In this episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet welcomes Chie Ikegawa, an expert in finance and FP&A, to discuss the evolution of financial planning and analysis (FP&A) in Japanese companies. Chie explains the unique challenges Japanese companies face in adopting FP&A practices compared to American companies, highlighting the cultural and structural differences. She shares her experiences in transforming FP&A departments, emphasizing the importance of leadership commitment, role definition, and effective training. Chie also outlines the future of FP&A, including the impact of AI and data analytics on the function. Ultimately, she advocates for tailored FP&A solutions that fit the specific needs of Japanese companies.

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In this episode you will hear:

•  Chie's career journey and her advocacy for establishing strong FP&A functions.
• The evolution of FP&A in Japanese companies and why it's essential for growth.
• The key differences between US and Japanese FP&A models and their implications.
• The process of transforming traditional management accounting into modern FP&A functions.
• Real-world case studies from Fujitsu, Ajinomoto, and Kirin that highlight successful transformations.
• How AI and digital tools are reshaping the future of FP&A in Japan.

About Chie:

 Chie Ikegawa (PhD in Professional Accounting, MBA) is a finance professional who has served as CFO and FP&A  (Financial Planning & Analysis) leader at the Japanese subsidiaries of global companies such as P&G, McDonald’s, Lenovo, and Kellogg. She now helps Japanese companies establish and strengthen their FP&A functions to maximize corporate and business value.  She also serves as a board member of listed Japanese companies. She teaches management control, management accountants, and corporate governance at a business school.

She started golf 2 years ago and enjoys almost every weekend.

Her books are;

The Changing Roles of Management Accountants: A Japanese Perspective (2023)

Practical Implementation of FP&A in Japanese Companies (2025)  

Connect with Chie: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chie-ikegawa-1ba765b/

Website: http://strat.jp/

実践　日本版FP&A(her new book)

https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%AE%9F%E8%B7%B5-%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E7%89%88%EF%BC%A6%EF%BC%B0%EF%BC%86%EF%BC%A1-%E6%B1%A0%E5%81%B4%E5%8D%83%E7%B5%B5/dp/450253191X/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_2_1/355-0484169-3913341?pd_rd_w=ncOp1&content-id=amzn1.sym.fe9e7b6a-7eb1-4695-9d8d-c2c9268438f1&pf_rd_p=fe9e7b6a-7eb1-4695-9d8d-c2c9268438f1&pf_rd_r=C6MP8BCHWP7Z05QX392C&pd_rd_wg=BVLI6&pd_rd_r=0abae083-a1f9-4822-985b-bfbb70bc3fbc&pd_rd_i=450253191X&psc=1

Connect with David Sweet:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdavidsweet/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focuscorejp 

Facebook: :https://www.facebook.com/focuscoreasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focuscorejp/ 

Website: https://www.japan.focuscoregroup.com/ 

This podcast was proudly produced by Lisa Yasuda.

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