How To Get The Buy-In From The Business For Finance Business Partnering

Finance Business Partnering is a hot topic among accountants.

Many in managing accounting roles aspire to step into the role of Finance Business Partners.

As management accountants there may well be many great reasons from a professional and fulfilment perspective why you would want to move to more Finance Business Partnering.

To make this a reality is going to require buy-in from the business to finance business partnering.

This is easy to say but not always as easy to achieve in practice.

So how can you get the buy-in from the business?

Look at it from the business perspective

Whenever I’m running workshops around business partnering with accountants and other functional professionals, one of the activities delegates do is to answer what’s in it for:

  • Them as accountants and professionals
  • The business and the internal clients

Being able to come up with a list of all the benefits for the business and internal clients will help you create a much more compelling case.

Prove the concept

In any organisation there are going to be areas that are always up for trying a new way and being the trailblazers.

Start with them.  Work with them.  Let them know it’s an experiment.

Test different ideas and approaches.

Find out what worked and didn’t.

Document and get the area of business to help you develop the proof that it works but the benefits derived.

Learn from others

Different organisations are at different stages with Finance Business Partnering.

Every organisation whatever stage they are on the journey will have insights to share.

Connect with these organisations.  Learn from them.

Attend webinars, conferences and events where you learn more.

Make a benefit rich business case

Show the business all the benefits.

Commit to realising these benefits.

Demonstrate how you will deliver the new way while still taking care of the business as usual actions.

In truth, failure to get the buy-in of the business is like all change initiatives is one of the deal breakers when it comes to finance business partnering.

About the Author Duncan Brodie

Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.

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