From Psychology to FP&A Consulting: Iain Main’s Career

In this episode of Careers in Finance on FinPod, we sit down with Iain Main, who has built a career working across global markets. Iain began his journey at BDO, where he trained as a Chartered Accountant and gained valuable experience in London and Vancouver. His career later took him to Omnicom, where he worked in FP&A, partnering with CFOs and CEOs across 25 countries and gaining deep insights into financial planning and business operations.

Now a consultant at Bedford Consulting, Iain specializes in implementing and optimizing Anaplan, helping businesses scale their financial planning strategies. In the episode, Iain shares key lessons from his diverse roles, the trends shaping FP&A today, and the importance of scenario planning and collaboration across organizations. This episode is packed with actionable insights for finance professionals looking to navigate the evolving financial planning landscape!

Key Takeaways:
– The importance of business partnering in FP&A roles.
– Ian’s unconventional path from psychology to finance.
– How working in auditing at BDO laid the foundation for his career.
– How Ian’s current role at Bedford Consulting is shaping finance transformations with Anaplan.
– Trends in financial planning and analysis, including scenario planning and connected planning.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast
01:30 – Ian’s Transition from Psychology to Finance
04:48 – Working at BDO and Learning Finance
05:57 – Moving to Omnicom and FP&A
07:43 – Working in FP&A for a Global Business
09:00 – Cultural Differences Across Countries
15:54 – Transition to Bedford Consulting
18:38 – Trends in FP&A: Scenario Planning
25:37 – Advice for Aspiring Finance Professionals
26:47 – Conclusion

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Don’t forget to follow Iain on LinkedIn for valuable content on FP&A: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-main/

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