Soaring Through FP&A: How Bruno Oliveira is Helping Swissport Take Flight
Oct 1, 2024
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Bruno Oliveira, recently promoted to CFO at Swissport, shares his extensive FP&A experience across various industries. He dives into the unique challenges of managing financial planning in aviation post-pandemic. Bruno discusses the critical collaboration between FP&A and data analytics, emphasizing the importance of effective communication. He also highlights the significance of safety metrics and shares insights on integrating AI technologies. The conversation wraps up with budgeting strategies and adapting skill sets for the future of finance.
Bruno Oliveira emphasizes the importance of strategic cost management in aviation, ensuring Swissport adapts operations without compromising service quality amidst unpredictable demand.
He highlights the critical role of cross-functional relationships in FP&A, enhancing collaboration between finance and other departments to align financial goals with operational objectives.
Deep dives
Diverse Career Journey Shapes Financial Approach
Bruno Oliveira Silva's extensive career across various sectors, including banking, automotive, technology, and aviation, significantly influences his financial strategies. His transition from transactional finance to strategic finance marked a pivotal moment in his career, enhancing his value to the companies he has worked for. He emphasizes that understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of different industries enables him to create nuanced financial solutions. For instance, his experience in manufacturing taught him to focus on data-driven metrics and operational efficiencies, which he now applies in the aviation sector.
In the aviation industry, managing costs effectively is critical due to limited control over external demand from airlines. Bruno explains that Swissport must adapt its operations to align costs without compromising service quality, as they provide essential support to airlines. By focusing on operational excellence and strategic cost management, he aims to ensure that the company remains competitive. A proactive approach to planning, informed by seasonal travel patterns, allows Swissport to better anticipate demand and optimize resource allocation.
Importance of Business Partnering in Finance
Bruno underscores the significant role of business partnering in enhancing the effectiveness of financial planning and analysis (FP&A). He advocates for establishing strong cross-functional relationships to foster communication and trust between finance and other departments. This collaborative approach helps finance professionals identify key performance indicators and align financial goals with operational objectives. By positioning FP&A as a central communication hub, finance can shift its reputation from a mere cost center to a vital value-added function within the organization.
Evolving Role of Technology and Skills in Finance
The continuous evolution of technology is transforming the finance landscape, requiring professionals to adapt and acquire new skills. Bruno highlights the necessity for FP&A experts to understand and leverage tools like Power Query and other data analytics capabilities. He advises finance professionals to focus on practical applications of technology that can streamline processes and add value to the business. Embracing a culture of exploration and innovation ensures that finance remains relevant, particularly in integrating advancements like AI and machine learning into traditional financial practices.
This year Bruno Oliveira got promoted to CFO, flying up the FP&A route at Swissport, the world’s leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, active at 286 airports in 60 countries.
In this must-listen episode:
FP&A in the trenches from banks, to automotive, agriculture and aviation at Swissport
How to cope without control on demand in aviation
Financial planning three to six months ahead
Structure of FP&A at Swissport
Factoring in safety as the most important aviation metric, direct labor and fleet management costs
How our FP&A Team works together with our data analytics team