Situation: Leading the financial strategy for a major food and beverage retail chain in North America, focusing on optimizing cost structures, enhancing profitability, and navigating the complexities of supply chain management. The industry is marked by intense competition, with major players constantly vying for market share. Internally, the company boasts a robust financial reporting system but faces challenges in integrating financial data across newly acquired subsidiaries. Additionally, there is a pressing need to modernize the financial planning and analysis (FP&A) function to better support strategic decision-making. Externally, fluctuating commodity prices and changing consumer preferences add layers of complexity to financial planning.

Question to Marcus: