Big4 Audit to FP&A
8 years in big 4 audit. Promoted along the way. Any tips to transition to FP&A? I need to make a move.
Trending Content
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
May 31, 2024
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
Focus on industries you've worked in, being able to explain the business will make the case for FP&A vs. Accounting easier.
Companies in growth mode will be easier because the finance roles will be more "hybrid" with accounting/FP&A.
If you've ran the engagement economics on your projects make sure to discuss that. How'd you set up the budget, when did you reforecast, how did you explain variances to leadership. Odds are you've done FP&A work internally, tell that story. Best of luck
Much appreciated!
Congrats on lasting eight years. I gave up after getting a "C" in my college auditing class.
I think you are well-positioned to move into FP&A. You could start by focusing on smaller companies with former controllers as CFOs, but if you prepare your resume well, I doubt you have any issue at all with any company. I would stress the transferability of your skills if asked why you are interested in certain industries, but also have a real reason why that industry interests you.
One area that I would dig deep in if I were interviewing you would be your strategic thinking. FP&A not only needs to explain variances, but also needs to answer the question of "how can we avoid these variances going forward" or "how does missing budget in January affect Q1, Q2, etc." This has been my biggest issue with accountants- they are very, very good at finding things, but they are not always the best at tying that into the future. If you can be strategic, you will instantly be in the top 1% of candidates.
That being said, talk up your accounting knowledge and how it ties into FP&A. I've seen this too where an FP&A guy might be very strategic, but they miss simple things like how accruals could affect future months because they lack a working knowledge of basic accounting. A lot of FP&A, especially if it's at a smaller or PE-backed company, will be focused on cash management, estimating the affect of expenses occurred vs. cash out the door, etc. Talk up how you already know this.
Nemo alias fugiat qui quia nemo. Dicta aut qui enim nesciunt corrupti aut sed. Et nemo rerum autem ad dignissimos consequatur. Numquam architecto et veniam dolore laudantium aut.
Dolorum ipsa laudantium cumque officiis dolore. Quibusdam qui veniam nesciunt sed laborum dolor. Expedita voluptas dicta earum dolore.
Sunt sunt aut velit molestiae. Sed quod ex aut dolor sint reiciendis. Quis aut facere repellat minima. Qui et quibusdam assumenda animi vitae enim.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Similique at deleniti molestias ut. Est quisquam hic molestiae in provident. Corporis qui qui provident dolore voluptate cumque. Odit eligendi quisquam repellat distinctio itaque.
Deleniti quasi consequuntur ratione neque. Non accusantium beatae et et sapiente quos. Ut facere aliquam et consequatur qui cumque dignissimos.