Christian shares his unconventional journey from Germany to the U.S., transitioning from corporate finance to building a thriving FP&A education business. With over a decade of experience and thousands of professionals trained, he unpacks the universal challenges faced by finance teams regardless of size or sector. From mastering storytelling through numbers to leveraging AI for smarter models, this episode is a full package of the evolving world of financial planning and analysis.
Whether you're a CFO or an aspiring analyst, you’ll walk away with practical strategies, smart frameworks, and timeless advice to elevate your FP&A game.
Key Takeaways:
Forecasting isn’t one-size-fits-all: Use multiple techniques from driver-based models to time-series and zero-based planning for better accuracy and insights.
Modelling needs a rebrand: Complexity doesn't equal strength. Christian’s “rule of thumb” simplifies spreadsheets for clarity and speed.
Business partnering is built on trust: Finance leaders must create psychologically safe environments to foster collaboration and innovation.
AI is more than email help: It’s a partner in modelling, analysis, and accelerating upskilling if prompted well.
Interpersonal skills matter more than ever: As automation grows, communication, empathy, and business acumen will be the new must-haves in finance.
Noteworthy Quotes:
“If the formula is longer than your thumb, it’s too complex.” – Christian Wattig
“Finance teams often stop at the ‘what happened’ but the real value is in the ‘so what’.” – Christian Wattig
“AI won’t replace your job, but it will change how you work. Interpersonal skills will set you apart.” – Christian Wattig
“Psychological safety is the foundation of any high-performing team.” – Christian Wattig
“Great business partners get called before big decisions are made.” – Christian Wattig
Key Timestamps:
00:00 – Trailer & Christian’s journey from P&G to founding InsideFP&A
02:14 – Learning under pressure: the $100M factory model
06:13 – Shifting from Unilever to Squarespace and FP&A education
08:05 – Launching his FP&A bootcamp and transitioning to entrepreneurship
09:33 – Common FP&A gaps across large and small teams
15:46 – Top forecasting approaches: driver-based, zero-based, time series
20:24 – How to help teams shift from “what works” to “what’s better”
22:13 – Defining real business partnership in finance
24:15 – Google’s “Project Aristotle” and the power of psychological safety
26:55 – Leadership lesson: when a team mistake became a turning point
30:29 – What senior finance leaders need to invest in (hint: it's not just tools)
35:01 – AI’s role in reshaping finance careers and skillsets
37:00 – Christian’s favorite activity outside work: chasing his 3-year-old
📬 Get Involved
Subscribe to the Off the Record Newsletter:
Join the conversation on Substack: https://wassiakamon.substack.com/
Have a question or topic suggestion?
Email: Ask@thediaryofacfo.com
🔗 Connect with Guest Christian Wattig on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-wattig/
Websites:
https://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/online-learning/
https://www.insidefpa.com/
🔗 Connect with Host Wassia Kamon on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wassiakamon/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wassiakamon/
🔗 Connect with The Diary of a CFO Podcast on
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-diary-of-a-cfo-podcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thediaryofacfopodcast/featured
Website: https://www.thediaryofacfo.com
X (Twitter): https://x.com/thediaryofacfo?
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@csuitestories?