Future Finance

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper speak with Ali Hussain, CEO and co-founder of Tabs, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing finance workflows. Ali discusses the limitations of legacy finance systems, the challenges of modern revenue models, and how AI is automating the full contract-to-cash cycle for finance teams.

Ali Hussain is the CEO and co-founder of Tabs, where he leads the development of AI-native solutions designed to automate the billing, collections, and revenue recognition process. With a background spanning product leadership at Google, strategy consulting at BCG, and public policy, Ali is at the forefront of the next wave of finance technology.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How automation is transforming the finance sector, particularly revenue management
• The importance of structured data for effective financial solutions
• Why traditional finance systems struggle with modern revenue models
• How Tabs is automating billing, collections, and revenue recognition

This episode provides insights into how automation is reshaping finance, helping businesses manage revenue models and streamline financial tasks. Ali Hussain shares his perspective on simplifying finance workflows and the direction the industry is heading.

Follow Ali:

Website: https://www.tabs.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hussain786/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabsplatform

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:

[02:00] – Ali's Background and Tabs' Growth

[03:00] – Automation in Finance

[05:00] – Agents in Finance Workflows

[08:00] – Data Quality in Finance

[10:00] – Limitations of LLMs in Finance

[12:00] – Agents vs Automation

[15:00] – The Future of Finance

[17:00] – Managing Usage-Based Pricing

[21:00] – Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Scott Leshinski, President of OneStream Software, to discuss OneStream's recent acquisition by Hg Capital and the exciting changes it brings to the company’s approach to finance technology. Scott shares how OneStream’s focus on a unified platform is reshaping the finance space, and how integrating smart technology into financial workflows is making a real difference for businesses today.

Scott Leshinski is the President of OneStream Software, where he leads OneStream’s growth and innovation. With a background in corporate finance at GE Capital, co-founding Bluestone International, and working at Huron Consulting Group, Scott has a wealth of experience in driving major tech transformations. He joined OneStream in 2021 and was promoted to President in 2023 after helping the company achieve impressive growth.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What OneStream's acquisition by Hg Capital means for its future
• The benefits of using a unified platform in finance
• How automation is improving financial processes
• The evolving role of automation in financial planning and decision-making
• How OneStream’s tools are helping businesses become more agile and efficient

Scott Leshinski highlights the exciting future of finance, where unified platforms and automation are transforming how businesses manage financial workflows. He emphasizes the growing role of technology in making finance processes more efficient and discusses how OneStream is helping companies become more agile.

Follow Scott:

Website: https://www.onestream.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-leshinski-bb5736b/

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] – Intro

[03:00] – OneStream's Acquisition Impact

[05:00] – Transition from Public to Private

[06:00] – Scott's Career Path

[10:00] – What OneStream Does

[14:00] – The Power of Unified Platforms

[18:00] – Automation in Financial Planning

[19:00] – The Rise of Automation

[26:00] – Building Trust in Automation

[29:00] – Improving Forecast Accuracy

[35:00] – The Future of Finance

[50:00] – Fun Questions with Scott

[55:00] – Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper speak with Ali Hussain, CEO and co-founder of Tabs, an AI-powered platform revolutionizing the revenue process for finance teams. Ali discusses how the traditional ERP systems have left revenue management behind, and how Tabs is changing the game by automating the full contract-to-cash cycle. He shares his insights on the complexity of revenue management, AI’s role in financial systems, and why understanding the data context is key to success in AI-powered finance tools.

Ali Hussain is the CEO and co-founder of Tabs, where he leads the development of AI-native solutions designed to automate the billing, collections, and revenue recognition process. With a background spanning product leadership at Google, strategy consulting at BCG, and public policy, Ali is at the forefront of the next wave of finance technology.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How AI is transforming revenue management in finance
• The importance of data context in AI-powered tools
• Why traditional finance systems fail to address modern revenue models
• How Tabs automates billing, collections, and revenue recognition

Ali Hussain shared invaluable insights into the future of finance, highlighting how AI is revolutionizing revenue management and financial operations. While AI brings immense potential for automation, human judgment remains crucial in making strategic decisions.

Follow Ali:

Website: https://www.tabs.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-hussain786/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tabsplatform

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

[03:00] – Legacy Finance Systems

[06:15] – Revenue Management Gaps

[09:00] – How Tabs Transforms Finance

[12:00] – AI in Billing & Rev Rec

[15:30] – Clean Data Importance

[19:00] – AI vs Human Judgment

[22:30] – The Future of AI

[25:00] – Complex Revenue Models

[29:00] – AI Challenges in Finance

[34:00] – Closing Thoughts on AI

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper talk with David Ingraham, founder and CEO of HyperPerfect. David explains why AI works best in finance when it is used step by step, with clear context and human review. He also shares why Excel is still central to finance work and how better AI tools can help teams move faster without losing control.

David Ingraham is the CEO and founder of HyperPerfect, a financial reporting and accounting platform that integrates powerful AI directly into Excel. With nearly 20 years of experience in private equity, David has worked on deals totaling over $1.5 billion. He is also passionate about educational initiatives, serving as board president of Aim High, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free summer education to nearly 2,000 students annually.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why finance teams are still slow to adopt AI
• Why context matters when using AI in Excel
• Why AI should be treated like a teammate, not a shortcut
• How breaking work into smaller steps leads to better results
• Where AI helps most in finance today

David Ingraham is the founder and CEO of HyperPerfect, a company that brings AI tools into Excel. He spent nearly 20 years in private equity and has worked on deals worth more than $1 billion. He also serves as board president of Aim High, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free summer education to students.

Follow David:

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

Website: https://www.hyperperfect.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:

[00:22] - David’s background

[02:49] - What HyperPerfect does

[06:01] - Why finance struggles with AI

[07:36] - Why context matters

[12:23] - What AI agents are good at today

[13:08] - Using AI as a partner

[17:51] - Building models step by step

[19:20] - Productivity gains and closing thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by David Ingraham to discuss how AI is transforming the world of finance, particularly in Excel, and why it's essential to treat AI as a partner rather than a tool to simply execute commands. David, the CEO and founder of HyperPerfect, shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities in the AI-finance intersection, including the importance of context and understanding AI’s limitations.

David Ingraham is the CEO and founder of HyperPerfect, a financial reporting and accounting platform that integrates powerful AI directly into Excel. With nearly 20 years of experience in private equity, David has worked on deals totaling over $1.5 billion. He is also passionate about educational initiatives, serving as board president of Aim High, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free summer education to nearly 2,000 students annually.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why finance professionals are slow to adopt AI despite its potential
• How AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement
• Why context is everything in AI models, especially in Excel
• The limitations of AI in finance and how to work around them

David emphasizes that AI isn’t a shortcut; it’s most effective when used incrementally, with human oversight to ensure accurate results. He also discusses how AI can significantly increase productivity, with an efficiency gain of 15 to 20 times if used properly.

Follow David:

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

Website: https://www.hyperperfect.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:

[02:35] – David Ingraham Background

[04:02] – AI in Finance & Accounting for Dummies

[05:57] – AI as a Teammate, Not a Threat

[07:09] – AI as a Thought Partner

[10:01] – Why Finance Teams Struggle with AI

[11:51] – Evolution of FP&A

[14:30] – RevOps & Finance Alignment

[16:41] – AI Use Cases in Finance

[19:20] – Agentic AI & Future Direction

[22:31] – Process, Data & AI Limitations

[28:52] – AI Questions & Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by Josh Schauer to discuss how AI is being adopted in finance and why many teams are still hesitant. They explore the gap between knowing AI is important and actually using it, along with the challenges around data quality, risk, and accuracy expectations.

Josh Schauer is the CFO at insightsoftware, where he leads financial strategy and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance from 2020 to 2024 and led Financial Planning and Consolidation at Longview prior to its acquisition by insightsoftware in 2020. Josh has deep experience in FP&A, consolidation, and finance transformation, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement
• How poor data limits the value of AI
• Practical ways AI is used in FP&A today
• How AI improves variance analysis and scenario planning
• Why finance teams need to become more proactive

Josh highlights that AI is not a shortcut. It works best when built on strong data, clear processes, and a thoughtful approach. While there is pressure to adopt AI, the focus should be on using it in a way that improves decisions without compromising accuracy..

Follow Josh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-schauer-51b18b115/

Website: https://insightsoftware.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:

[00:27] – Josh Schauer Background

[01:33] – AI in Finance & Accounting for Dummies

[04:13] – AI as a Teammate, Not a Threat

[05:40] – AI as a Thought Partner

[08:06] – Why Finance Teams Struggle with AI

[09:46] – Evolution of FP&A

[10:53] – RevOps & Finance Alignment

[12:32] – Practical AI Use Cases

[15:03] – Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by Josh Schauer to explore how AI is being adopted in finance and why many teams are still hesitant. They discuss the gap between understanding AI’s importance and actually using it, along with the challenges around data quality, risk, and expectations of accuracy.

Josh Schauer is the CFO at insightsoftware, where he leads financial strategy and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance from 2020 to 2024 and led Financial Planning and Consolidation at Longview before its acquisition by insightsoftware. Josh has extensive experience in FP&A, consolidation, and finance transformation, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why are finance teams slow to adopt AI despite knowing its importance
• Why AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement
• How poor data and broken processes limit AI’s value
• Practical use cases for AI in FP&A, including variance analysis
• How scenario planning can be done faster using AI

Josh emphasizes that AI is not a shortcut. It works best when built on strong data, clear processes, and a thoughtful approach. While the pressure to adopt AI is real, the focus should be on using it in a practical way that improves decision-making and productivity without compromising accuracy.

Follow Josh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-schauer-51b18b115/

Website: https://insightsoftware.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:

[01:35] – Josh Schauer Background

[03:02] – AI in Finance & Accounting for Dummies

[05:57] – AI as a Teammate, Not a Threat

[07:09] – AI as a Thought Partner

[10:01] – Why Finance Teams Struggle with AI

[11:51] – Evolution of FP&A

[14:30] – RevOps & Finance Alignment

[16:41] – AI Use Cases in Finance

[19:20] – Agentic AI & Future Direction

[22:31] – Process, Data & AI Limitations

[28:52] – AI Questions & Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by Shannon Nash to discuss how finance roles are evolving and how AI is changing the way businesses operate. They talk about Shannon’s career journey, the importance of understanding operations, and how companies are handling AI at different levels.

Shannon Nash is a CPA, attorney, and experienced C-suite leader. She has worked as CFO at companies like Wing, Reputation.com, and Inside Source. She is now a Partner at Alpha AI, focusing on AI governance for executives and boards.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why career paths are not linear anymore
• Why finance leaders need to understand operations
• How AI is being used across companies
• The gap between AI usage and leadership awareness
• What CFOs need to manage when it comes to AI
• Key questions boards should ask about AI

AI is becoming part of everyday business, but many companies are still catching up when it comes to managing it properly. Understanding where AI is used and how it’s controlled is becoming essential for leaders.

Follow Shannon:

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

Podcast: https://www.noboxesjustverses.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:

[01:03] – Shannon Nash Background

[05:54] – Why Switching Careers Is the New Normal

[09:00] – Finance Leaders & Operations Mindset

[08:33] – From AI Tools to AI Strategy

[14:26] – The Challenge of Catching Up with AI

[20:00] – How Boards Should Approach AI Oversight

In this episode of Future Finance, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Glenn Hopper and special guest Shannon Nash to explore how AI is transforming the role of finance leaders and boardrooms. The conversation dives into AI adoption, governance, and the shift from traditional finance responsibilities to more strategic, decision-driven roles.

Shannon Nash is a global C-suite leader, CPA, attorney, and board director with over 30 years of experience across finance, technology, and governance. She is a Partner at Alpha AI, where she helps organizations strengthen AI governance and strategic decision-making. Shannon has served as CFO at companies like Wing, Reputation.com, and Inside Source, and currently sits on multiple boards, including SoFi Bank and NetScout Systems.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why finance professionals must continuously retool in the age of AI
• How AI is changing the role of CFOs and decision-making
• The importance of AI governance at the board level
• How to manage AI investment alongside “AI sprawl.”
• What key questions boards should be asking about AI

AI is rapidly evolving from a tool that supports workflows to one that actively drives decisions. As Shannon highlights, this shift requires stronger governance, better alignment between leadership and operations, and a proactive approach from both CFOs and boards. The future of finance will belong to those who can balance innovation with control and strategy with execution.

Follow Shannon:

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

Podcast: https://www.noboxesjustverses.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:

[02:37] – Shannon Nash Background

[04:53] – Career Journey & Non-Linearity

[09:00] – Finance Leaders & Operations Mindset

[11:44] – AI & Alpha AI

[17:47] – AI Across Companies

[24:32] – AI Governance & Board Questions

[31:31] – AI in Decision-Making

[35:26] – Shannon’s Podcast

[42:22] – AI Questions & Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst are joined by John Thomas Foxworthy, the founder and CEO of the Global Institute of Data Science (GIDS). John discusses the role of augmented intelligence in the future of AI, particularly in finance, and shares his insights from his book The Augmented Intelligence Revolution: How Leaders Win in the AI Century.

John Thomas is the Founder and CEO of the Global Institute of Data Science (GIDS), a consulting and professional development organization focused on helping organizations successfully implement AI and data science initiatives. He serves as a Fractional Chief AI Officer for Fortune 500 companies and teaches AI and machine learning courses at Caltech CTME and UC San Diego Extended Studies.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The role of augmented intelligence in finance
2. How GIDS helps companies implement AI
3. Overcoming AI adoption challenges and cognitive biases
4. The evolution of machine learning and AI terminology
5. How AI enhances decision-making and operations in finance

John highlights how the rapid evolution of AI can create challenges in its adoption, especially within complex industries like finance. The Global Institute of Data Science addresses these issues by focusing on feasibility studies, AI strategy, and tackling cognitive biases, ensuring the successful integration of AI in business operations.

Follow John:

GIDS: https://gidsco.substack.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-thomas-foxworthy-m-s-data-science-1718073/

Future Alpha Event: https://www.alphaevents.com/events-futurealphaglobal/agenda-page/filter?_gl=1*1j0347f*[…]ovIhoCWOYQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAomEzrlLzh-epjUJjbfXNnASlChga

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:

[01:50] – John’s Background and Expertise

[03:11] – The Augmented Intelligence Revolution

[05:40] – Machine Learning vs. Augmented Intelligence

[08:45] – The Global Institute of Data Science

[11:04] – Feasibility Studies in AI Projects

[15:17] – Managing AI Expectations

[17:18] – Closing Thoughts and Book Release