In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst (The FP&A Guy) welcomes Willian Gomes, a finance and analytics professional with over 15 years of experience spanning telecommunications, aerospace, investment markets, and consumer goods. Willian shares how combining technical expertise with empathy and communication skills has enabled him to thrive as a financial partner across 60 countries in EMEA.

Willian Gomes is a seasoned FP&A and data analytics professional currently supporting EMEA supply chain operations at a global consumer goods company. Based in Brazil, he holds an MBA in Project Management and advanced certifications in machine learning from Stanford. Willian brings deep expertise in automation, process improvement, and financial storytelling, having saved tens of thousands of work hours through custom-built tools and insights-driven analysis.

Expect to Learn:

• How to evaluate whether an automation project is worth pursuing
• The challenges of implementing machine learning in corporate environments
• How Python enables scalable automation over Excel
• How cultural awareness enhances business partnering across global teams

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• "Finance isn’t just about numbers, it’s about helping people make better decisions." – Willian Gomes
• "Empathy is a skill that’s not often associated with finance, but it’s essential for business partnering." – Willian Gomes

Willian Gomes shows how true FP&A impact comes from blending technical expertise with empathy, communication, and continuous learning. His journey across industries and continents highlights the value of automation, cultural awareness, and a people-first mindset. This episode is a testament to how finance leaders can drive change by being both data-driven and deeply human..

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for general ledger, revenue automation, close management, and more, all in one unified platform.

Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy

Follow Willian:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wjgomesds/?originalSubdomain=br

Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:48] - Willian’s Background and Global Role

[04:03] - What Great FP&A Looks Like

[11:46] -  Moving Back to FP&A from Data Analytics

[19:52] - Where FP&A Struggles with Analytics

[27:16] - Saving 7,000 Hours with Automation

[38:55] - Must-Have Tech and Soft Skills

[44:36] - Travel and Fun Facts

[47:49] - Final Advice for FP&A Pros