EP 87: How to master headcount planning through optimizing FP&A and operations.

Join host James Mackey and Julio Martinez, Co-Founder & CEO at Abacum, in a dynamic conversation about mastering financial planning and forecasting.

James and Julio engage in a comparison of planning in spreadsheets versus utilizing a centralized platform. They highlight the importance of a single source of truth by emphasizing how it improves accuracy and streamlines processes.

They explore top-down planning versus bottom-up planning, offering valuable perspectives on budgeting breakdowns and areas for improvement. They emphasize the power of rolling forecasts to adapt and optimize.

In the final segment, they discuss the need for comprehensive process playbooks, onboarding strategies, and the power of analytics and data-driven decision-making. 

   0:31 Julio Martinez introduction

   4:08 Headcount planning breakdowns

   8:05 Northstar metrics and executive leadership

10:41 Budgeting breakdowns and areas for improvement

14:20 What is a structured hiring process and how does it work

19:37 How to make planning more data driven for headcount data

25:50 Rolling forecasts for larger companies

31:59 What is the impact of having more clarity around planning and forecasting on banking relationships

41:47 How to effectively lead a company in the right direction when you have a bigger variance

47:44 The importance of process playbooks for every part of the business

Thank you to our sponsor, SecureVision, for making this show possible!

Our host James Mackey

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Thanks for listening!

Chapters

• 1:26 Julio Martinez introduction
• 5:03 Headcount planning breakdowns
• 9:00 Northstar growth metrics and executive leadership
• 11:36 Budgeting breakdowns and areas for improvement
• 15:15 What is a structured hiring process and how does it work
• 20:32 How to make planning more data driven for headcount data
• 26:45 Rolling forecasts for larger companies
• 32:54 What is the impact of having more clarity around planning and forecasting on banking relationships
• 42:42 How to effectively lead a company in the right direction when you have a bigger variance
• 48:39 The importance of process playbooks for every part of the business