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In this powerful episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh is joined by Dhawal Parvatikar, co-founder of the FP&A Professional Institute and an experienced CFO and finance mentor with nearly two decades of leadership across India and the Middle East. Dhawal shares his personal journey from audit to FP&A leadership, offering actionable advice on adapting mindsets, building cross-functional relationships, and harnessing automation in finance.

With stories from Bharat Petroleum to building a 200+ CFO community and launching an FP&A certification, Dhawal unpacks what it truly means to be a strategic finance partner in today’s fast-changing, tech-enabled world.

This episode is a must-listen for any finance professional aiming to elevate their influence, credibility, and strategic value in the organization.

Key Takeaways

Shift from Audit to FP&A: Embrace continuous processes and focus on business decision-making over compliance.

Two Critical FP&A Skills: CFOs are looking for business acumen and relationship-building — not Excel formulas.

Automate to Elevate: Save time from manual reporting and reallocate effort toward analysis and strategic support.

Reverse Engineer Your Insights: Always start with what your stakeholders actually want — and deliver just that.

FP&A’s AI Future: Leaner teams with embedded AI will define the next phase of FP&A transformation.

Noteworthy Quotes

“Finance professionals need to start with solutions, not just say no.” – Dhawal Parvatikar

“You don’t need 10 analysts to scale — you need automation and sharper skills.” – Dhawal Parvatikar

“Reverse engineer your reports with the stakeholder in mind.” – Dhawal Parvatikar

“Relationships and business sense beat tools every time.” – Dhawal Parvatikar

“AI will reduce manual work, but the sense check will always be your responsibility.” – Dhawal Parvatikar

Key Timestamps

00:17 – Coming up next & Call to Action

01:42 – Introduction to guest – Dhawal Parvatikar

02:56 – Career beginnings & FP&A learning curve

05:36 – Audit to FP&A: Key mindset and skill shifts

07:40 – Navigating cross-cultural and multi-entity challenges

11:28 – Real-life automation wins and ROI

16:05 – Influence at the executive level: Less is more

20:07 – Two must-have skills for modern FP&A professionals

22:51 – Founding FP&A Professional Institute

32:17 – The future of FP&A: AI, lean teams & new certifications

33:26 – Advice for FP&A beginners and career movers

36:20 – What finance often gets wrong in cross-functional relationships

40:32 – Final thoughts: Business acumen + tech = future-proof

FOLLOW OUR GUEST DHAWAL PARVATIKAR ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhawal-parvatikar-520b771a/

FP&A Professionals Institute https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpa-professionals/

FOLLOW OUR HOST TEJAS PARIKH ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasparikh/

Website: https://aksharconsulting.co.uk/

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Get out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to Power BI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-training

In this insightful episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh is joined by two dynamic finance leaders: Alwyn Jones, CFO at Luno, and Megan Walbyoff, soon-to-be maternity leave-taker and Commercial Finance Director at Luno. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in FP&A within the crypto and financial services industry, touching on how agility, data-driven decisions, and strategic forecasting play pivotal roles in shaping business outcomes.

The episode dives deep into how finance teams must adapt and collaborate across departments to maintain effective decision-making processes amidst fluctuating markets. From unit economics to the balance of commercial insights, this discussion provides valuable takeaways for finance professionals navigating an unpredictable business landscape.

Key Takeaways

Balance of Data and Intuition: In fast-moving industries like crypto, FP&A teams need to blend data analysis with business intuition for effective decisions.

Strategic Forecasting: Scenario planning and thoughtful forecasting are key to managing market volatility, knowing certainty is elusive.

Customer Unit Economics: Analyzing customer profitability helps drive strategic shifts and better decision-making, as seen with Luno.

Partnership with Business Teams: FP&A must collaborate with business leaders to align financial strategy with business goals.

Adapting to Change: Quick adjustments to forecasts and strategies are essential in fast-changing environments.

Noteworthy Quotes

"FP&A is the cool side of finance." – Megan Walbyoff

"The real skill in FP&A is not just analysis but judgment." – Alwyn Jones

"Numbers are right if based on real-time data, but strategy comes in interpretation." – Tejas Parikh

"FP&A is about partnership, not just spreadsheets." – Alwyn Jones

"Every business has that one person who says the number is wrong." – Tejas Parikh

"FP&A pros need balance between detail and big-picture thinking, plus curiosity." – Megan Walbyoff

"The future of FP&A is integrating financial and operational data for actionable insights." – Alwyn Jones

"In volatile markets, the right number today may not be right tomorrow—stay adaptable." – Megan Walbyoff

Key Timestamps

00:28 - Intro: Welcome and Call to Action for the Episode

01:10 - Meet the Guests: Alwyn Jones and Megan Walbyoff Introduction

02:33 - Balancing FP&A and Commercial Finance Priorities

07:06 - Adapting to Market Shifts and Forecasting Challenges

11:10 - Managing Forecasts and Board Expectations in Volatile Markets

13:14 - Navigating a Disruptive Market and External Influences

20:52 - When FP&A's forecast convinces the board or investors to back a bold initiative.

31:28 - Key attribute that FP&A professionals should have

37:48 - FP&A's Role in Gaining Board Confidence During Crisis

38:58 - Future of FP&A: Evolving with Data-Driven Decisions

50:08 - Closing Thoughts on FP&A, Strategy, and Business Partnerships

FOLLOW OUR GUEST ALWYN JONES & MEGAN WALBYOFF ON:

LinkedIn Alwyn Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alwynhjones/

LinkedIn Megan Walbyoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-w-33668622/

FOLLOW OUR HOST TEJAS PARIKH ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasparikh/

Website: https://aksharconsulting.co.uk/

FOLLOW FP&A UNBOXED PODCAST ON:

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Get out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to Power BI for Financial Analysis: https://bit.ly/power-bi-financial-ananlysis-training

In this insightful episode of the FP&A Unboxed Podcast, host Tejas Parikh chats with Manoj Jain, Head of Finance at The Marbrook Centre & Ardale care homes group, an experienced finance professional and business leader. Manoj shares his experiences as a CFO, especially after implementing Power BI and Aimplan in his organization. The conversation dives deep into the challenges and transformations that come with upgrading financial systems and reporting processes, while highlighting the strategic role of finance in SMEs. Manoj discusses how targeted realism in forecasting, driver-based budgeting, and collaborative planning have reshaped financial decision-making in his company.

This episode is a must-listen for finance professionals looking to elevate their approach to forecasting, reporting, and strategic business planning.

Key Takeaways

Targeted Realism in Forecasting: Forecasts must strike a balance between ambition and defensibility through scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.

Collaboration Over Control: Successful financial models are co-created with business partners who understand the key drivers of performance.

Effective Communication: Finance professionals need to not only build models but also confidently communicate and challenge assumptions.

Cashflow Visibility: In SMEs, cashflow management is crucial, daily visibility and adaptable models are key to survival.

Invest in the Build Phase: Rushing through the build of a financial model compromises credibility. Strong foundations are essential to withstand investor scrutiny.

Noteworthy Quotes

"Your forecast is right for now. It’s not a crystal ball, it's a living, changing tool." – Manoj Jain

"Driver-based planning has to be collaborative. It’s not top-down or bottom-up, it’s across." – Manoj Jain

"Don’t rush the build. If your model isn’t watertight, investors will drive a truck through it." – Manoj Jain

"We are owners, not renters, in finance, no matter if you’re fractional or full-time." – Manoj Jain

"Forecasting is both an art and a science, knowing how to structure and when to adapt." – Manoj Jain

Key Timestamps

00:00 – Coming up next & Call to Action

01:15 – Introduction to guest – Manoj Jain

03:51 – Choosing the Right Partner

05:30 – Before vs After Power BI & Aimplan

06:24 – Finance & COO Collaboration Shift

07:56 – Standardized Models & Automation

09:13 – Consolidation Challenges & Sector Complexity

10:38 – Variance Analysis Enabling Fast Decisions

12:06 – Scalability & Forecasting for Growth

13:35 – Biggest Win & Key Challenges

17:14 – Strategic Focus Through Automation

19:51 – Future of Finance & Broader Data Use

21:34 – What Makes a Great Transformation Partner

26:47 – Closing thoughts

FOLLOW OUR GUEST MANOJ JAIN ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojfinance

FOLLOW OUR HOST TEJAS PARIKH ON:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tejasparikh/

Website: https://aksharconsulting.co.uk/

FOLLOW FP&A UNBOXED PODCAST ON:

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