In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper explore how AI tools like Claude, Copilot, and Excel agents are transforming financial workflows in 2026. As the finance industry continues to evolve, AI is playing an increasingly crucial role in automating routine tasks, improving accuracy, and boosting efficiency.

Paul and Glenn discuss their firsthand experiences with AI-driven tools, from tracking expenses and managing journal entries to building financial models. They also dive into the ways small and medium businesses are utilizing AI-powered Excel agents to streamline their financial processes without the need for expensive, traditional planning tools.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The impact of AI agents in finance and how they simplify workflows.
2. Personal experiences with Claude and Copilot in real-world finance tasks.
3. How to integrate AI into your finance team’s daily tasks.
4. The benefits and challenges of AI-powered automation in finance.

Paul and Glenn emphasize the importance of embracing AI in finance, highlighting how tools like Claude, Copilot, and Excel agents are transforming everyday workflows. They encourage finance professionals to experiment with AI, even if it means starting small.

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] – AI’s Role in Finance

[03:47] – AI Agents in Excel

[06:12] – Claude vs. Copilot

[09:27] – Automating Expenses & Journal Entries

[15:56] – AI for Financial Models

[21:21] – Future of AI in Small Business Finance

[26:26] – Workflow Automation in Finance

[35:28] – AI & Human Collaboration

[39:31] – Experimenting with AI in Finance

[41:45] – Data Quality & Governance

[43:07] – Key Takeaway

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper talk with Kevin Thomas and Drew Hyatt, co-founders of Omniga, about solving persistent issues in bookkeeping and the monthly close process for small and mid-sized businesses. They discuss how finance leaders often struggle with unreliable data and how Omniga is creating a more structured, review-ready accounting workflow.

Kevin Thomas brings a background in corporate FP&A and a CFA perspective. His hands-on experience with messy books and data integrity problems in SMBs led him to co-found Omniga. Drew Hyatt is a technology leader with a background in FinTech integrations and data pipelines. He previously worked in construction finance and medical supply chains, building systems that manage high-volume, rule-based transactions.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. Why clean financial data is essential for any finance function to scale.
2. What makes SMB accounting workflows difficult and how Omniga is addressing it.
3. How Omniga uses automation to classify, normalize, and escalate accounting entries.
4. The structure of a scalable, review-focused operating system for fractional CFOs.

Kevin and Drew share how Omniga is tackling the core challenges of bookkeeping and monthly close for SMBs. Their approach brings structure, control, and scalability to finance operations where it’s needed most.

Follow Kevin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-a-thomas/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omniga-ai/

Follow Drew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-a-hyatt/

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:15] - Meet Kevin and Drew

[01:28] - Why Omniga Started

[04:38] - Drew’s Tech Background

[07:04] - The Name “Omniga”

[10:33] - Controlling AI Output

[13:57] - Guardrails and Escalation

[16:18] - Final Thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Kevin A.Thomas and Drew Hyatt, the co-founders of Omniga, to discuss the often-overlooked but critical challenges facing small business finance teams. While enterprise companies get most of the attention, Kevin and Drew are focused on the backbone of the economy, businesses under $30 million in revenue—and the unique struggles they face when it comes to closing the books, managing data, and generating strategic insight.

Kevin A.Thomas, CFA, is the founder of Omniga and a seasoned strategic finance leader focused on scaling digital businesses. Kevin is passionate about rebuilding the back office to help businesses make smarter decisions, faster. Drew Hyatt is the Co-Founder and CTO of Omniga. He plays a key role in architecting Omniga’s infrastructure, translating complex workflows into scalable technology for finance teams.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. Why clean books are the foundation for strong financial decisions
2. The hidden risks in small business bookkeeping and how to fix them
3. The difference between replacing tasks and supporting human judgment
4. How to expand from bookkeeping to full finance strategy support
5. How to structure a finance workflow that scales with your business

Kevin and Drew leave us with a clear message: better finance starts with a stronger foundation. By focusing on clean books and scalable workflows, Omniga is reshaping how small businesses manage finance. It’s not about replacing people, it’s about empowering them to do more with less.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Kevin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-a-thomas/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/omniga-ai/

Follow Drew:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-a-hyatt/

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] –Trailer

[03:39] – Why They Started Omniga

[07:11] – Drew’s Tech Journey

[09:28] – What "Omniga" Means

[11:26] – Rules vs. Suggestions

[14:33] – How the Workflow Scales

[19:28] – Above the Ledger

[25:40] – From Inputs to Entries

[29:50] – Real-World Use Cases

[35:05] – When to Add FP&A

[37:45] – Closing Fun Segment

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss the AI landscape and how CFOs and finance leaders should approach AI in 2026. Reflecting on the developments of 2025, they explore how AI adoption is progressing at the individual and company levels and discuss the surprises and challenges they've encountered in the AI space.

Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The current state of AI adoption by individuals and companies.
2. Surprising shifts in AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft in 2025.
3. The growing role of specialized AI models and their potential impact on industries like finance.
4. Predictions for the future of AI in 2026, including advancements in LLMs and robotics.

Glenn and Paul discussed the evolving AI landscape and its impact on finance, offering insights into key developments and predictions for 2026. They highlighted the challenges, growth, and opportunities AI presents for finance leaders and businesses.

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:15] - Reflections on AI in 2025

[05:07] - Paul’s Surprises on AI’s Progress

[11:05] - OpenAI’s Consumer Focus

[13:23] - Predictions for Specialized Models

[14:51] - AI and Robotics

[17:20] - Small vs Large Models

[18:28] - Closing Thoughts on AI in Finance

In this first episode of Future Finance for 2026, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper take time to reflect on how AI actually showed up in finance over the past year, and what that means going forward. Without a guest, the conversation focuses on real experiences, observations, and lessons from working directly with finance teams, CFOs, and operators who are navigating AI adoption day to day.

Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows. They also share their thoughts on notable developments from 2025, including OpenAI’s shift toward consumer use, Microsoft Copilot’s mixed results, Google Gemini’s rapid improvement, and Nvidia’s continued growth.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. How AI adoption differs between individuals and organizations
2. Why poor data quality still limits many finance teams
3. What recent changes from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia suggest
4. Where Microsoft Copilot works well today and where it falls short
5. Why automation and basic app-building are becoming more important

Paul and Glenn share concrete examples from Excel, Outlook, reporting, and close processes. They also emphasize that banning AI use is no longer realistic and that clear guidelines matter more than strict restrictions.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[02:47] – How Individuals vs. Companies Used AI in 2025

[06:12] – OpenAI, Monetization, and Market Signals

[09:27] – Google Gemini’s Turnaround

[15:56] – Big Models vs. Specialized Tools

[21:21] – Consumer AI and Platform Control

[26:26] – Real Copilot Use Cases in Excel

[35:28] – What Finance Professionals Should Focus on in 2026

[39:31] – What Finance Leaders Need to Do Now

[41:45] – Automation, Vibe Coding, and What’s Next

[43:07] – Final Thoughts and Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Sasha Orloff, CEO of Puzzle, to discuss the future of accounting and how AI is poised to transform the finance industry. Sasha Orloff shares his journey from founding LendUp and Mission Lane to building Puzzle, an innovative accounting software platform designed to solve the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Sasha Orloff is the CEO of Puzzle, a modern accounting software platform focused on building the future of finance. Before Puzzle, Sasha Orloff founded LendUp and Mission Lane, which both scaled to hundreds of millions in revenue. He has a deep background in finance, technology, and AI, and his insights are helping to shape the next wave of innovation in the industry.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The challenges of traditional accounting systems and outdated software
2. How AI and predictive analytics can streamline financial tasks and improve decisions
3. The need for an evolving general ledger and the role of blockchain in enhancing transparency
4. How AI reduces errors and provides more accurate insights for finance professionals
5. The future of accounting and how AI will enable faster, smarter decision-making

Sasha Orloff explains how Puzzle is addressing the foundational issues with traditional accounting software by focusing on trust, transparency, and flexibility. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of building the right data infrastructure to enable AI-driven insights in finance.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Sasha:

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

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/puzzlefin/

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[01:00] - Meet Sasha Orloff

[03:30] - The Problem with Traditional Accounting Software

[06:00] - The Future of the General Ledger and Data Transparency

[10:30] - How AI Enhances Finance and Accounting Tasks

[12:45] - Blockchain’s Role in Financial Trust

[17:30] - The Role of AI in Business Decision-Making

[20:00] - How Puzzle is Revolutionizing Financial Software

[27:00] - AI and the Democratization of Data Science

[33:00] - Lightning Round: Fun Personal Questions

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst are joined by Ian Wong, co-founder and CEO of Summation, a cutting-edge AI platform designed to help enterprise leaders navigate complex data and make smarter business decisions. Ian shares his journey from CTO at Opendoor to founding Summation, inspired by his frustration with the inefficiencies of traditional reporting and analysis systems.

Ian Wong is the co-founder and CEO of Summation, an AI-powered decision platform built to help enterprise leaders better understand how their businesses are performing. Before Summation, Ian co-founded Opendoor and served as CTO through its journey to going public. He was also Square’s first data scientist, where he built early fraud and risk systems. Ian holds degrees in electrical engineering and statistics from Stanford University and brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and business leadership experience.

Expect to Learn:

1. The Monday Morning Problem and its impact on business operations
2. How AI can eliminate tedious data analysis processes
3. The difference between traditional BI tools and the AI-powered platform Summation
4. The importance of real-time, decision-grade data for enterprise leaders

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:

Follow Ian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-wong/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summation-hq/

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[01:01] - The Monday Morning Problem and Decision-Making

[03:46] - The time and effort spent on manual data analysis

[08:48] - Ian’s Motivation Behind Summation

[10:40] - What Makes Summation Different

[12:48] - The Importance of Accurate Data in Finance

[13:53] - Wrapping Up and Farewell

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Ian Wong, co-founder and CEO of Summation, to talk about one of the most frustrating challenges in finance and analytics: getting timely, trustworthy answers to basic business questions. Ian shares the story behind what he calls the “Monday Morning Problem” and explains why finance teams often spend weeks chasing insights that arrive too late to matter. The conversation explores the limits of dashboards, the risks of AI hallucinations in finance, and what decision-grade analytics really means.

Ian Wong is the co-founder and CEO of Summation, an AI-powered decision platform built to help enterprise leaders better understand how their businesses are performing. Before Summation, Ian co-founded Opendoor and served as CTO through its journey to going public. He was also Square’s first data scientist, where he built early fraud and risk systems. Ian holds degrees in electrical engineering and statistics from Stanford University and brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and business leadership experience.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What the “Monday Morning Problem” is and why it slows down decision-making
• Why dashboards and ad hoc reports often fail finance leaders
• The risks of relying on generic AI tools for financial analysis
• How decision-grade analytics differ from conversational AI
• What the coming “query flood” could mean for data infrastructure and costs

Ian explains how Summation helps finance and operations teams move from manual data stitching to faster, more reliable insights. The discussion also covers AI hype versus reality, why trust matters so much in finance analytics, and how leaders can think more clearly about where AI fits into real business workflows.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Ian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-wong/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/summation-hq/

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[01:58] – Meet Ian Wong

[05:25] – The “Monday Morning Problem”

[09:23] – What Empathetic Leadership Really Means

[13:15] – How Enterprise Research Really Works

[16:34] – The Monday Morning Numbers Meeting

[21:25] – A Balance Sheet That Still Doesn’t Balance

[25:53] – Where AI actually helps finance teams

[28:27] – The AI Hype Question of 2025

[33:07] – Moving into Personal Questions

In this episode of The Future Finance Show, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Cindy Vindasius, an expert in accounting and process transformation with over 30 years of experience in the Silicon Valley ecosystem. Cindy, the founder and CEO of her advisory practice, shares her expertise on ERP implementations, system transformations, and how AI is reshaping the finance landscape. They discuss her experiences with ERP failures, her new online course for ERP readiness, and the challenges companies face when navigating ERP transformations and adopting AI tools.

Cindy Vindasius is a CPA and MBA with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth technology and manufacturing companies through complex ERP, finance transformation, and AI-readiness initiatives. As the founder of Vindasius Advisory, she has led 12 ERP implementations, 8 IPO and M&A, and numerous SOX compliance projects. Her clients include industry leaders such as Tesla, Apple, 23andMe, and TenX. Through her ERP Preparedness Master Workshop and executive advisory programs, Cindy helps CFOs and CIOs align systems and processes for scale, resilience, and efficiency.

Expect to Learn:

• Why legacy ERP systems are fundamentally flawed in design
• Cindy’s journey into ERP transformations and system implementations
• The complexity of ERP migrations and why they’re often harder than expected
• How AI is changing ERP systems and the finance industry
• Cindy’s ERP readiness course, which helps businesses prepare for successful ERP transformations

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:

AI Readiness Assessment:

Take the free 3-minute AI Readiness Assessment to clearly identify your strengths and weaknesses across Finance and Operations: https://cindy-tooq6nwx.scoreapp.com/

AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist:

Evaluate smarter and avoid costly mistakes with this AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist packed with key criteria: https://www.vindasius.com/opt-in

Follow Cindy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-vindasius/

Website: https://www.vindasius.com

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:29] - Cindy’s Background and ERP Experience

[03:30] - The Challenges of ERP Implementations

[07:00] - AI’s Role in Changing ERP Systems

[10:10] - Lessons from AI-Native ERP Platforms

[12:00] - Cindy’s ERP Readiness Course

[16:30] - Closing Thoughts and Thanks

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by systems and finance transformation expert Cindy Vindasius to explore why so many ERP implementations fail, and what companies can do to fix that. They discuss the often-overlooked groundwork needed before selecting a system or deploying AI tools, and why jumping straight to automation without strong data and processes is a recipe for chaos. Whether you're planning an ERP rollout or modernizing finance operations, this conversation is packed with practical guidance for long-term success.

Cindy Vindasius is a CPA and MBA with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth technology and manufacturing companies through complex ERP, finance transformation, and AI-readiness initiatives. As the founder of Vindasius Advisory, she has led 12 ERP implementations, 8 IPO and M&A, and numerous SOX compliance projects. Her clients include industry leaders such as Tesla, Apple, 23andMe, and TenX. Through her ERP Preparedness Master Workshop and executive advisory programs, Cindy helps CFOs and CIOs align systems and processes for scale, resilience, and efficiency.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why 70% of ERP implementations fail and how to avoid common missteps
• What ERP readiness really means, and why it's often overlooked
• How AI-native ERPs compare to legacy systems in real-world implementations
• Why scalable data governance and documented processes are essential
• How Cindy’s ERP Preparedness Master Workshop helps teams succeed

This episode highlights the often-missed foundations of ERP and AI success: preparation, clarity, and scalability. Cindy Vindasius shares the roadmap finance leaders need to transform systems from a source of chaos into a driver of growth.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

AI Readiness Assessment:

Take the free 3-minute AI Readiness Assessment to clearly identify your strengths and weaknesses across Finance and Operations: https://cindy-tooq6nwx.scoreapp.com/

AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist:

Evaluate smarter and avoid costly mistakes with this AI First Vendor Evaluation Checklist packed with key criteria: https://www.vindasius.com/opt-in

Follow Cindy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-vindasius/

Website: https://www.vindasius.com

Follow Glenn:

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

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn -  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[01:36] – Meet Cindy

[04:33] – ERP Beginnings

[07:43] – AI-Native ERP Landscape

[11:41] – AI in Finance

[15:25] – ERP Readiness Course

[21:36] – Data Migration Issues

[25:53] – ERP vs AI Readiness

[29:44] – Outsourcing Pitfalls

[30:46] – Rapid-Fire & Fun

[32:57] – Closing Thoughts