CFOs taking transformative steps to meet the evolving needs of companies in volatile times

Genpact Ltd. (NYSE: G), a global leader in transforming and running business processes and operations, unveiled the results of its research study on the state of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) in leading global companies. The findings revealed a rapidly growing desire and need to focus on advanced technology and, more generally, advanced operating models, as large organisations focus on making the FP&A function a true business partner that supports CFOs in their strategic role. The results also suggest that leading global companies view FP&A as arguably the most strategic part of the finance function in these volatile times.

“This data shows that the operating performance and operating models in FP&A across industries still present a substantial opportunity for companies to improve and transform the effectiveness of this function. Variations in process and data quality, as well as identifying the right metrics, are two main issues flagged by the respondents. Unsurprisingly more than 80 percent of executives believe there is ample opportunity to improve quality and timeliness of insights – a core component to being a successful business partner. FP&A organisations are responding to this strategic need of the CFO by creating Centers of Excellence that will leverage technology, focus on standardising data across the organisation and embrace centralisation to reduce variation and drive consistency and innovation in services,” said Shantanu Ghosh, SVP & Global Head – CFO Services, Consulting & Solutions, Genpact.

Interestingly, a company’s size and maturity of its FP&A processes both play a big factor in how aggressive it is in adopting centralised operating models like shared service centres or outsourcing. Only 26 percent of firms with annual revenue over $5billion are still using in-location models compared with 42 percent of smaller companies. Similarly, only 22 percent of high-maturity firms are still using in-location organisational structures for planning and budgeting compared to 53 percent of low-maturity firms.

The study also indicated key, industry-specific insights. While organisations are moving away from the in-location operating model and towards advanced shared target operating models, the shift has been significantly faster in banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI). In addition, BFSI firms are prioritising consistent standards for process and data quality, with nearly three-quarters of organisations viewing variations in these standards as having a high impact on FP&A performance – more than 10 percent higher than pharmaceutical and manufacturing firms.

Ghosh added, “Organisations across industries are moving away from in-location operating models to incorporate advanced shared, more centralised approaches that will achieve greater economies of scale, deploy the latest technology and analytical tools, drive standardisation and simplification and release bandwidth at the businesses and front end operations to be true business partners. As CFOs are being called upon to serve as a strategic partner, we expect this FP&A transformation to accelerate in the next few years.”

To view the full Genpact FP&A Research Study visit

http://www.genpact.com/docs/resource-/financial-planning-and-analysis-centralized-operating-models-empower-the-strategic-cfo.