How Finance and Supply Chain Teams Can Align for Better Decisions with Lyndsey Weber & Marcia Williams

In this insightful episode of FP&A Tomorrow, we explore the dynamic relationship between Financial Planning and Analysis and Supply Chain Planning. Host Paul Barnhurst aka The FP&A Guy discusses how these two critical functions can work together to create better outcomes for businesses, particularly in challenging environments. With supply chain disruptions and evolving market needs, aligning these disciplines is more vital than ever.

Guests: Lyndsey Weber, a seasoned expert with a background in supply chain and finance, and Marcia Williams, a supply chain planning professional with roots in accounting. Lyndsey transitioned from ExxonMobil to tech, where she focuses on optimizing supply chain planning with financial insights. Marcia brings a wealth of knowledge on integrating operational and financial strategies to drive value and efficiency.

Expect to Learn:

• How FP&A and supply chain planning intersect and complement each other.
• Key differences in planning horizons and decision-making processes between FP&A and supply chain.
• The role of integrated business planning (IBP) in achieving cross-functional alignment.
• Strategies to enhance communication and collaboration between finance and supply chain teams.
• Real-world examples of overcoming challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and creating value through supply chain optimization.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "Every company has supply and demand, whether it's a product or a service. Matching them is the core of supply chain planning." - Lyndsey Weber
• "Finance and supply chain must combine top-down and bottom-up approaches for effective planning." - Marcia Williams
• "The more granular focus in supply chain planning complements the high-level strategy in FP&A." - Lyndsey Weber

From breaking down the barriers between FP&A and supply chain to leveraging collaboration for unlocking new opportunities, this episode highlighted actionable strategies for creating alignment and driving business value. Finance and supply chain are two sides of the same coin, and when aligned, they enable better, faster decisions that benefit the entire organization.

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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciadwilliams/

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Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[01:43] - Meet the Guests

[04:09] - Career Shifts and Lessons Learned

[07:38] - Understanding Supply Chain Planning

[12:21] - Challenges in Integrated Planning

[17:51] - Ensuring Cross-Functional Alignment

[26:59] - Leveraging Metrics for Better Collaboration

[37:00] - Key Advice for FP&A Professionals

[42:14] - Skillsets in Finance vs. Supply Chain Planning

[49:56] - Fun and Personal Insights

[54:10] - Conclusion