Build a Monthly FP&A Planning System Inside Claude
How to replace the monthly FP&A grind with a repeatable Claude workflow. Covers setting up a Claude Project as your persistent FP&A workspace, loading planning models, spotting anomalies, updating forecasts, and running scenario analysis. Adapted from Wouter Born's LinkedIn post.
1. Building Your FP&A Workspace in Claude
- Set Up a Claude Project as Your FP&A Workspace
The foundation is a **Claude Project** that persists across months: **Create the project:** 1. Go to Claude → Projects → Create New Project 2. Name it something like "Monthly FP&A — [Company Name]" 3. Set custom instructions that define Claude's role: > "You are an FP&A analyst…
- Load Actuals & Spot Anomalies
Each month, upload your new actuals and let Claude do the first-pass analysis: **Upload the new data:** - Current month GL export or financial statements - Updated customer metrics (MRR, churn, new logos, expansion) - Headcount actuals (new hires, departures, open roles) **Ask …
- Update the Forecast
With anomalies identified, update the rolling forecast: **Prompt Claude with your adjustments:** > "Based on June actuals and the variances we identified, update the forecast for July through December. Adjust these assumptions: [list specific changes — e.g., 'reduce new logo ta…
- Run Scenarios with Sensitivity Analysis
This is where Claude shines over traditional spreadsheets: **Build scenarios in natural language:** > "Run three scenarios for H2: (1) Base case — current forecast as-is. (2) Upside — new logo close rate improves 20%, expansion revenue +10%. (3) Downside — churn doubles, delay …
- Save the Workflow for Next Month
The biggest payoff: next month takes half the time. **What persists in your Claude Project:** - Your planning model and all assumptions - Custom instructions and analysis preferences - Previous forecasts and scenario outputs - The conversation history showing your analysis patte…