financial Analysis in FP&A: Top 14 Resources to Build Your Skills

What separates good FP&A analysts from great ones? Beyond technical knowledge, it’s a toolkit of analytical skills, modeling expertise, and innovative approaches that drive strategic decision making.

Today’s FP&A professionals must deliver deeper insights faster than ever before. Whether you’re beginning your journey or advancing your skill set, mastering financial analysis is crucial for professional growth and organizational impact.

That’s why we’ve curated a top 14 list of CFI’s most valuable financial analysis content. Each resource delivers specific insights into analysis, modeling, and using AI to enhance your analyses and productivity.

Financial Analysis in FP&A

Core Financial Analysis Skills

Before diving into complex models or advanced techniques, every financial analyst needs to master these fundamental skills that form the bedrock of effective financial analysis.

1. Essential Guide to Accounting for Financial Analysts

This guide walks through accounting fundamentals and company financial statements from the lens of financial analysis.

2. Analyzing Financial Statements: Key Metrics and Methods

Familiarize yourself with a structured approach to financial statement analysis to uncover patterns and trends, informing strategic decisions and ensuring alignment with financial goals.

3. Financial Ratios Definitive Guide

Dive into essential financial ratios that quantify a company’s financial health across returns, profitability, leverage, and efficiency.

Financial Analysis in FP&A - Best Practice Financial Analysis — Source: CFI’s **Financial Analysis Fundamentals** course

Financial Modeling Foundations

With core analytical skills in place, these resources will help you build robust financial models that transform raw financial data into structured forecasts and actionable insights.

4. FP&A Modeling Best Practices

Learn professional standards for building financial models that can withstand scrutiny and serve as reliable decision-making tools.

5. Excel Model Design

This guide reveals professional techniques for creating clearly structured, formula-efficient models that colleagues can navigate and trust.

6. 3-Statement Modeling Guide

Understand the cornerstone of financial modeling by learning how to link an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Financial Analysis in FP&A - Using Corkscrews — Source: CFI’s **FP&A Professional 3-Statement Modeling** course

Advanced Financial Modeling

Ready to take your modeling skills to the next level? These advanced resources will help you develop sophisticated models that address complex financial challenges and scenarios.

7. Financial Forecasting Guide

Discover a proven approach to forecasting an income statement.

8. 5 Headcount Forecasting Errors and How to Fix Them

Errors in headcount forecasting can lead to budget shortfalls and payroll misalignment. This guide breaks down five common errors in headcount forecasting with tips to avoid them.

9. Techniques for Financial Statement Aggregation in Excel

This guide explores practical methods for aggregating financial statement data into structured quarterly and annual summaries using Excel techniques.

10. Sensitivity Analysis Guide

Explore how to use a financial model to stress-test assumptions and identify which factors most significantly impact financial results.

11. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Modeling Guide (includes a free template!)

If you’re involved in your organization’s investing or M&A activities, this comprehensive guide walks through building a discounted cash flow (DCF) model, complete with a free template.

Ready to learn best-in-class forecast modeling? Explore CFI’s 5-star rated course, FP&A Professional Excel Forecast Model Design!

AI and Financial Analysis

Artificial intelligence is transforming financial analysis — these cutting-edge resources will help you leverage AI to enhance your analytical capabilities and stay ahead of the curve.

12. AI and Financial Statement Analysis: Tools and Techniques

Discover practical methods to use AI tools for analyzing financial statements that can dramatically increase your efficiency and productivity.

13. How AI Transforms Scenario Analysis in Corporate Finance

Learn how AI enables more sophisticated scenario analysis by processing vast datasets in seconds to generate more nuanced scenarios and probability assessments.

14. AI Anomaly Detection in Finance: ChatGPT Case Studies

Explore real-world examples of how AI systems like ChatGPT can assist you in identifying errors, fraud, or emerging opportunities in financial data, with insights into potential solutions.

Want to dive deeper into AI for finance? Explore our collection of AI resources in Generative AI in Finance: CFI’s Top 10 Resources to Build Your Expertise to discover how you can harness these powerful tools in your daily work.

Want to Excel in Financial Analysis in FP&A? Here’s Your Next Step

Financial analysis expertise doesn’t happen by chance. While the resources in this guide provide valuable knowledge, true FP&A excellence requires applying these concepts to real business challenges under expert guidance.

Take a moment to assess which skills from this list you’ve already mastered and where you could strengthen your analytical toolkit. Notice any gaps? Top-performing FP&A professionals don’t leave their development to chance — they follow proven learning paths that bridge theory with practical application.

Ready to sharpen your FP&A skills today? CFI’s FP&A Specialization provides hands-on training in the essential financial modeling and analytical techniques employers are looking for right now. Through practical case studies and expert instruction, you’ll develop job-ready skills and prepare to apply them to real-world financial challenges immediately. Get ahead of the curve and position yourself as an FP&A leader for 2025 and beyond.

Earn Your Specialization!