FP&A Today

Getting to a great Controller FP&A Relationship – Bill Hanna

Mar 13, 2025

Bill Hanna, CPA and founder of The Financial Controller, shares his unique journey from hotel management to a successful accounting career. He discusses the evolving role of controllers and their crucial relationship with FP&A teams. Bill emphasizes the importance of mentoring and continuous learning in overcoming accounting challenges. He sheds light on the impact of technology on finance jobs and his transition into being an influencer, while entertainingly revealing his favorite Excel features as a Mac user.

34:25

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Episode guests

Bill Hanna

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Bill Hanna emphasizes the importance of personal interactions in accounting leadership to nurture team development and career aspirations.

The evolving role of controllers in finance necessitates strong communication and collaboration with FP&A to enhance operational effectiveness.

Deep dives

The Journey to Accounting

The guest, Bill Hanna, shares how he stumbled upon accounting, a path influenced by a college professor who showcased his passion for the profession. Initially pursuing a degree in hotel management, Bill pivoted after realizing the changing landscape in that field due to online travel agencies. He took a chance by enrolling in an accounting course and found a love for the subject, ultimately starting his career with PwC. Bill's varied experiences across multiple industries provided him with diverse skill sets, enhancing his capability to blend technical accounting with strategic financial insights.

Intro

2min

Journey into Accounting: From Hotel Management to Controller

12min

Navigating the Challenges of a New Accounting Career

5min

Launching the FP&A Academy: Practical Training for Finance Professionals

2min

Building Bridges in Finance Teams

11min

Embracing Change and Technology in Finance

2min

With nearly 300k subscribers on YouTube, Bill Hanna’s weekly videos on The Financial Controller Channels provide his audience with lessons over a 15-year career in Auditing & Corporate Accounting. He provides inspiration and practices in accounting and finance through his videos and courses “Designed To Save You Years of Learning” (as one reviewer wrote “I have learnt more with you than 3 years studying accounting and finance”).

In this episode:

How I stumbled into accounting
Lessons in accounting leadership
The power of mentoring teams about mistakes I make
FP&A vs controller
The accounting crisis affecting the CFO’s Office
My accidental influencer journey
Bringing practical explanation of concepts through one company followed across the course
The accounting concepts needed to get to CFO
Having a wife who is also an accountant
Being a Mac user using Excel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-hanna-cpa-7653a851/
YouTube channel (Financial Controller) https://www.youtube.com/@TheFinancialController

Courses: https://controller-academy.com/