Research briefFP&A · Source published June 2024
Where FP&A time actually goes
The FP&A Trends Survey 2024, answered by 383 finance practitioners, found that only 35% of FP&A time goes on high-value activities such as insight generation, while 45% is spent collecting and validating data.
Key findings
- 63% of companies cannot make accurate predictions more than six months ahead.
- 53% take more than five days to produce a forecast.
- Excel remains the main planning application for 52% of organisations.
- Rolling forecasts, used by 49%, are the most popular planning method.
- Only 22% can run scenarios in real time or within a day.
Ceiver's view
- Automating data collection is the fastest way to move time from validation to analysis. Connect source systems to the planning model before redesigning reports.
- Rolling forecasts only pay off when the data refresh is automated. Otherwise they multiply the manual work.
Share of FP&A time
35%
45%
20%
High-value analysis and insight
Collecting and validating data
Other activities
“Other activities” is the remainder not attributed in the survey summary.
Share of organisations
Cannot forecast accurately beyond 6 months63%
Take more than 5 days to produce a forecast53%
Use Excel as main planning application52%
Use rolling forecasts49%
Can run scenarios within a day22%