Agile Planning for Volatile Times: Financial Strategy in Uncertain Markets

Agile Planning for Volatile Times: How Finance Teams Can Adapt and Lead Through Disruption

In a recent webinar hosted by ELN and Wolters Kluwer CCH® Tagetik, senior finance professionals came together to explore one of the most pressing topics facing modern finance teams: how to implement agile planning in times of volatility.

With global finance under constant pressure from economic instability and geopolitical disruptions to rapid technological advancement the ability to plan quickly, react to market changes, and provide strategic insight has become critical.

Speakers:

• Azim Khan, Director, AIS Consulting
• Craig Ballantyne, Global Head of Financial, Planning and Analysis, Thor Group
• Kevin McCarthy, Head of Solution Consulting Centre of Excellence, CCH® Tagetik, Wolters Kluwer – Northern Europe
• Peter Dorrington, Host/Moderator, Executive Leaders Network

Planning Agility: The New Finance Imperative

Traditional financial planning cycles are being stretched to their limits. Quarterly forecasting alone no longer provides the responsiveness required to navigate today’s turbulent business environment. Static models that rely on historical trends are ineffective in an era where the future is increasingly unpredictable.

The conversation addressed the challenge of balancing agility with accuracy. It is not simply about producing plans faster, but about improving the relevance and impact of those plans. The need for more frequent forecasting cycles was clear, but so was the importance of defining clear forecasting processes particularly those that focus only on high-impact variables to avoid overwhelming the team.

Rethinking the Role of Finance

Finance’s role has shifted beyond compliance and reporting. The expectation today is for finance teams to provide strategic advice based on forward-looking insights. In order to meet this expectation, finance must evolve into a more data-literate, digitally-skilled function that works closely with commercial and operational teams.

A key part of this evolution is the shift from being passive data stewards to active data champions. Finance professionals need to move from data collection to data interpretation, translating complex trends into insights that support decision-making across the business.

The Technology Enabler

Agile planning is not feasible without the right tools. The discussion highlighted how technologies such as corporate performance management (CPM) platforms particularly those with embedded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities can help organisations automate manual tasks, improve data accuracy, and enable integrated scenario modelling.

These tools can detect anomalies, identify performance drivers, and even generate forecasts that rival or exceed manual efforts in accuracy. However, technology adoption remains a challenge. Many organisations are still reliant on spreadsheets and have not prepared their data infrastructure for modern tools.

The key to overcoming these barriers is to start small. Rather than attempting a full digital transformation, finance teams are advised to focus on specific use cases that deliver quick wins. This approach de-risks implementation while building internal confidence and digital capability.

Best Practices for Agile Planning

To make agile planning a reality, several best practices were shared:

• Focus on high-impact drivers: Identify the 10–15 variables that have the greatest influence on your business outcomes. 
• Use predictive analytics to guide planning: AI can uncover trends and relationships that aren’t immediately obvious. 
• Increase forecast frequency: Adopt rolling forecasts or monthly updates to stay responsive. 
• Integrate operational plans: Link finance with HR, sales and operations to reflect real-world changes in financial models. 
• Automate where possible: Eliminate manual consolidation and validation to free up time for value-added analysis. 
• Invest in digital skills: Equip finance teams with the skills to understand and utilise modern planning tools effectively.

The Human-AI Partnership

AI is a powerful assistant not a replacement. It provides data-driven recommendations and helps surface insights, but human judgement remains crucial. Professionals must still interrogate anomalies, contextualise patterns, and ensure outputs are actionable.

The session also made it clear that finance must be closer to the business than ever before. Insights are only valuable if they reflect real conditions on the ground, and that requires a strong relationship between finance and frontline teams.

Q&A

Question: What is agile planning in finance?
Answer: Agile planning is a responsive, iterative approach to financial planning that allows teams to adapt quickly to market changes by increasing forecast frequency, simplifying scenario modelling, and integrating cross-functional data.

Question: Why is traditional forecasting no longer sufficient?
Answer: Traditional forecasting is too slow and rigid to handle the volatility of modern markets. It often relies on historical trends that don’t reflect current realities or future uncertainties.

Question: How can AI support agile planning?
Answer: AI enables anomaly detection, identifies performance drivers, automates repetitive tasks, and supports predictive forecasting freeing finance teams to focus on strategic analysis.

Question: What are common barriers to adopting finance technology?
Answer: Key barriers include poor data quality, lack of digital skills within finance teams, and resistance to change from stakeholders comfortable with manual processes.

Question: How should organisations begin adopting AI tools in finance?
Answer: Start with a single use case, such as driver-based forecasting or anomaly detection. Build confidence through small wins before scaling adoption.

Question: What is the role of finance professionals in an AI-driven environment?
Answer: Finance professionals are responsible for interpreting AI-generated insights, providing context, and ensuring that outputs align with business objectives.

Question: How can finance improve resilience during uncertainty?
Answer: By focusing on high-impact variables, implementing rolling forecasts, and integrating planning across departments to ensure alignment and agility.

Question: Why is integrated planning important?
Answer: Integrated planning connects financial plans with HR, sales, and operations, improving responsiveness and ensuring that changes in one area are reflected across the organisation.

Question: What should finance teams prioritise before adopting new tools?
Answer: Data readiness. Clean, structured, and consistent data is essential for effective use of AI and other advanced planning technologies.

Question: How does agile planning affect decision-making?
Answer: It enables quicker, more confident decisions based on real-time insights rather than outdated assumptions.

Watch the Full Webinar 

For an in-depth look at implementing agile planning into your business within an ever evolving market, watch the full webinar replay: Webinar | Agile Planning for Volatile Times

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