FP&A Today
Business Partnering from Maersk to Lego: Christian Franz Hansen
Oct 22, 2024
Christian Franz Hansen Christian, a seasoned management consultant and finance thought leader, has shaped finance roles at giants like General Motors and Lego. He discusses transforming finance from number crunching to strategic business partnering, emphasizing soft skills and stakeholder engagement. Christian shares insights from his work at Maersk, focusing on effective communication and prioritizing tasks for productivity. He also highlights the power of Excel's Power Query to optimize data management, offering practical strategies for today's finance professionals.
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Quick takeaways
- Transitioning from an Excel-focused role to a strategic position requires finance professionals to develop essential soft skills and build trusting relationships.
- The Business Partnering Institute emphasizes transforming finance teams from data providers to strategic partners by prioritizing communication and collaborative problem-solving.
Deep dives
The Evolution of a Finance Professional
A finance professional often starts their career focused on technical skills, particularly in creating complex Excel models, which serve as a key stepping stone. However, transitioning from an Excel-centric role to a more strategic position requires developing soft skills and a broader perspective on business dynamics. Gaining experience in consulting and engaging in discussions about emotional intelligence and relationship-building significantly enrich the role of finance professionals, making them essential contributors to strategic decision-making. This evolution involves moving away from just being a 'number cruncher' to becoming a trusted business partner who can communicate insights effectively to drive organizational success.
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