How HR & FP&A Teams Build Trust to Improve Decision-Making & Business Performance
•February 26, 2026
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Why It Matters
When HR and FP&A speak the same language, companies can translate people data into financial outcomes, accelerating growth and competitive advantage. This partnership is essential for agile, data‑driven enterprises navigating rapid market changes.
Key Takeaways
- •HR-FP&A alignment boosts decision speed
- •Shared goals improve performance management
- •Trust fosters data-driven talent strategies
- •Flexible goal setting adapts to market shifts
- •Integrated ERP streamlines HR and finance data
Pulse Analysis
The strategic bridge between Human Resources and Financial Planning & Analysis is becoming a cornerstone of modern enterprise performance. By synchronizing talent metrics—such as headcount, turnover, and skill gaps—with financial forecasts, organizations unlock a holistic view of cost drivers and revenue potential. This alignment enables leaders to prioritize investments that directly impact both employee engagement and bottom‑line results, turning siloed data into a single source of truth for strategic planning.
Flexibility in goal‑setting emerges as a critical differentiator, especially in volatile environments where market conditions shift rapidly. Rather than rigid annual targets, companies are adopting rolling objectives that can be recalibrated quarterly or even monthly. This adaptive approach allows HR to respond to workforce dynamics while FP&A adjusts financial models in real time, ensuring that resource allocation remains optimal and that performance metrics stay relevant throughout the fiscal year.
Technology accelerates this partnership, with AI‑first ERP solutions like Campfire providing integrated platforms that blend HRIS and financial data. Advanced analytics surface predictive insights—identifying talent shortages before they affect productivity, or forecasting expense impacts of new hiring initiatives. By embedding these capabilities into everyday workflows, firms not only improve decision speed but also foster a culture of trust, where both HR and finance teams rely on shared, actionable intelligence to drive sustainable business performance.
Original Description
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Snyder are joined by HR leaders Cynthia Kenny and Deborah Hill to discuss the important partnership between HR and FP&A. They explore how aligning goals across departments can drive organizational success, share personal stories about career development, and highlight the importance of trust and collaboration.
Cynthia Kenny is a CHRO and C-suite partner with over 30 years of experience in human resources, focusing on change management and organizational transformation. Deborah Hill is an HR leader with over 10 years of experience leading HR teams in tech-focused and tech-enabled companies. She specializes in building culture and driving talent initiatives, and has managed businesses with revenues ranging from $400M to $5B.
Expect to Learn:
How HR and FP&A can partner to drive organizational success
The importance of aligning company, team, and individual goals
Best practices for goal-setting and performance management
Why flexibility is important when managing goals throughout the year
How to build trust and collaboration between HR and FP&A
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“Great FP&A is about turning financial data into actionable insights for business leaders.” - Deborah Hill
“Real success happens when HR and FP&A work together, understanding each other’s worlds and creating synergy.” - Cynthia Kenny
Cynthia Kenny and Deborah Hill provided valuable insights on the critical partnership between HR and FP&A, emphasizing the importance of aligning goals across departments to drive organizational success. They discussed how clear, actionable goals can lead to better decision-making, stronger collaboration, and improved business outcomes.
Campfire: AI-First ERP:
Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation,
close management, and more, all in one unified platform.
Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy
Follow Deborah:
Follow Cynthia:
Follow Glenn:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder
Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.
In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[05:44] – What Great FP&A Looks Like
[10:07] – COVID Finance & HR Decisions
[16:55] – Hiring, Headcount & Data Issues
[23:49] – HRIS, ERP & Source of Truth
[27:29] – Aligning Corporate & Individual Goals
[36:07] – Flexible Performance Management
[47:56] – Effective Goal-Setting Practices
[59:17] – Final Takeaways & Career Growth
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