The partner at my previous venture capital firm used to tell me that financial forecasting for startups should start at a granular level. Coming from a macro hedge fund background, I initially did not understand what that meant, as I was used to forecasting based on trends, recurring revenue, and benchmarks. But these are mostly unavailable…
Visualization vs. Analytics
This research paper defines the next generation Finance technology toolbox and how it is applied. It provides guidance on the fit of Data Visualization and Analytics tools in the stair-steps of the Evolution of Business Partnering, moving from a Finance Business Partner to an Analytics Business Partner. We’ll clarify the differences between arithmetic vs. mathematics,…
The Analytics Business Partner (ABP) – The Temperature of Finance 2020
In this, the fourth and last article of this series, we will take the temperature of where Finance is in its journey towards mastering Analytics Business Partnering. The information in the article and more will be covered at JPK Group’s 2020 Analytics Academy. Click here for more information. The Analytics Business Partner…
The Analytics Business Partner (ABP) – The Capability Ladder for Finance 2020
In this, the third of four articles, we look to understand the Skillset and Toolbox needed for Finance 2020. Here, we explore a two dimensional business partnering framework and describe in deeper examples how to develop as a business Partner to climb ”The Capability Ladder” to become an Analytics Business Partner. The information in…
The Analytics Business Partner (ABP) – Competencies of Finance 2020
Many articles have been published on Finance as the Trusted Advisor, the Modern CFO or the World Class Business Partner, but common for all is they don’t describe the “How”. How Finance becomes a better partner is not something just described with wordy articles. A framework is needed to illustrate how Finance builds its skillset…
The Analytics Business Partner (ABP) – The Partnering Evolution of Finance 2020
This is the first of four articles on The Analytics Business Partner (ABP) defining how Finance should operate in the 2020 and beyond. Analytics Business Partnering outlines how Finance move from delivering the “table stakes” of clean and concise historical reporting, to become an active strategic participant in the business delivering insight and foresight for…
Unbiased Forecasting – Forecasting as a Service (FaaS)
The journey for Finance to transition from the hindsight looking Trusted Scorekeeper to the forward looking predictive Strategic Partner include investments in Systems, people and processes. Since most Finance groups are just starting their journey, how can they get a leap into becoming a predictive hub who provide unbiased forecast solutions and insight and foresight…
Unbiased Forecasting – From Predictive to Prescriptive Analytics with Systematic Intelligence™
This is the third of four articles in the Unbiased Forecast series. In this article we articulate how Finance can use the predictive methods, described in article two, to influence the forecast decisions by providing predictive analytics for ‘What might happen’. In addition we will reveal the concept of Systematic Intelligence which enable Finance to…
Unbiased Forecasting – Predictive Methods and Pros & Cons
This article is the second of four in the Unbiased Forecasting series. In this article we explore five unbiased forecast methods from the use of Excel to sophisticated analytics tools. Excel has limitations for the savvy strategic business partner, but if your toolbox only consist of Excel there are some methods that can be usefully…
Unbiased Forecasting – When Finance Lets the Data Talk
This article is the first in a series of four articles to explore Unbiased Forecasting. This article describes what is meant by unbiased forecasting followed by a second article about different unbiased forecast methods. In the third article we will explore how unbiased forecasting can enable Finance to have a deep dialogue with the business…
Systematic Thinking – Analytics & Unraveling Vendor Confusion
This, the fourth in a series of four articles, is about the definition of analytics to resolve the confusion vendors create with their claims about the capabilities of their tools. Here, we’ll discuss analytics, as many software vendors claim this capability. The information in the article and more will be covered at JPK Group’s 2019 Analytics…
Systematic Thinking – The Rise of AI and Fall of the White Collar?
This, the third in a series of four articles, is an excerpt from the Collegiate Forum at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library. This article is a bit different from the previous two as we will explore the Background and Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. The previous two articles focused on practical business applications of analytics utilizing…
Systematic Thinking – Applications of Advanced Analytics to Improve Business Performance
This is the second in a series of four articles, on applications of advanced analytics to improve business performance. As business is awash in Excel, it is often at a lost to think beyond the limitations of that tool to know what analytics are available and how it can be applied to optimize operations. The…
Systematic Thinking – to Exploit Data for Better Insights
This is the first, in a series of four articles, on Systematic Thinking and the tools and techniques for exploiting data for better insights to render better data driven decisions. In this article we will explore the concept of Systematic Thinking. The information in the article and more will be covered at JPK Group’s 2019…
Assessing Finance – The Journey towards World Class
This is our fourth and last article of the four-part From Average to World Class series. So far, we have discussed the birth of Next Generation Finance, the Roadmap to implement an analytics culture, and the Mindset aspirations to decision making. In this article, we conclude by taking the temperature on where Finance is on its journey towards becoming world class. The…
Mindset – The Start Button for World Class Strategic Partnering
In this, the third of four articles, we shall do a deeper exploration of the Mindset which is one of the four components in the analytics culture described in the second article (Mindset, People, Process, Systems). Mindset is the “start button” for how to advance towards a world class strategic partner, meaning without the right Mindset don’t even thinking about a…
The Roadmap to an Analytics Culture
This is the second of four articles describing the Finance journey towards becoming a world class strategic partner. In this article we describe the Roadmap for implementing an analytics culture that enables business leaders to take data driven decisions. The original article was posted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/roadmap-analytics-culture-jesper-hybholt-sorensen/ Authors This article is a collaboration between Robert J…
Next Generation Finance – From Reporting Center to Predictive Powerhouse
This is the first of four articles unfolding the Finance journey towards World Class Strategic Partnering. Here we begin to build the framework to transition from today’s rear facing Finance, to tomorrows forward-looking Next Generation Finance. The original article was posted on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/next-generation-finance-from-reporting-center-hybholt-sorensen/ Authors This article is a collaboration between Robert J Zwerling and…
Building an Analytics Culture Article Series – Assessment of Finance
This is the fourth of four blog posts written in collaboration by Robert J Zwerling and Jesper H Sorensen of the Finance Analytics Institute and is an excerpt from their book, Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions. Mr. Zwerling is also Managing Director of Aurora Predictions (www.aurorapredictions.com) and Mr. Sorensen is Senior Director FP&A…
7 Key Problems in Startup Financial Models
The following Insights post is contributed by Keith Davidson, Principal at Silverbridge Consulting. Keith, one of our top contributors, will be presenting at our Business Forecasting and Analytics Forum, March 25-26 and our Implementing Analytics Academy, March 25-27 in San Francisco. Register to attend his sessions and all the other great sessions. Use the coupon code 200discount2019 in…
Building an Analytics Culture Article Series – Mindset – The Beginning of an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions
This is the third of four blog posts written in collaboration by Robert J Zwerling and Jesper H Sorensen of the Finance Analytics Institute and is an excerpt from their book, Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions. Mr. Zwerling is also Managing Director of Aurora Predictions (www.aurorapredictions.com) and Mr. Sorensen is Senior Director FP&A…
Building an Analytics Culture Article Series – Roadmap to Implementing an Analytics Culture
This is the second of four blog posts written in collaboration by Robert J Zwerling and Jesper H Sorensen of the Finance Analytics Institute and is an excerpt from their book, Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions. Mr. Zwerling is also Managing Director of Aurora Predictions (www.aurorapredictions.com) and Mr. Sorensen is Senior Director FP&A…
Building an Analytics Culture Article Series – Next Generation Finance
This is the first of four blog posts written in collaboration by Robert J Zwerling and Jesper H Sorensen of the Finance Analytics Institute and is an excerpt from their book, Implementing an Analytics Culture for Data Driven Decisions. Mr. Zwerling is also Managing Director of Aurora Predictions (www.aurorapredictions.com) and Mr. Sorensen is Senior Director FP&A…
Building a High-Performing Finance Team – Part 2: Key steps in building a high-performing finance team
The following Insights post is contributed by Keith Davidson, Finance leader at ICS, the specialty logistics division of Amerisource-Bergen. Keith Davidson is one of our top presenters who will be presenting at our two summits in Chicago – our Financial Forecasting, Analytics and Transformation Summit and our Implementing Analytics Academy. Register to attend his session and all…
Develop a Strategic Approach Using Data
Data mining is the process of finding patterns, connections and correlations within large data sets to predict outcomes. Data mining enables companies to recognize patterns and establish relationships. Data mining involves analyzing data from various perspectives and summarizing it into useful information. The information helps businesses discover previously unrecognized patterns. Data mining can be broken…
What Makes a High Performance Team?
A high performance team consists of individuals with defined functions and complementary abilities, who maintain common goals, and who time and time again display high levels of collaborative innovation that creates high level outcomes. High performance teams often have strong levels of support and camaraderie with focus on specific tasks. High performance teams have highly…
Data Visualization Sensation
Data visualization is the presentation of data in a pictorial or graphical format. It enables decision makers to see analytics presented visually, so they can grasp difficult concepts or identify new patterns. With interactive visualization, you can take the concept a step further by using technology to drill down into charts and graphs for more…
Bookmark Your Benchmark
Benchmarking is a means of comparing your company, operations, or processes against other companies of the same industry or in the larger marketplace. Benchmarking has the ability to be applied against any product, process, function or approach in business. Benchmarking equips organizations to increase efficiency and revenue. Additional benefits include: Increases awareness of key performance…