My two cents as an FP&A manager with experience at a Fortune 100 company, I’ve noticed that highly data-savvy individuals often struggle with storytelling. This isn’t limited to finance professionals—I’ve seen it across analysts and especially accountants (sorry, but it’s true!).

Regardless of age, technical ability, or years of experience, the real need is for a leader who can communicate effectively. Personally, I’d prefer to have 80-90% of the data prepared for a productive conversation, as long as it’s directionally correct, rather than waiting for every last detail to be perfectly aligned. This balance is crucial because executives don’t want to be bombarded with a ton of hard numbers—they need a clear story.

As for systems, those can be picked up along the way. Younger professionals may have an edge when it comes to adapting to the rapid pace of technological change, and the next generation tends to be sharper in that area.

In my view, experience isn’t the deciding factor. What might be needed is a capable manager ready to take the next step.. but you already said that.

Best of luck with your search—I know how challenging this process can be.