In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Parker Gilbert, CEO and Co-founder of Numeric, to explore the transformation of accounting through smarter tools and processes. From his background in investment banking to leading finance at a startup, Parker shares the inspiration behind Numeric, a platform built specifically to simplify the financial close. Why the financial close is still so manual, how poor tooling can hinder team performance, and what it takes to modernize accounting. Parker discusses the pain points accounting teams face with existing software and explains why Numeric was designed to meet the real-world needs of growing finance teams.

Parker Gilbert is the CEO and Co-founder of Numeric, a financial close platform designed to make accounting teams faster, more accurate, and more collaborative. With a background in investment banking and hands-on experience as Head of Finance at Hearth, Parker understands both the strategic and operational challenges finance teams face. Frustrated by the limitations of traditional accounting tools, Parker set out to build Numeric, software purpose-built to simplify and streamline the month-end close.

Expect to Learn:

• Why Parker and his team started Numeric to solve overlooked pain points in accounting.
• How traditional tools like Excel and legacy ERP systems are failing modern accounting teams.
• What it means to build software specifically for the financial close process.
• Why visibility and collaboration are essential in reducing close errors.
• How Numeric empowers teams to understand what’s been done, what’s left, and where issues arise.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “The close is this sort of well-understood pain point in accounting, but there's no purpose-built software that helps solve it.” - Parker Gilbert
• “We believe the best way to build software is to partner really closely with customers.” - Parker Gilbert
• “Accounting is really about trust, it’s about giving your team the confidence that everything is covered.” - Parker Gilbert

Parker delivers a powerful perspective on the role of accounting teams and the urgent need for smarter, more intuitive tools. This episode is essential listening for finance professionals, controllers, and startup leaders looking to improve their close process, enhance accuracy, and make better business decisions. If you’re tired of copy-pasting across spreadsheets and guessing what’s done, this conversation will inspire you to rethink your accounting stack.

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In Today’s Episode

[01:42] - Introduction to the Episode

[03:29] - What Makes Great FP&A?

[05:02] - The Importance of Pricing Strategy

[08:45] - Global Trends in Pricing

[10:26] - Coaching Rugby at Duke

[12:17] - Adapting to Economic Shifts

[15:20] - Challenges in Today’s Market

[21:14] - Winning Big-Name Clients

[24:32] - Unexpected Surprises in Finance

[27:13] - Transparency in Pricing

[32:31] - Why Finance & Ops Often Go Together

[36:17] - Why FP&A Must Understand the Business

[42:44] - Parker’s Time Travel Wish