02/03/25

FP&A at a Tipping Point: New Report Reveals Challenges and Opportunities for Finance Professionals


February 3, 2025 – A new report from Acterys, "The Tipping Point: FP&A Snapshot Report 2025," reveals that financial planning and analysis (FP&A) teams are facing a critical juncture.

While grappling with persistent challenges like data silos and outdated technology, they also have unprecedented opportunities to leverage AI, enhance scalability, and drive strategic impact.

"FP&A teams are at a crossroads," said Martin Kratky, CEO and Co-Founder of Acterys. "The challenges are clear, but so are the opportunities. By embracing innovation and adopting advanced technologies, FP&A can become a strategic driver of growth."

The report, based on a survey of 364 finance professionals, highlights several key findings:

• AI is revolutionizing FP&A: 56% of respondents identified AI as the most impactful technology shaping the future of finance. Executive and C-level respondents are even more confident in AI’s potential, with 77% identifying it as a top trend.
• Scaling remains a challenge for organizations of all sizes: 64% of respondents cited data accuracy and integrity as their biggest hurdle. Integrating disparate systems and data sources was the second most common challenge, selected by 52% of respondents, and 49% named gaining timely access to critical data as their third most-pressing challenge.
• Spreadsheets persist, despite their limitations: 77% of respondents still rely on spreadsheets for critical financial processes, and 18% say that Excel is their only FP&A tool. Only 37% of respondents said that they work with some kind of dedicated FP&A tool.
• Disconnected systems hinder progress: Only 49% of respondents report fully integrated systems. While nearly all of these respondents were satisfied with their FP&A function’s overall effectiveness, satisfaction levels drop to just 44% among those with partially or non-integrated systems.

“Adopting advanced technologies, eliminating siloed data, and moving beyond spreadsheets is no longer optional for FP&A success — it’s essential,” said Mike Zack, Chief Operating Officer at Acterys. “By taking steps to modernize their systems, FP&A teams can unlock new levels of efficiency, accuracy, and strategic impact.”

The report offers insights and guidance for finance leaders to navigate these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. It also includes examples of companies that have used technology to overcome business challenges, streamline financial reporting, and make data-driven decisions to plan for their futures.

To download the full report, visit https://landing.acterys.com/fpa-trends-report.

About Acterys

Acterys is a leading provider of FP&A solutions, offering advanced tools for data integration, forecasting, and decision support. Learn more at Acterys.com.

Media Contact

Mike Zack, Acterys, mike@acterys.com, www.acterys.com