Stop firefighting.Start building.
For finance and analytics professionals buried by the gravity of their own potential.
A practice for the ones who got really good, took on too much, and now need a way out and a way up. Climb the next rung.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revenue | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
| 2 | Product A | 1200000 | 1.5M | #REF! | ??? |
| 3 | Prod B old | 0.8M | #VALUE! | 1.1M | 1.3M |
| 4 | Total | #REF! | 2.4M | #REF! | hardcoded |
| 5 | // matt check these numbers before board mtg | ||||
Your next move in finance and analytics.
A weekly newsletter for finance and analytics professionals climbing the next rung. By Matt Brattin, TMB Analytics.
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The Staircase Method
When everything is an emergency, progress comes to a halt. There is a better way.
Take the 4 Days to Excel ChallengeStop Digging
When every day is a fire drill, it’s hard to see the path forward. The first step is recognizing where you are and deciding that next month starts now.
Pick Your Direction
The right improvement moves you forward. The wrong one just creates a new problem. Orient first, then build with purpose.
Build One Stair at a Time
Find the lowest-effort, highest-impact win. Invest the time once. Stand on it. Use the freed-up bandwidth to build the next one. Every stair converts maintenance into infrastructure.
Why Professionals Choose TMB Analytics
From Excel to SQL and AI: build the FP&A and analytics stack finance teams actually ship in production.
Speed
Cut your analysis time by 70% with advanced formulas and automation techniques used by top analysts.
Accuracy
Eliminate errors with bulletproof model architecture and validation frameworks that catch mistakes before they cost you.
Executive Presence
Present insights with confidence. Learn to translate complex data into compelling narratives that drive decisions.
Visual Impact
Build board-ready visuals in Excel: charts and dashboards that support the story, not distract from it.
Best Practices
Learn industry-standard modeling conventions used at top investment banks and consulting firms.
Time Freedom
Automate repetitive tasks so you can focus on strategic FP&A, career growth, and higher-leverage work.
AI-Augmented Workflows
Use AI thoughtfully alongside your existing tool set to speed real finance deliverables, not slideware.
What Finance Professionals Say
Join 250,000+ professionals who've leveled up analytics, FP&A, and how their teams work with data
"I have worked with Matt in multiple roles and projects and he continues to astound me with his knowledge of Analytics while always keeping the 'end goal' in mind. Matt is truly thoughtful about his work and continues to inspire me with his passion for educating teams on the importance and role of analytics...If you are hoping to learn about the field of Analytics – he's your guy."
"I have worked with Matt in multiple roles and projects and he continues to astound me with his knowledge of Analytics while always keeping the 'end goal' in mind. Matt is truly thoughtful about his work and continues to inspire me with his passion for educating teams on the importance and role of analytics...If you are hoping to learn about the field of Analytics – he's your guy."
"I highly recommend this course to any sales leader responsible for managing revenue operations. The content is excellent, with practical examples that make it highly actionable. Special thanks to Matt Brattin for delivering everything in such a clear, concise, and engaging way."
"I learned and did things over the course I never thought I'd be able to do on my own. This course pushed me to my 'learning' limits, but in the best way possible [and] helped me land my dream job."
Matt Brattin
"Brilliant finance professionals buried by the work. Spending 80% of their time on execution in reaction mode and 20% on the thinking that actually moves the business forward. I left the corporate track to fix that."
Founder of TMB Analytics. Author of The Art of Analytics. Twenty years in the trenches of corporate finance, from junior analyst at Citi to CFO of a PE-backed international software vertical.
I've run the close, built the models, defended the forecast, and sat in the board meeting where the number got questioned. I saw the same pattern everywhere: really good people getting promoted for being indispensable, then getting trapped by it. I left the corporate track to help finance and analytics professionals build careers as architects, not responders.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the practice and how to start.
Latest Insights
Financial Planning and Data Analytics career advice from the trenches.