FP&A Technical Fluency and Strategic Thinking

Carl Seidman

FP&A Advisor | Microsoft MVP in Excel

FP&A is where financial strategy, analysis and operational execution converge...

FP&A Technical Fluency and Strategic Thinking is one of Carl Seidman's flagship FP&A professional development programs, which has been a cornerstone of FP&A training at dozens of Fortune 500 financial leadership development programs (FLDPs) and mid-market companies.

You'll learn the technical skills and higher-level mindset to make the greatest amount of difference for financial and non-financial business partners alike. It will position you for landing a job in FP&A, getting promoted, or pursuing the internal opportunities you're looking for.

Facilitated in Excel, you'll discover modeling and analysis techniques you didn't know were possible. And you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of core financial management processes tailored for small and midsized businesses.

Throughout this immersive learning, you'll effectively navigate dynamic FP&A business modeling, business scenario management, data visualization, and strategic planning. You'll leave feeling more competent, confident, calm, and positive about the the work you do and the value you deliver.

Welcome to THE premier course in FP&A technical fluency and strategic thinking.

Contact: info@seidmanfinancial.com

What you’ll learn

📈 This course makes the complexity of FP&A remarkably simple. You’ll get the same flagship curriculum used by FP&A teams at Fortune 500s.

Replace manual steps with structured, formula-driven models that update themselves
Automate data flow refreshes to save hours and reduce rework with every new month and planning cycle
Use dynamic arrays — including INDEX:INDEX, XLOOKUP:XLOOKUP, SPILLS, LET, and XMATCH — to eliminate helper columns and repetitive logic

Set up robust model architecture, assumption tables, audit-ready structure, and version control
Embed processes — forecast cadence, review loops, scenario triggers — that keep FP&A responsive
Ensure FP&A tools, frameworks, and governance evolve as the business grows or pivots

Link model outputs with strategic initiatives like capex investments, pricing adjustments, or cost-savings decisions
Interpret financial and operational metrics to identify growth or risk opportunities
Present clear recommendations to leadership rooted in quantifiable operational changes

Frame financial outcomes in a broader context: market shifts, competition, business model changes
Challenge assumptions, evaluate strategic options, and assess long-term trade-offs
Facilitate decision-making conversations with non-financial stakeholders

Translate finance speak into language that non-financial business partners in operations, marketing, and sales teams can understand
Co-create plans alongside business units that link financial outcomes and impact to functional execution
Build credibility and influence by being the go-to advisor

Develop dashboards and narrative visuals that highlight key insights, not just data overload
Frame “so what” and “now what” questions to move leadership from insight to execution
Communicate complex financial information clearly, concisely, and with confidence

Learn directly from Carl

Carl Seidman

The person Fortune 500s use for their financial leadership development programs

Who this course is for

Management consultants, FP&A advisors, and strategy professionals who offer business consulting services to small and midsized businesses
CFOs and financial analysts for SMBs who are tasked with data analysis, financial forecasting, and advising on financial matters.
Finance Directors and Managers who are responsible for budgeting and financial decision-making.

Prerequisites

Finance or FP&A Experience (2+ Years)
You should understand budgeting or forecasting basics. It ensures you're ready to apply real-world judgment, not just formulas.
Comfort Working in Excel
You’ll be building real models, so you'll need foundational (not expert) skills to follow along and focus on structure, not just syntax.
Basic Financial Knowledge
You don't need to be an expert in accounting, but should recognize how income, cash flow, and balance sheets connect.

What's included

Live sessions

Learn directly from Carl Seidman in a real-time, interactive format.

You don't need to be an expert in accounting, but should recognize how income, c

Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.

Community of peers

Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.

Certificate of completion and CPE

Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn. Receive a second certificate verifying your earning of CPE credits.

Maven Guarantee

This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.

Course syllabus

Week 1

Mar 3—Mar 8

✨ FP&A Technical Fluency + Strategic Thinking: Live (Tues, Mar 3 | 9am CST)

1 item

Module 1: The Power and Art of FP&A Business Modeling

5 items

✨ FP&A Technical Fluency + Strategic Thinking: Live (Fri, Mar 6 | 9am CST)

0 items

Module 2: Dynamic FP&A Business Modeling

7 items

Week 2

Mar 9—Mar 15

✨ FP&A Technical Fluency + Strategic Thinking: Live (Tues, Mar 10 | 9am CST)

0 items

Module 2: Dynamic FP&A Business Modeling (contd.)

7 items

✨ FP&A Technical Fluency + Strategic Thinking: Live (Fri, Mar 13 | 9am CST)

0 items

Module 3: Data Visualization and Business Storytelling

4 items

Free lesson

Advanced FP&A: Financial Modeling with Dynamic Excel

Build Extremely Flexible Self-Updating Models

Create adaptable models that update instantly as assumptions shift and as new data is added. Stop wasting time w/updates

Automate with Dynamic Arrays

Replace manual formulas with powerful functions that scale by themselves. Learn the power of SEQUENCE, DROP, and TAKE

Strengthen FP&A Insights for Your Business Partners

Translate complex data into trend analysis, visualize the output and provide clear, actionable analysis for leaders.

Schedule

Live sessions

2-4 hrs / week

We meet live 2x per week. Each session is 2 hours with one 8-10 minutes break. We often have an extended Q&A at the end of each core learning session. Meetings are recorded for future review and reinforcement. In the event you miss a live session, the recordings are there for you to watch/listen to on your own time and at your own pace.

Reinforcement

1 hr / week

Live sessions are full of rich content, demonstrations, instruction, and exercises. While you are not required to complete projects on your own, you are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to revisit the working files and go through the files/exercises on your own time. This reinforces concepts and ensures that the learning sticks.

Asynchronous content

1 hr / week

All live sessions are recorded and uploaded, usually with 24 hours of the conclusion of the live session, for your continued access. Attendees of The FP&A Mastery Signature Program (of which Cash Flow Forecasting and Modeling is a component) have access to 100+ hours of recorded learning, discussions, exercises, cases, and Q&A.