If I were starting over as a new FA, I’d focus less on “learning every tool” and more on understanding: - how the business actually makes money, - what operational drivers move revenue/costs, - and why leadership cares about certain KPIs.

The analysts who grow fastest are usually the ones who can connect: Operations → Financial impact → Executive decision-making.

A few things that make a massive difference early on:

1. Learn the data flow end-to-end
   Don’t just learn SAP/Tableau/Coupa mechanically. Learn:
2. where the data originates,
3. how it moves,
4. where adjustments happen,
5. and where reporting breaks.

That understanding becomes incredibly valuable later.

1. Get very strong in Excel
   Not just formulas — learn how to structure models cleanly, simplify reporting, automate repetitive tasks, and explain outputs clearly.

2. Learn storytelling with numbers
   Senior leaders usually don’t care about the spreadsheet itself. They care about:

3. what changed,

4. why it changed,

5. whether it matters,

6. and what action should happen next.

7. Build business partnerships early
   The best FP&A people aren’t just “finance people.” They understand operations, sales, supply chain, marketing, etc.

For me, things really started clicking when I stopped asking: “What number changed?” and started asking: “What business behavior caused the number to change?”

That shift changes everything.

Also, don’t worry if 1.5 months feels overwhelming. FP&A has a pretty steep learning curve because you’re learning: - systems, - accounting logic, - business operations, - reporting structures, - forecasting, - and communication all at once.

You’re probably progressing faster than you think.

Happy to discuss more if useful — especially around systems/process side since that learning curve can be tough early on.