Additional unbiased content that helps you navigate innovative treasury and finance trends, topics and technologies.
AFP's Onboarding Guide for Early Career Finance
Set Up Early Career Finance Talent for Success
Hiring a new finance team member is just the beginning. AFP’s Onboarding Guide for Early Career Finance Professionals is your shared playbook for helping early career hires in FP&A and treasury transition smoothly, build confidence, and deliver impact. Whether you're a hiring manager or a new analyst, this guide offers actionable steps to reduce turnover, increase productivity, and strengthen team culture.
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How to Use This Guide
Think of this guide as both a template and a conversation starter. Designed to be a shared resource, it offers a flexible structure that both managers and early career hires can customize to meet their unique needs. Managers can adapt the onboarding content by adding or removing sections based on company-specific practices or individual roles—making the experience more relevant and effective from day one. New hires can use the guide independently as a roadmap to ease their transition, even if a formal onboarding plan isn’t in place. With key questions, goal-setting prompts, and real-world examples, this living document helps make onboarding personal, practical, and productive. In short: this is your template—now make it yours.
For New Hires
For early career finance professionals, the guide offers a clear roadmap to navigate the critical first 90 days on the job. It helps new hires build meaningful relationships, understand what’s expected of them, and gain confidence in their new environment. The guide also introduces best practices in professional communication, financial processes, and data tools—equipping new hires with the skills they need to thrive in FP&A or treasury roles.
- Succeed from day one
- Understand your responsibilities and expectations
- Know what success looks like in the first 90 days
- Improve communication skills by asking the right questions
- Understand company norms, professional expectations, and team dynamics
- Avoid imposter syndrome by feeling connected to a team
- Develop goals for long term growth and success
For Managers
This guide supports managers in reducing early turnover by providing a structured onboarding plan that emphasizes relationship-building and clear expectations. It helps leaders foster stronger engagement and long-term team loyalty by focusing on trust, communication, and culture from day one. Importantly, it offers guidance on how to tailor the onboarding experience to each new hire’s background, experience level, and unique development needs.
- Create a structured plan for a successful onboarding
- Set and track performance goals for early career success
- Assess progress, ask questions, and share feedback
- Promote resources available within the company
- Highlight and promote company culture