Podcast Recap: Insights from Our FP&A Advisors

In our latest Centage podcast episode, our Head of Customer Advocacy, Desiree Norquist, sat down with our in-house FP&A advisors Debi Bone, Pattie Ryan, and Laura VanEps, to dive into the real challenges finance teams confront—and what it takes to level up planning, forecasting, and collaboration.

Here are the key takeaways:

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Moving Beyond the Spreadsheet Mindset

Spreadsheets have been the workhorse of finance for decades, but they tend to hide problems: data inconsistencies, redundant work, version control issues, and bottlenecks in approvals or workflows. When organizations transition to modern FP&A tools, it’s not just about shifting old models—it’s a chance to overhaul processes and tighten up controls.

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Change Management is Mandatory—not Optional

Even with the best tools, adoption fails if people aren’t ready. Teams often overlook how much discomfort comes with new ways of working. Desiree emphasizes empathy, clear communication, and ensuring that users understand why the change matters—not just what is changing.

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The Power of Preparation

Success starts well before implementation. Clean data, clearly defined goals, governance requirements, executive sponsorship, and measurable success metrics all make a huge difference. When you try to build on shaky foundations, project timelines stretch and costs creep up.

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Flexibility Win in Dynamic Environments

Static models break fast when things shift—e.g., workforce changes, economic volatility, or unexpected budget constraints. The ability to model multiple scenarios, adapt assumptions quickly, and stress-test plans is essential. FP&A tools that support dynamic scenario planning give finance teams a major advantage.

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Structure, Leadership & Discipline Keep Projects on Track

A successful rollout involves more than just tools—it requires strong project management: clearly defined roles, accountability, executive buy-in, and a tight timeline. Without leadership and structure, things like “scope creep” (adding features or demands as you go) can derail the process.

What to Do Next

• Audit your current processes and data to identify where spreadsheets are causing friction.
• Engage your team: communicate the why, involve users early, and address fears or resistance.
• Define success metrics: what will “good” look like? What time-savings, accuracy gains, or visibility improvements do you expect?
• Choose tools that support scenario planning, version control, and collaboration—not just raw number crunching.
• Assign a project owner + executive sponsor to keep things aligned and on schedule.
  
  

Watch The Full Podcast Below 👇

We don't want to spoil everything. Watch the full podcast for complete insights. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter, Bridging the Deficit, for weekly insights on planning, forecasting, and the future of finance.

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⏰ Timestamps: 

00:15 How Many Years of Experience in the FP&A / Finance sector?
00:49 Workforce Planning
05:53 Moving Away From Spreadsheets and Into a Cloud-Based FP&A Software
07:24 Increase/Decrease Methods & Scenario Planning
15:22 Consolidated Reporting / GLs
17:03 Anticipating Losing Grants
25:37 What Type of Company is a Good Fit for Centage?

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