If 2025 taught finance teams anything, it’s that uncertainty isn’t going away.
Volatility, rapid cost shifts, labour constraints, and unpredictable demand have become standard operating conditions — not exceptions. In this environment, the gap between traditional finance teams and truly high-performing FP&A functions will widen even further in 2026.
The teams that excel next year won’t be the ones with the most detailed spreadsheets or the longest budgets. They’ll be the ones who operate with agility, foresight, and strategic alignment.
Here are six things high-performing finance teams will do differently in 2026 — and how others can follow their lead.
1. They Prioritise Continuous, Not Annual, Planning
The annual budget is quietly losing its influence.
High-performing finance teams recognise that a plan created once a year simply can’t keep up with a world that changes every few weeks. In 2026, the best FP&A teams will:
- Use rolling forecasts as their default planning cadence
- Update forecasts monthly or even weekly
- Refresh assumptions whenever new signals emerge
- Treat planning as an ongoing conversation — not a fixed calendar event
Continuous planning doesn’t just improve accuracy. It gives leaders confidence that they’re making decisions based on the business today, not six months ago.
2. They Build Scenario Playbooks Before They’re Needed
Preparing for uncertainty is no longer optional.
High-performing teams don’t wait for disruption to hit. Instead, they enter 2026 with pre-modeled scenario playbooks that address:
- Cost fluctuations
- Talent constraints
- Demand swings
- Supply chain delays
- Regulatory changes
- Price adjustments
Instead of panicking when a surprise arrives, these teams already have a plan — and leadership relies on them to guide the business through turbulence.
Scenario modeling becomes one of the most valuable assets in an FP&A toolkit.
3. They Strengthen Cross-Functional Alignment
The days of finance planning in isolation are over.
In 2026, high-performing FP&A teams will build tighter, more integrated relationships with HR, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and beyond. Alignment becomes a competitive advantage.
These teams:
- Co-create plans with business leaders
- Share assumptions openly
- Link financial models to operational drivers
- Hold joint planning sessions rather than one-way reviews
By aligning early and continuously, they eliminate blind spots — and ensure everyone is working toward the same outcome.
4. They Use Technology as a Strategic Enabler
Technology will play a defining role in separating top-performing teams from the rest.
High-performing FP&A teams embrace platforms that:
- Centralise data
- Automate consolidation
- Enable collaboration across functions
- Support rolling forecasts and driver-based modeling
- Allow rapid scenario creation
Tools like Workday Adaptive Planning provide the infrastructure to move faster, plan smarter, and adapt without friction. It’s not about replacing finance expertise — it’s about amplifying it.
5. They Focus on Insights, Not Data Wrangling
Traditional finance teams spend hours reconciling spreadsheets, checking formulas, and stitching together reports. High-performing teams don’t.
In 2026, FP&A excellence means:
- Automating routine tasks
- Eliminating version control chaos
- Freeing time for strategic analysis
- Delivering insights, not just numbers
The shift from manual to insight-driven work creates more capacity for deep analysis, business partnering, and strategic decision-making — exactly where finance adds its greatest value.
6. They Embrace a Forward-Looking Culture
The highest-performing finance teams aren’t just improving processes — they’re transforming their mindset.
In 2026, these teams will:
- Act as strategic advisors, not scorekeepers
- Anticipate risks before they surface
- Bring proactive recommendations to leadership
- See uncertainty as navigable, not overwhelming
A forward-looking culture means finance doesn’t just report what happened — it shapes what should happen next.
Final Thoughts: 2026 Will Reward Agility, Not Certainty
The most successful finance teams in 2026 won’t be those with the most perfect forecasts. They will be the ones who adapt fastest, collaborate deeply, and embrace technology that supports continuous, connected planning.
High-performing FP&A isn’t defined by technical skill alone. It’s defined by:
- Agility
- Alignment
- Foresight
- Insight
- Cross-functional influence
And with the right mindset — and the right tools — every finance team has the potential to elevate its impact in the year ahead.
