Why FP&A Strategy Matters for Business Survival with Kevin Fleming, CFO at Elder
Tejas Parikh (FCMA / ACMA, MBA)
Helping Finance Leaders with TRUE FP&A: Trusted Data, Responsive Planning, Up-to-date Insights, Engaged Decision Support | Enabling Strategic Finance | FP&A Transformation Specialist | Founder, Akshar Business Consulting
In a world where market shifts are faster than ever and funding timelines keep shrinking, CFOs are expected to offer more than clean books. They're expected to offer clarity and direction.
That’s exactly what Kevin Fleming does at Elder, a high-growth UK-based live-in care company. In this episode, we unpack how FP&A strategy drives smarter business decisions, brings teams into alignment, and helps companies stay not just afloat but ahead.
🎥 Watch on YouTube
Finance as the Radar and Rudder
Kevin’s not your typical CFO. He describes finance as both the radar that spots danger early and the rudder that steers strategy.
He shared how Elder’s FP&A model breaks down big ambitions into weekly data-driven check-ins. Every Monday, they track lead flow, service quality, cost-to-serve, and retention. If a KPI wobbles, action follows. No lag. No guesswork.
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From Numbers to Insights and Then Action
Before Elder, Kevin used Power BI to map customer journeys at Domestic & General. While the business assumed online was king, the data told another story:
📈 Offline customers spent 15–20% more 🔁 They bought more add-ons 🔒 They renewed more often
The result? A major strategic pivot. Rather than cut offline costs, the business doubled down on them and sold for £800 million soon after. That’s the power of letting insights drive action.
Finance as the Cross-Functional Glue
Kevin’s approach isn’t just about dashboards. It’s about narrative. He stresses the importance of storytelling in FP&A translating the numbers into shared language that helps marketing, ops, and sales rally around the same goal.
His advice? Forecasts don’t matter unless they turn into ownership. Finance should act as the strategy enabler, not just the “budget guy.”
🎧 Stream on Spotify
💡 Four Ways to Embed FP&A Strategy Deeper Into Your Business
Kevin offered practical steps every finance leader can apply whether you're scaling a startup or steadying a mid-sized ship:
Planning for the Exit Before It’s Urgent
For businesses with big ambitions like fundraising or exit Kevin’s advice is clear: don’t wait. Build your FP&A infrastructure 2–3 years in advance.
That time investment pays off in multiple ways:
And increasingly, AI is accelerating this journey helping businesses go from reactive to predictive.
Final Thought: Strategic Finance is a Mindset
This episode is more than a finance conversation—it’s a masterclass in business leadership.
As Kevin puts it: “Finance isn’t just about being right. It’s about being relevant.”
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1moAlright, I might steal that "radar rather than rearview mirror" Tejas Parikh (FCMA / ACMA, MBA) :D Also for Corporate Treasury
Helping Finance Leaders with TRUE FP&A: Trusted Data, Responsive Planning, Up-to-date Insights, Engaged Decision Support | Enabling Strategic Finance | FP&A Transformation Specialist | Founder, Akshar Business Consulting
1mo🎧 Listen to the full episode on: YouTube: https://youtu.be/AmWtymAnj0s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sCxj1VkS8j3XYH4Doe9EG?si=TdMmH6hcRn2IMwZMYjQFCQ Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/pk/podcast/strategic-fp-a-for-cfos-to-transform-decision/id1802152900?i=1000709854423 Get out of Excel Hell and enhance your financial analytics skills with our FREE Introduction to PowerBI for Financial Analysis: https://lnkd.in/eNuDAhZ8