How to learn any Financial System - Fast
Don’t make the mistake to think you can simply “learn by doing”.
You’ll only learn the absolute basics and may use the system in a painfully slow way, thinking that’s how it’s supposed to be. The issue is you wouldn’t know what other features the system has to offer that could make your life easier.
Use Google to get an idea of the system’s core functionality.
You likely won’t learn how to use it, but you’ll know what questions to ask. The software company’s website is a good starting point. However, every company uses its Financial System differently. You may find that years of hastily adding hierarchy levels made it harder to navigate than the developer envisioned.
Most importantly: Find out who the system experts are in your company.
The true experts likely aren’t in the IT department. Instead, they are FP&A Analysts or Accountants who have used the system every day for years. Ask them to walk you through how they typically use it.
Here are some questions you can ask:
What was one thing the system can do that you would have liked to know when you first started at the company?
Which feature saves you the most time?
If you have to create a report for [scenario x] and have very little time, how do you get the data from the system?
How do you set up your system pulls for reports you have to refresh regularly?
What are the three biggest problems I should know with using the system?
If you follow these three tips, you should be well prepared to learn any financial system quickly.
If you’d like to learn more about FP&A, I offer help in three ways:
1️⃣ Subscribe to my free newsletter “FP&A Tuesday” here.
2️⃣ Listen to 75 bite-sized mini lessons and get FP&A advice on the go.
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