As the final quarter begins, the focus for every leader shifts from managing the present to shaping the future. Budgeting, forecasting, and reviewing reports are essential tasks, but World Financial Planning Day serves as a vital reminder: true financial strength comes not from counting numbers, but from defining strategic direction.
We spoke with Renata Stankuviene, Head of Treasury and Finance Operations at Vialet, to discuss why preparation is the key to corporate resilience and success.
Confidence vs. Control: The Strategic Mindset Shift
The shift from one year to the next is often met with the desire for control—a wish to eliminate all potential uncertainty. However, according to Renata, that’s not what planning is about.
“Planning ahead isn’t about controlling the future, it’s about gaining the confidence and clarity to shape it.”
This confidence is earned by proactively defining your roadmap. By making strategic decisions today, you replace uncertainty with actionable intent, giving your business the agility to capitalize on opportunities in the new year.
The Three Questions That Define Your 2026 Roadmap
Effective financial planning starts with rigorous, honest reflection. To move forward with clarity, every organisation must look back and audit its year. This is the perfect moment to ask three critical questions:
1. What Worked Well This Year—and Why?
It’s easy to focus solely on problems, but success must be analyzed just as closely as failure. Identify your top three wins—a key product launch, a market expansion, or an operational efficiency gain. Why did they succeed? Was it driven by team structure, payment rail efficiency, or a specific strategic partnership? Understanding the precise source of your success ensures you can scale that model in 2026.
2. What Could We Do Differently to Create More Impact?
This is where strategic changes are defined. Look beyond simply “cost-cutting.” Focus on areas where inefficiency is draining resources or slowing growth:
- Operational Gaps: Did high-volume payment acceptance slow down during peak season?
- Treasury Friction: Is foreign exchange (FX) management costing too much time or capital due to outdated processes?
- Talent Allocation: Were key teams bogged down in manual reconciliation tasks instead of focusing on innovation?
The answers here determine where new investment or structural refinement will deliver the greatest return.
3. What Steps Can We Take Today to Start 2026 on the Front Foot?
Preparation is paramount. Strategic planning is rendered useless if implementation is delayed. Starting on the front foot means making tactical moves now, such as:
- Vendor Audit: Securing essential contracts or renegotiating payment terms ahead of the annual renewal rush.
- Compliance Review: Proactively ensuring your financial infrastructure is aligned with expected 2026 regulatory changes, minimizing future risk.
- Resource Allocation: Finalizing budgets and securing investment or credit lines early, giving your operational teams clarity by January 1st.
The Strategic Decision Season
This period marks the season of strategic decisions. It is when the hard work of review translates into the structure and ambition for the next year. Choosing to tackle financial planning now is an act of leadership.
As Renata reminds us, this process is fundamental to business health. It’s about building a clear, executable roadmap that instills confidence across the entire organisation—from the executive team to the last mile of operations.
If you are looking to simplify complex treasury, payment, and financial operations to build that confident 2026 roadmap, engaging with an innovative FinTech partner is your next logical step.
Make the next moves count.
This article was inspired by insights from Renata Stankuviene, Head of Treasury and Finance Operations, Vialet.
