In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Arta Ramaj, co-founder of 360 Finance, for a discussion into the real-world challenges and nuances of financial modeling. Arta shares her journey from a geography degree to a thriving career in finance and entrepreneurship. Together, they explore the art and science of building robust financial models, the entrepreneurial mindset, and the evolving role of finance as a strategic business partner.

Arta Ramaj is the co-founder of 360 Finance, a boutique consultancy specializing in financial modeling, FP&A, and finance system implementations for private equity and venture-backed companies. With a background in private equity and a passion for bridging financial data with strategic execution, Arta brings a unique entrepreneurial perspective to the finance world. She’s dedicated to creating investor-ready financial solutions and scaling businesses through dynamic, data-driven insights.

Expect to Learn:

• How Arta transitioned from studying geography to founding a financial consulting firm.
• The critical importance of structure and design in financial modeling.
• Key strategies for building "investor-ready" financial models.
• The role of soft skills and storytelling in becoming a great finance business partner.
• Why simplifying assumptions and focusing on key metrics are essential for early-stage modeling success.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “If you're scaling and your finance function isn't solid, you're really scaling on shaky foundations." - Arta Ramaj
• ”Credibility and clarity are the north stars for building investor-ready financial models." - Arta Ramaj
• “Modeling for a startup is often more about flexibility and storytelling than creating a perfect spreadsheet." - Arta Ramaj

Arta Ramaj gave us a fascinating look into the world of financial modeling for startups and private equity-backed businesses, showing how structure, clarity, and strategic insight shape high-impact financial decision-making. Her experiences revealed how finance principles, business partnering skills, and storytelling all intersect to build trust with investors and stakeholders. From building investor-ready models to navigating the entrepreneurial journey, this episode showcased the critical role financial modelers play in driving growth, strategic planning, and value creation.

Follow Arta:

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/artaramaj/
• Website - https://www.three6ixtyfinance.com

Follow Paul: 

• Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com   
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy  
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thefpaguy8376 

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In today’s episode: 

[01:04] - Welcome to the Episode

[03:21] - Horror Financial Model Story

[07:02] - From Geography to Finance

[11:33] - Love for FP&A and Business

[14:26] - Starting 360 Finance

[17:46] - Why Finance Gets Overlooked

[23:32] - Building Investor-Ready Models

[29:27] - The Financial Modeler as a Therapist

[35:14] - Fun with Excel and Wedding Modeling

[38:20] - Career Advice and Final Tips