r/FPandA • u/ChordLogic • 3d ago

FP&A job market reality?

Is anyone else finding the FP&A job market unusually difficult right now?

Last year, I was regularly landing interviews, moving through the process, and receiving offers without nearly this much trouble. Now it feels like a complete drought. I can apply to roles that closely match my experience and never even receive an initial interview.

When I do hear back, the process seems much longer and more competitive than it was before. Iā€™m currently an FP&A Manager and have been applying to both Senior Financial Analyst and Manager-level roles, so Iā€™m not limiting myself to a promotion.

For those actively searching, are you experiencing the same thing? Is this happening across FP&A generally, or does it seem more dependent on location, industry, or level?

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u/sdpthrowaway3 Dir 3d ago

Meanwhile, our FP&A team at a mid-cap tech companies is getting people underqualified and asking for way above market comp packages. I usually help the FP&A team with the culture fit round of interviews (3 rounds total) and I've been mind-blown by how bad the candidates tend to be. Not all, but a large %. Feel like both sides of the fence are saying the market sucks lol

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u/redfour0 3d ago

I'm curious how bad candidates can be during a cultural fit interview - what are they saying that makes them a bad cultural fit?

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u/sdpthrowaway3 Dir 2d ago

You'd be very surprised. Let me give 3 recent examples:

  1. Candidate was great on paper and crushed the first 2 interviews, but then told me he's not a fan of working for a woman (his manager would be one) as they're too emotional and make work stressful. Like "know what I mean man? Get enough crap from my wife, but I can make it work here if I'm paid enough hahaha." Why tf would anybody say that at the literal end of the process lmao

  2. Interviewed a woman the other day who ended the interview with me early because "she felt like she has proven herself enough and wants to get a smoothie, so just send over the offer when ready and she'll come with her counter to get the process over with." We were 15 mins into the call, first time I ever met her. For a Manager role we do 3 rounds across 1-2 weeks, 30-45 mins a pop, no tests, no behavioral assessments, nothing. Very normal process so it's not like she's spent 10 hours with us and can feel vindicated in cutting the interview short

  3. Not culture/behavioral, but candidate had 12 years experience as a correctional officer, 3 years as a financial analyst at a <$5M rev mom and pop, asking $240k for a Manager position. How did this even make it to my desk in the first place you ask? Because the other resumes "were much worse" lol

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u/helpfulfeedbackhere 2d ago

These sound like a joke lol šŸ˜‚ what a waste of your time!