Why Most Finance Appraisals Fail And How You can Fix it Before your Next one

Imagine studying hard all year, only to freeze and forget your best work on exam day.

For many finance professionals, this is exactly what happens during performance reviews. Despite putting in great effort, they often feel invisible and overlooked when appraisal time comes around. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

I want to share a simple yet powerful method that can help you turn your everyday finance work into compelling, results-driven stories that get noticed. It’s called the PCOR method, and mastering it can transform how you communicate your value during performance reviews.

Why Do Many Finance Professionals Feel Invisible During Reviews?

Here’s the problem: Many finance professionals do excellent work but describe it in ways that don’t capture impact. Typical statements sound like this:

“I did the monthly close.”
“I prepared the management report.”
“I did variance analysis.”

This is like telling your mom, “I ate food,” when she asks what you had for lunch. It tells her nothing memorable.

Instead, imagine saying:

“I made my own pizza in 10 minutes and saved $20 instead of ordering.”

That statement shows initiative, time saved, and money saved. It’s impact in a nutshell. Similarly, instead of saying, “I closed the books in 5 days,” you can say:

“I reduced the month-end close by 3 days through automation, freeing up time for real analysis.”

Now, you’re not just a task doer. You’re a business value creator.

The PCOR Method: Your Formula for Impactful Storytelling

If simply listing tasks doesn’t work, what does?

The answer is the PCOR method. A straightforward way to turn your routine work into stories that highlight your results and leadership. Think of it as telling a superhero story where you are the hero overcoming challenges.

P = Project: What were you working on?
C = Challenge: What made the situation tough?
O = Overcome: How did you solve the problem?
R = Result: What changed because of your effort?

Here’s an example:

“I managed the budgeting process. Many team members were resistant to using new templates (Challenge), so I created a training video and held three workshops (Overcome). As a result, we finished the budgeting cycle two weeks earlier than usual with 98% accuracy (Result).”

This story is memorable, impactful, and demonstrates leadership.

Add Numbers to Make Your Impact Clear

In finance, numbers speak louder than words. Saying “I helped with reporting” is vague — like saying “I went to work.” Instead, quantify your impact:

“I automated reporting and saved 200 hours a year, which saved $10,000 in analyst time.”

Frame your value in one of three buckets:

Cash Impact: Did you help save or make money?
Efficiency Gains: Did you save time?
Risk Reduction: Did you prevent a loss or mistake?

Examples include:

“Improved collections and unlocked $20,000 in cash flow.”
“Reduced errors by 30%, cutting rework time by 10 hours per month.”
“Identified duplicate payments worth $10,000 and fixed them.”

Speak the language of business, not just Excel spreadsheets.

What to Do When Things Don’t Go as Planned?

We all make mistakes. What truly matters is how you bounce back. Avoid saying, “I failed.” Instead, frame setbacks like this:

“We missed the target, so I investigated, found the root cause, and adjusted the model to improve accuracy next time.”

It’s like burning the first batch of pancakes, then adjusting the heat and nailing the next batch. Managers appreciate when you take action, learn, and improve.

Always use the Situation → Action → Result structure, even for setbacks.

Track Your Wins Consistently

Don’t wait until December to try and remember what you accomplished in March. Create a PCOR log on Excel or Google Sheets and make it a habit to record one win every Friday:

What was the project?
What went wrong?
What did you fix?
What changed as a result?

Over time, this log becomes a goldmine of achievements ready for appraisal season. No stress, no scrambling. Even small wins add up, such as:

“Trained two juniors who now handle 30% of reporting.”
“Created a tracker that reduced last-minute escalations.”

Highlight the Bigger Picture: Your Impact on the Team and Business

When you save hours, remember you’re not just saving time. You’re saving your team’s sanity. Instead of saying, “I automated reporting,” say:

“I built a report that cut 10 hours a month and gave the leadership team three extra days to make decisions.”

You’re not just fixing pipes; you’re improving water flow for the entire city.

Also, highlight your role without overshadowing your team:

“I created the dashboard that helped our team hit reporting deadlines two days earlier.”
“I led the reconciliation process, freeing up teammates’ time for strategic work.”

This shows leadership and teamwork. The Qualities managers value highly.

Ask Smart Questions to Show Your Growth Mindset

Performance appraisals aren’t just about answering questions.

They’re also about asking the right ones. Show you’re thinking ahead by asking your manager:

“What skills will be most valuable to the team next year?”
“What would make me ready for a promotion?”

These questions demonstrate you’re focused on growth, not just defending last year’s report card.

Start Today: Speak the Language of Business Outcomes

You don’t need to work harder; you need to communicate smarter.

Start by crafting one PCOR story this week. Write it down, practice it, and watch how speaking the language of business outcomes makes people listen, promotions follow, and doors open.

Which part of the PCOR framework will you try first? Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in he comments below. Your next appraisal success story might be just a story away.

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Good luck with your Appraisals, and remember: the right preparation can make all the difference!

You can find more information about this and other FP&A resources, including books, courses, and free templates, on the FP&A Professionals website www.fpnaprofessionals.com

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