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      March 27, 2025

      Financials: The SPM Boogeyman (and How to Slay It)

      SPM Mythbusters Series

      3 min read

      Written by: Jason Kotlinski
      Key Takeaways
      • See why financials don’t have to be seen as the scary part of strategic portfolio management (SPM).
      • Leverage tools like Clarity to simplify financial processes and translate execution details into understandable financial insights.
      • Embrace financials from the start to understand investment impact and steer your portfolio towards success.

      "We'll get to the financials eventually…"

      Sound familiar? Too often, teams shy away from incorporating financial data into their strategic portfolio management (SPM) processes. They start with tasks, milestones, and resources—anything but the money. But this is like building a house without a foundation!

      Why the fear?

      Financials make people nervous. Suddenly, everything means something. Every task, every resource allocation is tied to a dollar amount, and that brings scrutiny. People are afraid they will be held accountable! But here's the thing: If nobody’s looking at your investments, why bother doing SPM at all?

      The myth of complexity

      The biggest misconception is that financial management within SPM is inherently complicated. It can be, but it doesn't have to be.
      The core value proposition of a robust SPM tool like Clarity is that it takes the work you're already doing—defining tasks, allocating resources, tracking progress—and translates it into financial terms.

      Unlocking financial insights

      Understanding the basics of fiscal processes is key:

      • Fiscal calendars: Recognize that your January isn’t necessarily calendar January!
      • Internal rates: A person’s chargeback rate might not be the same as their actual salary.

      These details are crucial for accurate cost accounting. Ignoring them is like trying to navigate a maze with a blindfold on.

      Stop burying your head in the sand

      Thinking of putting off financial planning for SPM? Think again.

      If you're not looking at the financials, what's the point? It's investment money! Where's your money going? Isn't that the whole point of all this?

      Getting started

      • Embrace the fundamentals: Learn the basics of fiscal calendars, chargeback rates, and cost accounting.
      • Leverage your tools: Use SPM tools, such as Clarity, that integrate financial data seamlessly.
      • Start now: Don't wait until you've "mastered" the other aspects of SPM. Financials are the foundation.

      Financials aren’t the SPM boogeyman. They're the key to understanding the true impact of your investments. Embrace them, and watch your portfolio thrive.

      Tag(s): ValueOps , Clarity , Strategic Portfolio Management , SPM

      Jason Kotlinski

      Jason Kotlinski serves as Product Manager for Clarity with clients all across the globe. He is responsible for customer-facing aspects of product management, leading development of key marketable features, and assisting senior management with backlog prioritization and new feature definition.

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