--- title: 5 planning insights every CFO should consider to create more value description: "In my years working with finance and supply chain teams, I’ve noticed a recurring theme: CFOs often don’t ask enough questions about supply chain planning." image: https://blog.solventuregroup.com/hubfs/Solventure_Blogpost_Header_5planning-CFO.png --- [![solventure-logoliggend.jpg](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/solventure-logoliggend.jpg?width=155&height=50&name=solventure-logoliggend.jpg "solventure-logoliggend.jpg")](https://www.solventuregroup.com/) - [Software](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/software) - [Services](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/services) - [Resources](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/resources) - [Events](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/events) - [Blog](https://blog.solventuregroup.com) - [Careers](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/careers) - [Contact](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/contact) - About us - [Methodology](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/methodology) - [Organisation](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/organisation) - [Partners](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/partners) Search this site on Google Search Google **Menu** - [Software](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/software) - [Services](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/services) - [Resources](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/resources) - [Events](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/events) - [Blog](https://blog.solventuregroup.com) - [Careers](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/careers) - [Contact](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/contact) - About us - [Methodology](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/methodology) - [Organisation](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/organisation) - [Partners](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/about-us/partners) ![](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/hubfs/Solventure_Blogpost_Header_5planning-CFO.png) [S&OP](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/tag/sop) | [Strategy](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/tag/strategy) | 2 min read # 5 planning insights every CFO should consider to create more value [![Bram Desmet](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/hubfs/Solventure_Bram_DeSmet.png)](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/author/bram-desmet) Written by [Bram Desmet](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/author/bram-desmet) Nov 6, 2025 5:25:36 PM In my years working with finance and supply chain teams, I’ve noticed a recurring theme: CFOs often don’t ask enough questions about planning. While supply chain teams have embraced advanced tools and automation, finance processes are still largely run in Excel. This reliance on spreadsheets is comfortable, but it’s time to challenge the status quo and unlock new opportunities for value creation. Here are five planning insights I believe every CFO should consider:    ## 1. Make finance a core partner in S&OP implementation Too often, S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) is seen as a supply chain exercise focused on volumes. But true business impact comes when finance is at the table from the start. S&OP should not only forecast volumes, but also integrate prices, discounts, and rolling gross/net sales forecasts. The right S&OP tool can deliver rolling gross margin and working capital forecasts, critical for financial decision-making. Finance’s involvement ensures planning is not just operational, but strategic.   ## **2. Working capital: The hidden lever for cash generation** Finance teams face constant pressure on working capital, receivables, payables, and inventory. Inventory, in particular, is complex and difficult to control, yet it represents significant cash tied up in the business. Supply chain planning offers the best visibility into inventory trends, but with a small extra investment in planning, finance can achieve the most reliable working capital forecasts. This is a missed opportunity that sits between finance and planning, waiting to be seized.   ## **3. Simplify budget rounds and planning iterations** Budgeting often involves endless Excel files and multiple iterations across sales, operations, and supply chain. Organizational changes or acquisitions only add complexity. CFOs should ask themselves: “Can I keep doing this in Excel, or is it time for a better planning solution?” Streamlining budget rounds with integrated planning tools reduces negotiation cycles and delivers more realistic, actionable plans.   ## **4. Rethink consensus demand in S&OP** Traditional S&OP relies on consensus demand, finding a compromise between sales and supply chain forecasts. But compromise isn’t always the best path. Planning is a business decision, not just a sales or supply chain issue. Finance should leverage S&OP to identify opportunities and assess risks, presenting scenarios and discussing risks together with sales and supply chain before making a joint decision. Consensus should come at the end of the process, not the beginning.   ## **5. Performance management and complexity** Finance’s role is evolving from scorekeeper to business partner. To drive business performance, finance must help business units distinguish between “good” and “bad” complexity, encouraging innovation where it adds value, and challenging it where it erodes margins. By providing clear metrics and education, finance can hold up a mirror to each business unit and support better portfolio decisions.   ## **Looking ahead: Harness AI to transform planning and forecasting**  AI is rapidly changing the finance landscape, especially in forecasting. By linking forecasts to external data and macroeconomic trends, AI enables better long-term and short-term predictions (demand sensing). Automation frees up finance teams to become true business partners, focusing on value-added activities. As one CFO put it, “A better forecast is crucial to gain credibility with investors and to demonstrate control over the business.” In short: AI-driven planning is the next frontier for finance.     ## **What to remember: Elevate finance to strategic leadership through integrated planning**  Finance is the right hand of the CEO, uniquely positioned to launch company-wide initiatives and inspire change. By embracing these five planning insights, CFOs can move beyond traditional roles, become true business partners, and help their organizations thrive in an increasingly complex world.  # Discover how Finance and Supply Chain can unlock more value together   Download our white paper: Integrated Value Planning and learn how to align strategy, finance and operations.  [![READ NOW](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3420745/4f9a505a-74fb-45b9-bfaf-bb81300246bf.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3420745/4f9a505a-74fb-45b9-bfaf-bb81300246bf) The following resources may also be of interest to you: - [8-stage maturity model for S&OP 2.0](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/resources/8-stage-maturity-model-for-sop-20) - [Building Winning Portfolios: A strategic approach for finance](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/resources/building-winning-portfolios-a-strategic-approach-for-finance) - [S&OP is broken and cannot be fixed](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/resources/sop-is-broken-and-cannot-be-fixed) Previous Story [← Inside the COO role: Driving leadership and innovation at solventure](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/inside-the-coo-role-driving-leadership-and-innovation-at-solventure?hsLang=en) Next Story [Working capital as a strategic lever →](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/working-capital-as-a-strategic-lever?hsLang=en) ## You May Also Like These Stories on S&OP [Demand Planning](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/tag/demand-planning) ### [When Excel Starts Limiting Your Planning: Recognizing the Tipping Point](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/when-excel-starts-limiting-your-planning-recognizing-the-tipping-point?hsLang=en) Jun 29, 2026 10:03:11 AM | 6 min read [Demand Planning](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/tag/demand-planning) ### [The 5 Myths of Advanced Planning and Scheduling](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/the-5-myths-of-advanced-planning-and-scheduling?hsLang=en) Jun 25, 2026 8:30:00 AM | 2 min read [Demand Planning](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/tag/demand-planning) ### [The blind spots in S&OP and APS: How to evolve planning logic to support faster, clearer business decisions](https://blog.solventuregroup.com/the-blind-spots-in-sop-and-aps-how-to-evolve-planning-logic-to-support-faster-clearer-business-decisions?hsLang=en) Jun 24, 2026 2:40:25 PM | 3 min read ### Subscribe by Email © Copyright - 2022 | Solventure - All Rights Reserved | [Disclaimer ](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/disclaimer)| [Privacy Statement](https://www.solventuregroup.com/en/privacy-statement/)