Spreadsheets have earned their place in finance.They’re flexible, familiar, and powerful — until they aren’t.

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.

Behind every strategy, every investment, and every forecast is a team navigating uncertainty in real time. Volatile markets, rising costs, global disruptions, tightening budgets — the pressure is constant. And for many finance leaders, the toughest part isn’t the workload. It’s the uncertainty.

In 2026, the most successful companies won’t be the ones with the best spreadsheet templates.
They’ll be the ones where Finance, HR, and Operations work as one. Planning must be a shared process—fast, flexible, and built for alignment.

Modern FP&A teams are expected to, Understand the story behind the numbers, Speak the language of sales, HR, operations, and supply chain, Facilitate planning, not just enforce it. This requires more than technical expertise. It demands communication, collaboration, and business acumen.

In a world where volatility is the norm, one thing remains surprisingly constant in many