#FinanceMaster

As the final episode in this first series, which has explored the growing importance of Data & Analytics as a function and skillset and considered the ways in which D&A interacts with the Finance Function, Anders discusses how to bridge the divide and encourage unity between the two business areas. Please note: this episode encountered some audio issues during recording. However, given the collaborative nature of the LinkedIn Live discussion format, we wanted to share the compelling insights and opinions that were aired.

When the purpose of Data & Analytics teams is to help organisations understand themselves in new ways, Anders discusses why it is the final step in this process, specifically the generating of usable and useful insight, that is often the point of failure...and why it prevents most professionals from fulfilling their potential within the business.

The relationship between Data & Analytics and the modern finance function can often be a contentious one, driven by the misconception that they are competing rather than complimentary. With uncertainty around where the Data & Analytics team should 'sit' within an organisation, Anders debates whether Finance should in fact "own" Data Analytics.

Although Data & Analytics teams drive significant ROI, help leaders understand their organisations in new and essential ways, and provide part of the toolkit required for the growth of a modern business, in some quarters, they are seen as a 'rival' to the traditional Finance Function. In this episode, Anders discusses why it is vital to harness the skills of each.

As the gathering, manipulation, and analysis of data has come to define many business processes, and given the required disciplines and skills often sit within the Finance Function, Anders asks whether it is reasonable to beg the question, can a Finance professional do the job of a Data & Analytics specialist?

In this episode, Anders weighs up whether the considerable increase in the volume of business-specific data available today, warrants a dedicated team to harness its power and value for critical decision making.

In this pilot episode, Anders discusses the tension that commonly exists between Finance and Data & Analytics teams, and explores how these functions can operate better together in unison to achieve more valuable and actionable business insights.