As AI reshapes financial planning and analysis, your ability to take initiative and drive solutions becomes more valuable than ever
Let me share something that’s been on my mind lately as I work with FP&A teams across different organizations. I’m seeing a clear pattern emerging: while AI is revolutionizing our field, it’s not just the tech-savvy analysts who are rising to the top; it’s the high-agency professionals who take ownership and drive solutions. If you doubt this, ask yourself if you have ever heard something along these lines: “Don’t bring me problems unless you have some ideas for solutions”.
The Shifting Landscape of FP&A
Remember when we spent hours debugging and auditing spreadsheets for errors? Those days are fading fast. AI is taking over these routine tasks, and it’s happening faster than many of us expected. But here’s the interesting part. This shift isn’t making FP&A professionals less valuable. It’s making certain skills more crucial than ever.
Think about it this way: AI is like having an incredibly powerful calculator. But knowing what to calculate, why it matters, and what to do with the results? That’s where you come in. During my time at AutoNation, I saw firsthand how technology changed our roles. After my business unit got shut down, and I got laid off along with about 400+ other people, I got hired as a consultant to work on a technology implementation project. I was NOT chosen because I was the most tech-savvy person they could find. I was chosen because I had developed a reputation as a problem solver who people could give a task and know it would get done on time and under budget, no matter what problems came up along the way. Read that last part again…”no matter what problems came up along the way”.
That consulting project was focused on implementing a piece of software to help focus on what really moved the needle: strategic insight and business partnership.
The New Value Proposition: Personal Agency
So what exactly do I mean by “personal agency”? It’s pretty simple. It’s about being proactive rather than reactive. It’s the difference between:
“Hey boss, the numbers are off this month.”
and
“I noticed our margins dropped 3% in the southeast region. I’ve analyzed the cause, and I have three recommended actions we can take to address it.”
See the difference?
The second approach shows personal agency – taking ownership and driving solutions. As AI handles more of the number-crunching, this kind of initiative becomes your secret weapon. Before you say, “but AI agents will be able to do that soon”, let me suggest two things. First, you’re right that they’ll be able to do that, but “soon” may not be here for a while…probably longer than most people think
There will always be a process, a product, technology…something that changes a part of how you do your job. Think about what people are worried most about when it comes to AI. It’s agency. They’re worried that AI agents (there’s that darn word again) will be able to “do” things they currently do, and do them better. Exercising personal agency at a high level is what will keep you a step ahead.
Developing Your Personal Agency Muscle
Want to strengthen your personal agency? Here are some practical steps:
- Start with small wins
- Identify one process that needs improvement
- Propose a solution (don’t just highlight the problem)
- Build your business acumen
- Get out from behind your desk
- Learn how different departments operate
- Understand what drives business decisions
- Embrace the AI partnership
- Learn what AI tools can (and can’t) do
- Focus on providing context and interpretation
- Look for opportunities to combine human insight with AI capabilities
Remember, in the world of FP&A, the future belongs to those who don’t just adapt to change – they drive it. Personal agency isn’t just about doing your job well; it’s about constantly looking for ways to create more value.
