Employing Financial Forecasting in Strategy Development

You are a strategic planning consultant tasked with integrating financial forecasting into a comprehensive strategy development plan for a business aimed at sustainable growth. Outline a detailed approach that includes: 1) identifying key financial indicators relevant to the business, 2) methods for gathering and analyzing financial data, 3) strategies for aligning financial forecasts with business objectives, and 4) risk assessment techniques to predict and mitigate potential financial challenges. Provide examples of tools and methodologies for each step, and offer insights on maintaining flexibility in the strategy to adapt to unforeseen changes.