Welcome to FP&A Tomorrow, where we discuss financial planning and analysis, examining its current state and future prospects, with your host Paul Barnhurst.

In today’s episode, Paul engages in an insightful roundtable discussion with Julio Martinez on how mid-market companies can harness the power of technology, data, and business partnering to drive performance and accountability.

Julio, a visionary in the finance world, currently serving as the CEO of Abacum. His passion for innovation and technology makes him a leading voice in transforming the finance sector. With over two decades of experience in finance, investment banking, and fintech, Julio brings unparalleled insights into the evolving landscape of FP&A.

Key takeaways from this week's episode include:

Here is a concise summary of the key points from the discussion:

• Effective FP&A requires breaking down traditional silos in finance, fostering collaboration, empathy, and rapport to influence and persuade stakeholders across the organization.

• Mid-market companies face unique challenges with data volume and complexity. They require tailored solutions that provide sophisticated capabilities without the long implementation times of enterprise-level software.

• Clean, well-organized data is essential. Many FP&A teams still spend excessive time on data cleaning and assembly, limiting their ability to focus on strategic business partnering.

• The CFO's role is evolving towards a Chief Performance Officer, integrating strategy, operations, and performance management to drive accountability and execution throughout the organization.

• There is a growing trend for FP&A to take on revenue operations and data analytics roles, ensuring objective performance analysis and avoiding biases from other departments.

• Despite advancements in technology, mastery of spreadsheets remains a critical technical skill for FP&A professionals, along with knowledge of SQL and potentially Python for data modeling.

• Taking a sabbatical can be a powerful, life-changing experience, providing valuable personal and professional growth that can significantly impact one's career trajectory.

Quotes:

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode 

• "FP&A will become the command center of the company's operational rhythm.”- Julio Martinez

• “The mid-market is a very unique, complex, sophisticated, and underserved category.”- Julio Martinez
• 
  
• “I think professionals still need to master Excel and Google Sheets and that spreadsheet realm.”- Julio Martinez

This conversation with Julio Martinez offers an in-depth look into the current and future state of FP&A, emphasizing the importance of business partnering and the transformative power of technology. As the FP&A field continues to evolve, professionals can take inspiration from Julio's journey and the innovative approaches discussed in this episode to excel in their roles.

Exciting Announcement

I am excited to share my two new digital FP&A Courses with you FP&A Business Partnering, and Modern Excel. They just launched and I am excited to offer a 20% discount to my listeners using code PODCAST.

Link to courses: 

FP&A Business Partnering (thinkific.com)

Modern Microsoft Excel (thinkific.com)

Follow Julio:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejuliomartinez/

Website - https://www.abacum.io/

Follow Paul:

Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions. For AFP FPAC certification answer the questions and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In today's episode:

[00:50] - Introduction

[01:48] - Guest Introduction

[03:54] - Blending of Operations in FP&A

[04:47] - Guest’s Background and Career Journey

[07:00] - The Value of a Sabbatical

[09:12] - The Impact of Community in Microfinance

[14:57] - Launching Fintech Startups and the Transition to Abacum

[18:16] - Why FP&A for a Startup- Motivation from Guest

[20:30] - Identifying Key Pain Points in FP&A

[23:34] - Mid-Market FP&A Challenges and Opportunities

[33:59] - Opportunities in Business Partnering for FP&A

[36:00] - Rapid-Fire Session

[39:50] - Get to Know Guest

[42:22] - Conclusion