If the Sorting Hat hasn’t revealed your FP&A house yet, don’t worry, this quiz will help you discover where you (and your teammates) belong.
Answer each question honestly.
Pick the option (A, B, C, or D) that feels most like how you or your team would act in that situation.
It's budget season. Your inbox is on fire, leadership is stressed, and version 12 of the forecast just landed. You...
You find an error in a report at 10 p.m. and the CFO deck is due tomorrow morning. What's your move?
The CFO calls you in: "Can you walk the executive team through next quarter’s outlook?" How do you prepare?
A shiny new FP&A tool is rolling out. What excites you most?
In a cross-functional meeting, the discussion starts wandering. You...
A last-minute request comes in: "We need an analysis for tomorrow morning." Your reaction is…
You're mentoring a new analyst. What's the first thing you teach them?
Imagine FP&A as magic. Your tool of choice would be…
What part of your FP&A role feels most energizing?
Faced with ambiguity, your instinct is to…
It's Friday 5 p.m. and your boss says: "Can you just update the model real quick?" What's your reaction?
Coffee break chat: your colleagues are complaining about the budget process. What do you say?
You're asked to explain a variance in a meeting and you don't have the answer yet. Your instinct?
If your FP&A team had a group chat, your most used emoji would be…
Your non-finance friends ask: "So, what do you actually do in FP&A?" You reply…
If your FP&A job had a theme song, it would be…
🦅 The Analysts
You’re the data wizard of FP&A, the one who can smell a broken formula from across the room. Give you a spreadsheet and some coffee, and you’ll unearth insights no one else spotted. Your precision keeps the team grounded, and your “what-if” scenarios save leaders from costly mistakes.
But beware: not everyone loves a 20-tab workbook as much as you do. Executives need the story, not the cells. That’s where you shine when you team up with communicators and big-picture thinkers.
✨ Superpower: Turning chaos into perfectly reconciled numbers.
⚡ Watch out for: Analysis paralysis (and scaring people with too much detail).
💡 Your best partner: A Storyteller who can make your insights land with impact.
🦁 The Storytellers
You’re the voice of FP&A - bold, clear, and persuasive. Where others see “variance analysis,” you see a story about risk, opportunity, and choice. Give you a room full of execs and three slides, and you’ll have them nodding along in minutes.
Your gift is influence, but remember: influence needs substance. Don’t let your charm run too far ahead of the numbers. Partner with Analysts for the rigor, and you’ll be unstoppable.
✨ Superpower: Making finance relevant to anyone, anywhere.
⚡ Watch out for: Oversimplifying or getting caught without the detail to back you up.
💡 Your best partner: An Analyst. Their data plus your voice = magic.
🦡 The Operators
You’re the heartbeat of FP&A - steady, reliable, and the reason nothing falls apart during budget season. Processes? Nailed. Reporting packs? On time. Systems? Up to date. You keep the engine running when everyone else is chasing shiny objects.
But sometimes, your love of structure can hold you back. Don’t be afraid to step into ambiguity or question why we’re doing things. You’re not just the glue, you’re also the backbone of transformation.
✨ Superpower: Making sure FP&A doesn’t descend into chaos.
⚡ Watch out for: Over-focusing on process instead of value.
💡 Your best partner: A Strategist. They’ll push you into the future, you’ll keep them grounded.
🐍 The Strategists
You’re the visionary of FP&A: always scanning the horizon, thinking about growth, risk, and long-term value. For you, FP&A isn’t just about reporting numbers; it’s about shaping decisions. Scenario planning, market expansion, M&A? That’s your playground.
Your ambition is fuel, but it can also alienate others if you dismiss the day-to-day work as “low value.” Respect the Operators and Analysts who keep the machine running; their work gives your vision credibility.
✨ Superpower: Connecting the dots between numbers and strategy.
⚡ Watch out for: Impatience with details (and looking “too political”).
💡 Your best partner: An Operator. They’ll anchor your vision in reality.