EPM and Strategic Talent: A Recipe for Scalable Growth in Innovative Companies

EPM and Scalability for Fast-Growing, Innovative Companies

As organizations grow, it becomes critical for them to invest in platforms that enable superior planning and adaptability. This is especially true of rapidly evolving, high growth environments. In particular, EPM platforms help companies by supporting multiple use cases and large data sets, allowing for more frequent and accurate planning.

In addition to raising capital, nascent companies generally need to invest in infrastructure that will allow them to scale and adjust quickly to shifting landscapes. Onboarding new partners and suppliers, quickly hiring more employees, changing market conditions and even new client opportunities all represent challenges to planning.

The Case Study: Aurora Innovations

As an example of this Aurora , a self-driving vehicle technology company, is likely to be in the midst of addressing these types of scalability challenges. In August, Aurora announced that it had arranged to sell up to $420 million worth of shares, exceeding its goal by raising $483 million. The newly raised funds have come a little over a year since Aurora completed a capital raise of $820 million.

They also now have partnerships with the likes of FedEx, Uber Freight and Volvo. David Maday , CFO of Aurora said in a recent interview that

“What we have to do is be able build at scale. The only way to build at scale is with platforms and tier one partners.”

Now well-funded, Aurora will likely turn their eye toward implementing an EPM platform to address a range of use cases, if they have not already.

Platforms to help scale: EPM Considerations

Today’s Finance leaders are expected to play a role in all aspects of the business from managing growth to leveraging new technologies and adopting new processes all within an ever-evolving operating model. Finance is also expected to: ??Help design innovative avenues ?? Boost productivity and sales ??Optimize costs ??Maximize the value of relationships.

Fortunately, there are several EPM options available which can be contextualized to address those expectations from the business. Which EPM to choose depends on a great deal of considerations, including its ability to: ??Integrate with existing systems ??Its user-friendliness ??Security features ??Vendor support ??Cost-effectiveness.

Finance leaders also have to consider the implementation complexity and how that aligns to specific business goals and performance metrics. Above all, it is whether the tool possesses the flexibility needed to adapt to changing business needs so they can scale.

Confidence in the specific tool itself is a major factor. For example, some may angle towards Hyperion, given its longer market presence and established reputation. Fans of OneStream generally appreciate a more modern and unified platform. Whereas Anaplan might be ideal for rapidly changing business environments with complex planning scenarios.

Even understanding when to take the leap into the world of EPM can be difficult, especially given the cost of implementing these tools, which can be significant. To help, OneStream Software has identified five specific indicators that Finance leaders can use to determine when they may need to take the EPM plunge.

These include:?? Increases in data volume ?? Siloed FP&A process ?? Planning cycles causing extreme delay ?? Inaccurate forecasts ?? Struggling to scale and be adaptable

For growth-stage companies such as Aurora, another such consideration might be Anaplan. Anaplan presents itself as being highly scalable, and has been demonstrated to create effective models for unifying finance, people planning, sales, marketing, etc.

In addresses scalability related issues, Anaplan 's former Chief Planning Officer, Simon Tucker, outlined their approach to help clients grow in their “3 Tenets of Planning at Scale”. These tenets focus on modeling which spans ??multiple use-case ?? large scale data planning ??focus on continuous, Agile planning in the Cloud.

But whatever EPM is tool selected, companies like Aurora will greatly benefit from the insights which will allow them to grow sustainably.

Why the Right Talent is Critical for EPM Implementation Success

Perhaps even more critical than which EPM tool selected is the quality of their implementation partner. But the longer-term success of any EPM implementation doesn’t hinge solely on the platform or implementation partner. Who the company hires to support and administer these is equally relevant.

Companies need to take exceptional care to hire highly skilled finance transformation and financial systems professionals to support these tools post-implementation.

1. Vision and Strategy Alignment: EPM is more than just software; it’s a mindset shift. The right hire can align the system’s capabilities with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring the implementation drives real value.

2. Technical and Data Expertise: Implementing an EPM requires professionals who understand the technical elements of the tool and the importance of clean, governed data.

3. Leadership and Change Management: Implementing an EPM often requires cross-department collaboration and cultural shifts. The right people are needed to drive alignment and excitement across teams, smoothing the path for success.

At Quorum Recruiting, we specialize in helping companies like Aurora Innovations find the right individuals or teams to lead their finance transformations. Whether you: ? Are in the early stages of selecting an EPM platform ? Need experts to guide implementation ? Require skilled professionals to manage and scale these systems post-implementation

We have the expertise to support you!

Our network includes: ?? Strategic thinkers who align EPM capabilities with business goals ?? Technical specialists who optimize tools like Anaplan, OneStream, or Hyperion to maximize scalability and efficiency ?? Change leaders who foster cross-department collaboration and drive adoption

Scaling is never a one-size-fits-all journey, but with the right people in the right roles, your company can overcome complexity, adapt to changing landscapes, and grow sustainably.