Rise Above The Numbers FP&HEY

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
In this episode, we sat down with FP&A guru Carl Seidman.
Carl’s 20+ year FP&A career is far from linear📈
Some things he’s done so far:
* Founded a fractional CFO company called Seidman Financial
* Has trained thousands of FP&A professionals around the world
* Has a BIG following on Linkedin—which wasn’t planned
* Partied w/ Mike Tyson
* Is a proud dad of twins
And all of this started years ago playing guitar, bagging donuts, and majoring in health sciences.
🔥TIP: Here’s why FP&A could be a good career choice for you.
Takeaways from Carl’s Interview
* It’s ok to take steps back, Carl switched majors in school from medicine to business…imagine Carl’s LinkedIn presence as a fractional dentist 🦷
* Don’t think of life as a series of wins or losses, rather think of them as successes or learning opportunities that help you grow.
* Be kind to yourself and have ONE goal in mind each day, your to-do list will keep growing and it’s easy to see failure at the end of each day.
* Start your career learning evergreen skills that apply to a number of disciplines—like communication, professionalism, and managing people/processes.
🔥TIP: Here’s a guide to presenting financial info.
* Over time learn what comes naturally to you and what others value—double down on those things.
* Have a “figure it out” mentality when starting your own business or starting a new job.
* Book recommendation, SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.
* Working from home is the best commute—but super challenging if you don’t structure your time and try to weave personal and work time together.
Show Notes
* 00:32 - Started a fractional CFO biz and can memorize 60+ names at a time—NBD
* 02:27 - FP&A careers can start by playing guitar and bagging donuts🍩
* 07:35 - Taking steps back can lead to long-term gains
* 12:23 - Think of your career as 2-year chapters
* 14:20 - Collect skills—they are your greatest FP&A career asset
* 15:18 - It’s not win or lose—it’s succeed or learn💪
* 18:55 - Communication and professionalism are evergreen skills
* 20:35 - Starting a business is HARD—need a “figure it out mentality”
* 25:30 - Be the dumbest person in the room—listen and learn
* 27:28 - Understand the people and processes behind the numbers
* 29:00 - Whiteboard your deliverables to stay organized —what, when, context
* 30:45 - What comes naturally to you that’s valuable to others? Double down
* 32:48 - Working from home requires structuring your day
* 35:20 - The list of to-do’s never ends—set achievable goals each day🎯
* 38:20 - Anticipate to avoid surprises, and be kind to yourself when chaos happens
* 44:10 - Careers aren’t linear—what’s important now may change
* 47:00 - Start your day thinking not doing
* 49:58 - You will not fail even if you take steps back—you are resilient
* 51:55 - Table functionality will save you A TON of time working in Excel
* 53:25 - Minimize vulnerability when building your work product
* 54:55 - Parties with Mike Tyson and towers of shellfish are the best🦐
* 56:35 - Great bosses and companies invest in their people via training
* 58:55 - Be as loyal as you can be until that is not reciprocated
Conclusion
Carl doesn’t have his entire career figured out—and he’s 100% ok with that.
He takes his life and career one chapter at a time📖
Each chapter helps him build knowledge assets, create relationships, and constantly assess what the next chapter could look like.
All of this requires humility, hard work, and resilience.
You can find Carl on LinkedIn.
And maybe hanging with Iron Mike at some fancy event🥊
THANK YOU Carl for sharing your career story with us.
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
Do you dread forecasting because you’re never 100% right?
We’ve done hundreds of revenue and profit forecasts.
And guess what?
Every single one of them was wrong—and that’s ok when handled properly.
Although it is a huge mental hurdle to get over.
We’ll talk about one of our biggest forecasting fails.
Double-counting a revenue figure in a public company’s internal profit forecast.
Tune in to find out how we made the mistake, how we communicated the mistake to leadership, and how we handled it which drove revenue results higher (seriously).
Show Notes
* 00:18 - We aint perfect in FP&A—let’s talk about epic forecast fails
* 00:42 - Forecasting fails are a right of passage in FP&A
* 01:28 - Holy smokes, Drew messed up a public company’s forecast 🙈
* 02:59 - Great monthly forecasting processes help catch and mitigate mistakes
* 03:45 - Making mistakes is stressful—respond by taking action
* 04:50 - You learn who people are when their backs are against the wall
* 06:30 - The reality is, numbers will be a measure of your FP&A job success
* 07:53 - Forecasting is about the realm of possibility—not perfection
* 08:44 - Drive operational finance—help your business partners make decisions
* 10:15 - FP&A is about driving decisions to help your company achieve its goals
Know Why the Mistake Happened
Making mistakes is ok.
Try not to make the same mistake twice.
Our revenue forecast mistake happened because two people counted the same product in their own stand-alone forecast.
The fix?
Each month audit what products each forecaster owns, ensure ZERO double counts.
🔥TIP: Speaking of products, use that product data to do whitespace analysis.
Hustle to Communicate and Create a Plan
Knowing why a mistake happened and ensuring it doesn’t happen again is a good start.
But what can you do about it now to help the company still achieve its goals?
Go on defense by managing expenses to help profit and cash flow hit desired levels.
Or go on offense and see what untapped revenue opportunities exist (like we did).
Either way, try to have a contingency plan in place when you communicate your forecast mistake.
Manage Future Mistakes the Same Way
We aren’t perfect.
Things you can’t predict will come up.
And mistakes will inevitably be made.
Focus on having a:
✔️ Framework
✔️ Team
✔️ Process
To help keep financial and nonfinancial KPIs (and metrics) organized throughout your forecasting journey.
That will help you maintain focus not on accuracy, but the realm of what’s possible.
And give your leadership and key stakeholders confidence that you will help them navigate their financial performance with financial rigor in place.
Conclusion: Keep Learning
You will grow from your successes and failures.
The trick is to keep learning—every day.
Knowledge is power.
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
Want to help your company move the financial performance needle?
Kick off a finance for non-finance education program.
It helped our business partners connect everyday activities to the financial scoreboard.
Helping us improve company performance using operational finance.
And grow our FP&A reputations. 👊
Tune in to learn how we did it.
Listen on
* Apple
* Spotify
* Substack
Show Notes
* 00:20 - Educate your ENTIRE company in the language of finance
* 01:19 - Help your company make more money = promotion opportunities 🫵
* 02:59 - Help everyone understand the financial scoreboard
* 05:05 - Use SMART goals to connect activities to financial metrics
* 06:01 - Educating the masses will boost your FP&A reputation 💹
* 06:27 - Help your leadership understand the value of finance
* 07:06 - Know your company goals—gives people autonomy
* 08:42 - Whitespace analysis is a great example of operational finance
* 09:45 - Educating your company drives a ton of learning opportunities
* 10:05 - In FP&A, it’s on you to educate the masses in operational finance
Present Financial Info with Confidence
Numbers aren’t that complicated.
So keep it simple.
Start with a high-level metric like revenue:
* Define it
* Tell them why it’s important
* Explain what drives it up and down
From there you connect department activities to the underlying drivers of the metric.
🔥TIP: Here’s more info on how to present financial info.
Whitespace is an Example of Operational Finance
How can you influence financial results in your FP&A job?
Ditch the slides and spreadsheets.
Operational finance is where you take the time to learn your business.
And THEN dive back into Excel to do actionable analysis.
Like white space, which helps your Sales Team drive higher revenue.
🔥TIP: Learn more about whitespace with this case study.
KPIs (and Metrics) Help People Drive Results
What do you do after you create a kick a$$ analysis that drives certain behaviors?
You measure results and report back what you find.
Determine what results matter most by labeling them as a KPI (key performance indicator) or metric.
🔥TIP: Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting KPIs (and metrics).
Conclusion: Build Your FP&A Reputation
Educate your business partners.
Help them drive results.
And measure performance along the way.
You’ll meet a lot of people (which grows your network).
And help your company drive financial performance (which grows your reputation within your company).
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
The feelings you have in your FP&A career are shared by many.
How do we know?
We found +25k FP&A professionals asking and answering questions on the FPandA subreddit.
And today we answered 3 questions from this group.
An FP&A Career is a Long, Winding Road
There is no set path to go from ZERO to FP&A hero.
It requires:
* Being humble
* Constantly learning
* Understanding what you want
And knowing a little accounting and Excel doesn’t hurt either 😉
But when all is said and done.
You can do some interesting things in an FP&A career.
🔥TIP: Here’s why FP&A careers are worth a look.
Show Notes
* 00:21 - This is a mailbag episode w/ questions from the FPandA subreddit
* 01:19 - Why aren’t other departments amazing like FP&A❓
* 02:15 - Numbers don’t sell, market, or make products—they support the biz
* 03:10 - EVERYONE relies on FP&A—so help them, that will make you great
* 04:29 - You know you’re good in FP&A when others can speak to numbers
* 06:29 - How in the world do you get from FP&A Manager to Director❓
* 07:11 - Thinking separates Directors from Managers—help w/ strategy
* 09:21 - Managers manage teams, Directors manage multiple teams
* 10:40 - Hire good people and ensure they’re working towards common goals
* 12:54 - Have high agency—take control of your career
* 13:38 - Should you go back to a company you left for more money❓
* 14:13 - Write down why you leave jobs—reference those notes in the future
* 15:34 - Know why you left a job in the first place—did that change?
* 18:00 - Big finish—keep asking questions, people are willing to help
Why is FP&A Better Than Everyone?
It’s true, FP&A runs circles around people when it comes to numbers.
But guess who runs circles around FP&A in everything else?
EVERYONE.
FP&A people are notoriously bad at:
❌ Marketing
❌ Sales
❌ Product
❌ Operations
It doesn’t mean you can’t learn those functions in your FP&A job.
Challenge yourself to help those other functions speak your language.
Help them translate their daily activities into numbers (aka KPIs and metrics).
Which helps them support your company’s goals and ultimate success.
🔥TIP: Here’s how to help your team set KPIs (and metrics).
How to go from FP&A Manager to Director
Full disclaimer: FP&A job titles are VERY confusing.
We’ve seen CFOs operate like analysts.
And Analysts run places like CFOs.
In general, here’s what Directors do that Managers don’t:
✔️ Support strategy
✔️ Lead multiple teams
✔️ Set KPIs and the surrounding metrics to support them
Think LESS doing stuff in spreadsheets.
And MORE directing people to swim in the same direction.
🔥TIP: Here are all the FP&A job levels and how you can reach them.
Your Old Place Wants You Back
You knew your old place couldn’t live without you.
Let’s face it, having your old company asking (ok sometimes begging) you to come back makes you feel good.
But will returning to that job, even if it means more money, make you feel good for a long time?
Depends.
Know a way to help you make this decision?
Write down why you left the job when you left it.
Reference those notes when they come calling for you again.
How did the situation change?
Only you can decide 🫵
But knowledge is power, and writing stuff down helps memorialize worthwhile knowledge.
Conclusion: Others Have Been There
Ask questions to those that have more experience than you.
They’ve likely walked in your footsteps before.
You don’t need to copy what they did.
Just listen, learn what worked (and didn’t) for them, then decide for yourself.
One thing we do know for certain.
People with the knowledge to share usually like sharing it.
So don’t be afraid to ask 👊
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
This episode features Annette DeYoung.
She aspired to be a teacher, fell in love with math, and took on a career in Accounting, Finance, FP&A—and eventually Sales? 🤔
She’s been a Cost Accountant, Controller, and Director of Financial Planning, and is currently a Senior Solutions Architect at Datarails.
On top of that, she’s involved in theatre, runs a non-profit called Children’s Theatre Project Youth Theatre Project, plays a bunch of instruments, and has 5 kids.
Want to get something done? Talk to Annette.
🔥TIP: Here’s a guide to all FP&A job levels from Analyst to CFO.
Takeaways from Annette’s Interview
* Seek to work for great leaders, figure out who those great leaders are by asking a bunch of questions when interviewing.
🔥TIP: Here’s a guide to crushing your next FP&A interview.
* Great leaders turn followers into leaders, read Turn the Ship Around, by L. David Marquet.
* If you work from home don’t just roll out of bed and start working, start your day preparing yourself (coffee and contemplation for 1 hour can help).
* Take chances in your career, you may miss out on amazing experiences by taking the safe route.
* When new formulas in Excel come out, learn how they work right away.
🔥TIP: Data tables aren’t new to Excel, but learn how to use them to stay ahead.
* Less is more when presenting, word walls will bore and confuse your audience.
* If you’re mad you’re had, speak to facts, not to your emotional opinion, to drive business change.
🔥TIP: Negative feedback isn’t fun to receive, here’s an approach that helped us.
Show Notes
* 01:30 - If you want something done, find the busiest person you know
* 02:20 - A career in Accounting and Finance has led to — Sales? 🤔
* 05:20 - Tell your audience what they need to know—in a way they understand
* 06:24 - I had ZERO idea I would be an accountant—aspired to be a teacher
* 07:05 - 3 vs 5 kids doesn’t matter—you’re outnumbered and play zone defense
* 08:25 - My love for Finance and Accounting started in Intro to Accounting class
* 10:00 - Understand your data—key to getting good at FP&A 🔑
* 11:05 - Saved a large navy ship manufacturing +$50m—kind of a big deal
* 15:55 - Find data, clean it, and use it to move people in the same direction
* 16:46 - If you’re not replaceable, you’re not promotable—KISS 👄
* 20:09 - Your job will get boring—unless you continuously improve
* 24:39 - Working with new people every day can be FUN
* 25:53 - Your time is precious—learn to say NO to save some
* 27:55 - Do you want it RIGHT NOW or do you want it RIGHT?
* 30:50 - Ask your future boss “Will you micro-manage me?”
* 33:10 - Lightning round full of FP&A wisdom—listen up⚡
* 41:40 - Look for Annette on LinkedIn, webinars, and Super Bowl Commercials 🏈
* 42:25 - We spend a lot of time working—do what you can to find a job you enjoy
Conclusion
Annette is a great example of someone who constantly learns.
It doesn’t matter if it’s time management, software tools, or leadership.
She’s obsessed with always improving, saving time, and focusing on things that matter the most.
It helps her enjoy her career.
You can find Annette on LinkedIn.
And in Super Bowl commercials.
THANK YOU Annette for sharing your career story with us.
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com

"Rise Above The Numbers" by FP&HEY
Want an FP&A job that goes beyond traditional month-end reporting?
Try working on your company’s Deal Desk Team.
Or stand one up if your company doesn’t have one yet.
Tune in and learn how we’ve stood up multiple Deal Desks.
And helped boost our company performance and career prospects in the process.
Show Notes
* 00:35 - We’ve stood up Deal Desks at multiple companies.
* 01:50 - Deal Desk is great for companies with daily deal-making.
* 03:15 - Deal Desk = Financial Rigor = Future Financial Transparency.
* 03:55 - Try negotiating with your cable company—practice makes perfect.
* 05:01 - Tracking daily deal-making is beneficial for your CRO and CFO.
* 05:55 - Be a connector between your CFO and CRO.
* 06:52 - Ask why A LOT—helps you understand your pricing strategy.
* 08:31 - Automation is powerful—saves time and drives faster deal-making.
* 09:51 - Understand your Marketing and Sales funnel—helps with analysis.
* 11:51 - Big finish—Deal Desk drives financial rigor for your CFO and CRO.
* 12:46 - After the pod—get your analytical reps by working on a Deal Desk
🔥TIP: Here’s a framework to get to FP&A Manager and beyond, Deal Desk can help.
Why Your CFO and CRO Care About Deal Desk
Guess what your CFO and CRO have in common?
It’s not just the first and last letter in their acronym.
They want your company to hit its revenue targets.
Which is a key KPI at many companies.
Help them achieve this common goal.
By inserting yourself in the middle of the deal-making process.
🔥TIP: Here’s how KPIs and metrics work.
FP&A and Deal Making Can Mix Well
Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is counterintuitive and impossible.
At least that’s how it looks on paper.
Your Deal Desk has 3 goals:
* Instill financial rigor by analyzing deals
* Reduce selling friction by removing internal conversations
* Speed up deal-making by assessing list prices and approval thresholds
How can you do all 3 at the same time?
By building a kick a$$ Deal Desk Team.
🔥TIP: Make sure your Deal Desk Team understands pricing strategy.
How to Create a Best-in-class Deal Desk Team
Do these things to help your Deal Desk thrive.
Assess new deal revenue
Surprised by your month and quarter-end revenue?
You can help remove some of that surprise element.
By analyzing new deal revenue expectations.
And do so for every single deal daily so no surprises exist at the end of the quarter.
🔥TIP: Here’s how to do QTD sales analysis.
Understand new deal profitability
Saying NO to deals can be very easy.
But it’s time-consuming and creates back-and-forth friction between Sales and FP&A Teams.
What if you didn’t have to say NO as much?
Build in deal profitability analysis into your deal approval price thresholds.
It will inform Sales of the DO NOT CROSS selling price line.
And when they do cross that line, they’ll be ready to explain why.
🔥TIP: Customer segmentation can help assess profitability.
Global Teams = Follow the Sun Coverage
Sales Teams are constantly working to close deals 24/7 around the globe.
That means your Deal Desk Team needs a good deal approval coverage plan.
If possible have multiple Deal Desk Team members work in different time zones.
Having a person in Asia, Europe, and the Americas can help keep your team working 9-5 with fast response times.
Conclusion: Deal Desks Are Super Powerful
Creating and working in a Deal Desk may not be an FP&A career path you thought was possible.
But take it from us, many companies can benefit from it.
And many careers were accelerated because of the value it brings to Sales Teams, CROs, and CFOs.
Resources
▪️ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fpandhey
▪️ Email us your burning FP&A questions at info [at] fpandhey.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fpandhey.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would lik