Influence & Financial Storytelling for FP&A Leaders
Soufyan Hamid
Founder of The Finance Circle
Moving from financial reporting to strategic business guidance
Most finance professionals get trapped in a repetitive reporting loop.
Our industry maturity data shows 94% of finance operators remain stuck at Level 1 or Level 2, meaning they generate historical data dumps and explain variances, but fail to drive real accountability.
They spend massive energy preparing slides, only for executives to micro-manage the numbers or bypass their perspective entirely.
Technical accuracy is just your baseline; your career progression depends on your ability to influence executive decisions.
Built by an peer, not a coach: This curriculum is the direct culmination of 17 years in Finance, knowing the real dynamics you face
Hands-On Environment: You will bring your own reporting decks to actively restructure them and practice your newly acquired techniques
Executives and Experts-ready: We focus on the practical communication tools required to command authority: from mapping narrative logic using the 3-What model, to using tactical verbal techniques like "Bridging" to handle aggressive grilling
The goal of this cohort is to give you the repeatable communication infrastructure you need for that
What you’ll learn
Master the 4-step framework to turn monthly variances and forecast models into clear business guidance through live, interactive practice
Apply the 3-Filter Framework™ to turn "accounting" variances into strategic/business insights
Extract clear strategic signal from the noise by using our proprietary Prioritisation Matrix
Structure your core message for maximum influence using the 3-What model
Classify stakeholders accurately based on their specific corporate objectives and data preferences
Model storytelling narratives that work in FP&A (including prelusive, deductive, and bridge frameworks)
Reframe your presentation storyline dynamically to command respect within tight executive time limits
Anchor your slides with a definitive, message-driven headline using our 8 specific headline models
Illustrate insights with powerful data visualizations using proven templates and best practices
Organize your quarterly or monthly presentation decks cleanly using our 5 core structural templates
Deploy advanced non-verbal and structural delivery techniques to ensure your perspective is respected by non-finance stakeholders
Roleplay real-time boardroom scenarios to confidently transition from an individual performer to a strategic finance manager
Master tactical verbal frameworks to seamlessly navigate unexpected executive interruptions and maintain control of the room
Learn directly from Soufyan
Soufyan Hamid
Course Facilitator (1.200+ students), Keynote Speaker, 17 years in FP&A
Who this course is for
Senior FP&A Analysts & Controllers who want to turn raw variance reporting into strategic guidance to break out of the back office
Finance Managers & FP&A Team Leads seeking to stop exhausting review loops and build the visibility needed for Director promotions
Strategic Finance Partners & Directors aiming to command boardroom pressure and convert individual performance into executive leadership
Prerequisites
Experience Level
Designed for professionals working within FP&A, Corporate Finance, Control, Audit, or Strategic Finance settings who regularly present data
Technical Requirements
No advanced software installation required. You will receive direct browser access to our proprietary Web Application on Day 1
Project Preparation
We highly recommend bringing a sample of a monthly presentation deck that you want to actively optimize during our live, private audit
What's included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Soufyan Hamid in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
10 Presentation & Reporting Templates
Get 5 management reporting frameworks and 5 data visualization setups built for immediate boardroom use
The Financial Storytelling Program
Gain full lifetime entry to the core curriculum assets and foundational methodologies of the program
Confidential 1-on-1 Slide Audit
Receive NDA-protected, private structural feedback and live rework notes directly on your actual corporate presentation deck
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
Your purchase is backed by the Maven Guarantee.
Course syllabus
Week 1
Jul
7
Session 1 - The Signal Filter
Tue 7/73:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)Jul
9
Step 2 - The Narrative Lab
Thu 7/910:00 AM—11:30 AM (UTC)
Step 1 - The Signal Filter
Step 2 - The Narrative Lab
Week 2
Jul
13
Step 3 - The Visual Logic
Mon 7/133:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)Jul
16
Step 4 - Executive Presence
Thu 7/163:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
Step 3: The Visual Logic
Step 4 - Executive Presence
Free resource
The 3 Filters Framework ™
Schedule
Live sessions
3-4 hrs / week
2-hour intensive sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday over a focused 2-week sprint
Tue, Jul 7
3:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
Thu, Jul 9
10:00 AM—11:30 AM (UTC)
Mon, Jul 13
3:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
Thu, Jul 16
3:00 PM—5:00 PM (UTC)
Async curriculum assets
1 hr / week
Access the foundational Financial Storytelling Program at your own pace before, during, or after the cohort sprints
Testimonials
It was very useful for the work of the finance teams in trying to deliver the messages. I would highly recommend Soufyan. He is very knowlegeable and very sensible to audience´s interest. The training also helps in real life to try to improve communication skills
Beatriz Arbelaez
CFO at Transportadora de Gas InternacionalSoufyan has prepared a great Storytelling course that is very well structured, with interactive mixture of theoretical concepts with great practical training and exercises that were catered to our industry. Not only did this engaged but also made my team work through and understand the process. There were some key take aways from the day, the 3 What's method, as well to see positive contributions and interaction between the team. Soufyan is a very engaging trainer who takes the time and encourages everyone to make an effort.
Jasmeet Vasir
CFO at CMA CGM InlandBefore joining the Financial Storytelling Program, I struggled to make my financial numbers engaging and relevant for business leaders during presentations. Soufyan's course transformed how I communicate: I now create stories that connect the data to our strategy and truly inspire action. It has made a real difference in my daily work, and I am grateful for the practical skills I gained.
Marcel Oerlemans
Senior Finance Business Partner at Normec- Soufyan is a great coach who comes to us well-prepared and provides very relevant examples to make the learning more valuable to us. His sessions are also very engaging and interactive, filled with games and activities to make learning enjoyable and effective. He ensures that each session is not only informative but also fun, keeping everyone activ
Rong Mo
Director FP&A at Upwork - Soufyan was very engaging and knowledgeable throughout our workshop! We can't wait to implement our new story telling skills in our future presentations
Eliana Sherman
Sr Financial Analyst at Upwork - Well thought, pragmatic and very useful with actionable tips and best practices. Even if you are familiar with the topic, there are definetely a lot of very interesting takeaways.
Laurent Letestu
CFO at Sercel
Why 94% of Finance Teams Get Stuck in the Communication Loop
* Audit performed between September 2025 and May 2025 (540 participants)
Benchmark data shows most finance functions face a communication bottleneck that restricts them to backwards-looking data rather than forward-looking strategic influence:
Level 1 — Reporting (Hindsight): 50% of teams are limited to stating facts, delivering detailed P&L commentary like "Revenue is down 5% vs Budget". Meetings become rigid ceremonies, root causes are missed, and next steps remain entirely unclear to business partners.
Level 2 — Explaining (Insight): 44% connect variances to drivers and quantify effects, but highlight problems without clear accountability. The ExCo is informed of the "illness" but left entirely unsecured about the "medication" or concrete next steps.
Level 3 — Influencing (Foresight): Only 6% tie variances directly to corporate strategy. Insights convert into boardroom action, and meetings focus purely on decisions rather than debating numbers.
This cohort systematically moves your communication from Level 1 and 2 reporting into Level 3 executive influence.
The Influence Sprint: Your 4-Step Roadmap
To move permanently from backwards-looking reporting to high-impact boardroom authority, our cohort follows a structured, sequential framework built for immediate operational deployment:
Step 1: The Signal Filter | Shift from delivering massive data dumps to isolating the critical 3–4 strategic drivers using our 3-Filter Framework™. Stop wasting energy on raw noise.
Step 2: The Narrative Lab | Architect a message-first storyline tailored precisely to your stakeholders' business preferences so partners stop nodding politely and start taking action.
Step 3: The Visual Logic | Eliminate visual clutter and data gaps by redesigning your presentation decks around definitive, high-contrast headline architectures and templates.
Step 4: Executive Presence | Transition from a back-office data provider to a commanding strategic partner. Master the verbal frameworks required to defuse tough boardroom pressure and grilling.
By the finish line, you will have completely transformed your monthly reporting and forecast models into definitive, decision-ready business guidance.
Our 100% Risk-Free Guarantee (14 days after course completion)
If you attend the workshops and don't find the course valuable, we'll gladly refund your full amount
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