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In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Omar Choucair, the CFO of Trintech, to discuss the evolving role of the CFO, the importance of technology in finance, and the strategic value of FP&A teams. Omar shares insights on how AI is transforming financial operations, the need for technical skills in FP&A, and the shift in CFO responsibilities over the years.
Omar Choucair brings over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, governance, and FP&A. His background spans private equity, public company software businesses, and M&A deals, having successfully navigated over 40 major transactions. With expertise in financial software solutions, he leads Trintech in helping businesses automate and streamline critical financial processes.
Expect to Learn:
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
Omar discusses the increased pressure on CFOs, the growing reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT, and the importance of being inquisitive to drive better financial insights. He also touches on the importance of collaboration between FP&A and other departments to drive business success and better decision-making.
Campfire: AI-First ERP:
Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the 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 Omar:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-choucair-cpa-80264815/
Company - https://www.trintech.com/
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:
[02:04] - Omar’s Career Journey and Experience in Finance
[04:41] - Defining Great FP&A and What It Looks Like in Practice
[07:19] - The Role of Technology in Modern FP&A
[11:40] - Leveraging AI to Drive Efficiency in Finance
[14:04] - The Key to Unlocking FP&A Success
[26:21] - Best Practices for Building and Leading an FP&A Team
[33:13] - Integrating Business Intelligence into FP&A Workflows
[38:55] - Managing the Budgeting Process and Alignment with ELT
[44:27] - Key Skills for Future FP&A Leaders and Career Advice
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:
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
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Ian Schnoor continue their exploration of AI tools for financial modeling. This time, they test Trufflepig, a tool designed to help financial analysts automate spreadsheet tasks while still allowing them to focus on the insights. The hosts test Trufflepig on various financial modeling tasks, discussing its performance and how it compares to other tools they've used. They cover tasks such as building a DCF model for Nvidia, generating executive summaries, and creating a financial forecast. While Trufflepig performs well in some areas, there are still challenges that need to be addressed, particularly with certain financial concepts like working capital and net income.
Expect to Learn
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
Trufflepig is a promising tool for financial professionals, particularly those looking to automate repetitive spreadsheet tasks. While it performs well on basic tasks like building DCF models and creating executive summaries, there are areas for improvement, especially around financial concepts like working capital and the handling of complex formulas.
Follow Ian:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianschnoor/?originalSubdomain=ca
Trufflepig: https://Trufflepig.ai/
In today’s episode:
[01:40] – Review of Previously Tested AI Tools
[05:15] – Trufflepig’s Positioning and Messaging
[12:00] – Trufflepig Attempts the eSports Modeling Case
[22:00] – Challenges with TEXTSPLIT and Modern Excel Functions
[30:50] – Executive Summary Generation
[40:01] – Data Sourcing and Web Pulling Behavior
[49:26] – Reasons for DCF and Market Price Differences
[59:45] – Exporting to Excel and Formatting Issues
[1:12:26] – Final Review and Closing Thoughts
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Rishi Sapra to explore how finance professionals can leverage business intelligence tools like Power BI to drive better decision-making. Rishi discusses how the role of FP&A is evolving with technology, and why it’s essential for finance teams to not only consume data but to create and model it in ways that deliver actionable insights.
Rishi Sapra is a Group Manager at Avanade, a global technology consulting firm, and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). With over 20 years of experience in major firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, HSBC, and Accenture, Rishi combines his financial expertise with cutting-edge data and AI solutions. Rishi is also the founder of Power Platform Finance, where he runs an accelerator program to teach finance professionals how to use tools like Power BI, Power Query, and semantic modeling to transform business data into actionable insights.
Expect to Learn:
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
Rishi Sapra highlights the importance of shifting from being a consumer to a creator of data solutions within finance teams. By mastering tools like Power BI and embracing a mindset of data storytelling, finance professionals can unlock actionable insights and drive meaningful change. Rishi’s advice empowers finance teams to not just adapt to technology, but to lead the way in transforming business intelligence.
Campfire: AI-First ERP:
Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the 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 Rishi:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rsaprano/
Website - www.rishisapra.com
Company 1 - www.msfabrictraining.com
Company 2 - www.learndatainsights.com
Company 3 - www.powerplatformfinance.com
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:
[02:04] - Rishi’s Career Journey
[04:41] - Career Expectations After Accounting
[07:19] - Becoming a Microsoft MVP
[11:40] - Why Finance Needs Power BI
[14:04] - Shifting from Consumer to Creator
[26:21] - Best Ways to Learn BI
[33:13] - Integrating BI into FP&A
[38:55] - Dashboard & Visualization Tips
[44:27] - Best Career Advice
In this episode of The Future Finance Show, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst speak with Santiago Nestares, co-founder and CEO of DualEntry, about the urgent need for modern ERP systems built from the ground up. Santiago shares the origin story behind DualEntry, born from his frustrations with legacy finance systems while scaling a $100M+ global business. The conversation explores how DualEntry eliminates painful ERP implementations, delivers live data in under 24 hours, and empowers finance teams to operate with greater automation and control
Santiago Nestares is the CEO and co-founder of DualEntry, an AI-native ERP platform. Prior to DualEntry, he co-founded Benitago, which scaled to over $100 million in revenue. His first-hand struggles with outdated ERP systems inspired him to build a finance platform that automates workflows, simplifies migrations, and improves operational transparency, without the typical consulting overhead or nine-month implementations.
Expect to Learn:
Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:
Follow Santiago:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-nestares/
Website: https://www.dualentry.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:
[00:58] - ERP Pain Points from Scaling a $100M Business
[02:39] - Why Simple ERP Migrations Are Surprisingly Hard
[06:13] - From Stealth to $90M Series A
[10:01] - Where Finance Teams Will See ROI First
[14:42] - How 24-Hour ERP Migration Works
[19:26]- Fixing ERP: From Back Surgery to Massage
In this episode of The ModSquad on Financial Modeler’s Corner, Giles Male and Ian Schnoor put Elkar to the test, a financial modeling tool that's been getting attention for its speed and slick design. From solving structured Excel challenges to building full forecast models, they push the tool to its limits. What follows is a revealing look at how Elkar performs when accuracy, logic, and professional modeling standards are on the line. Along the way, they uncover surprising strengths, critical flaws, and even moments of unexpected comedy. Whether you’re curious about automation or cautious about AI in finance, this episode offers plenty to think about.
Expect to Learn
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
In this episode, Elkar proves to be a fast and visually polished AI tool with clear potential, especially in formatting and task execution speed. However, when it comes to financial logic, assumption structuring, and balance sheet integrity, it consistently misses the mark. The tool even resorts to shortcuts like hardcoding values and plugging imbalances.
Follow Giles Male:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-male-30643b15/
Follow Ian:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianschnoor/?originalSubdomain=ca
Elkar: https://elkar.co
In today’s episode:
[06:48] - Exploring Elkar: Website, Pricing, and Features
[10:34] - Elkar Takes on the Esports Excel Challenge
[20:14] - Elkar Gets Caught Cheating
[24:18] - Elkar Struggles with Complex Logic
[35:45] - Cash Flow Logic & Balance Sheet Errors
[46:38] - From Hardcoding to Dynamic Assumptions
[53:45] - Balance Sheet Plugging and Logical Failure
[57:34] - Reviewing Elkar’s Working Capital Assumptions
[1:04:20] - Wrap up & Final Thoughts
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst takes you inside the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit in San Francisco, a one-of-a-kind event exploring how AI is transforming finance. Instead of one guest, this special edition features four conversations with top finance leaders and innovators who share what they’re seeing, building, and doing with AI in real time. From ERP innovation to the EQ behind great CFOs, this episode delivers tactical advice and big-picture thinking from the forefront of modern finance.
John Glasgow is the CEO and co-founder of Campfire, leading the charge in AI-native ERP innovation for modern finance teams. CJ Gustafson, the founder of Mostly Metrics and a former CFO, brings real-world insights on scaling, AI adoption, and the shift from executive to creator. Libby Francke, Head of Finance at Klarity, shares her experience modernizing data infrastructure and running a lean, high-impact finance function with Campfire. Kevin Neary, VP of Finance at Brainly, reflects on managing global finance operations and how AI is helping his team boost efficiency and productivity.
Expect to Learn:
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
This special episode of FP&A Unlocked captures the momentum and insight from the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit, showcasing how finance leaders are navigating the rapid shift toward AI-native systems. From foundational models to practical automation, the conversations with John Glasgow, CJ Gustafson, Libby Francke, and Kevin Neary highlight that the future of finance isn’t just about technology; it’s about strategic thinking, clean data, and bold leadership.
Campfire: AI-First ERP:
Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the 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 John:
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/johnglasgow/
Follow CJ Gustafson:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/
Follow Libby:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-francke-cpa-831b4854/
Follow Kevin:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-neary-cpa/
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
[01:37] - Overview of the Campfire Summit & Key Panels
[07:39] - Interview: John Glasgow on Building Campfire and AI-Native ERP
[15:47] - Interview: CJ Gustafson on Scaling, AI Hype, and EQ in Finance
[29:00] - Interview: Libby Francke on ERP Migration, Data, and Lean Finance Teams
[37:58] - Interview: Kevin Neary on Global Finance Ops and Getting AI-Ready
[44:52] - Final Reflections & Takeaways
In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper talk with Santiago Nestares, co-founder and CEO of DualEntry, about the reinvention of ERP systems through AI-native design. After scaling a global e-commerce business to over $100 million in revenue, Santiago experienced the frustrations of legacy finance systems firsthand. That pain sparked the vision for DualEntry: an ERP platform built from the ground up for the AI era.
Santiago Nestares is the CEO and co-founder of DualEntry, an AI-native ERP platform. Before DualEntry, he co-founded Benitago, a leading Amazon brand aggregator. His experience running a multi-entity, high-growth business exposed the inefficiencies in traditional finance systems, inspiring him to build a next-gen ERP solution from scratch.
In this episode, you will discover:
Santiago Nestares joins Paul and Glenn to reveal how DualEntry is transforming ERP for the AI era. From eliminating painful migrations to building systems finance teams actually enjoy using, Santiago makes it clear: the future of ERP is AI-native, fast, and built with users in mind. ERP doesn’t have to be a burden. With the right tools, it can become a strategic advantage.
Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:
Follow Santiago:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-nestares/
Website: https://www.dualentry.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] - Lessons from Scaling to $100M & ERP Frustrations
[03:37] - Why ERP Migrations Are So Broken
[07:47] - How DualEntry Raised a $90M Series A
[10:51] - AI-Native vs. AI-Enabled ERP Systems
[18:23] - Challenges and Realities of 24-Hour ERP Migration
[23:26] - Why Building a Mid-Market ERP Is a Bold Move
[28:18] - Using AI in Audits & Real-Time Reporting
[31:45] - Rapid-Fire AI Questions
[35:52] - Final Reflections & Wrap-Up
In this episode of The ModSquad on Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst and Giles Male put Shortcut under the AI microscope, testing one of the most hyped AI tools in the financial modeling world. With claims like “the most accurate Excel agent in the world” and the ability to outperform human champions in modeling tasks, Shortcut has made a big splash, but does it live up to its own bold promises? Paul and Giles run it through a rigorous series of real-world modeling challenges, from esports cases and financial forecasts to dashboard analysis and deferred revenue schedules. What they find is a tool with clear potential, and some serious red flags.
Expect to Learn
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
Despite the hype, Shortcut proved to be a solid tool with promise. It delivered impressive formatting and UI, yet had some serious issues like incorrect logic, hardcoded values, and non-balancing models, which held it back. A promising AI assistant, just not a replacement for real modeling expertise.
Follow Giles Male:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-male-30643b15/
In today’s episode:
[01:15] - Intro & Where the AI Modeling Journey Stands
[05:11] - Shortcut: First Impressions & Bold Claims
[14:28] - Viral Demo Video Breakdown
[23:12] - Esports Challenge: Basic Excel Tasks
[31:19] - Intermediate Case: Modeling Accuracy
[36:10] - Building a 3-Statement Forecast
[44:24] - Red Flags: Formatting & Balance Sheet Errors
[50:27] - Deferred Revenue Test
[56:32] - Trial Balance Dashboard: Visuals vs. Substance
[1:07:22] - Final Thoughts & Shortcut's Ranking
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul welcomes James Myers, a financial systems and planning expert known for helping organizations modernize their FP&A functions. Drawing from years of experience implementing planning, modeling, and consolidation tools, James breaks down what makes FP&A software implementations succeed or fail. From understanding when your system has reached its limits to managing change and choosing the right implementation partners, James shares the steps every finance leader should take to avoid expensive mistakes.
James Myers has led multiple large-scale planning system implementations for global organizations. He specializes in modeling and financial planning solutions that help companies reduce reliance on spreadsheets, improve collaboration, and achieve scalable performance management. His consulting work spans industries including manufacturing, technology, and retail, where he focuses on aligning processes, people, and systems for long-term success.
Expect to Learn:
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
James Myers reminds us that FP&A transformation is less about tools and more about mindset. By focusing on vision, data quality, and collaboration, finance teams can build systems that scale with their companies instead of holding them back. If you’re preparing for a software upgrade or implementation, this episode will help you do it right the first time.
Campfire: AI-First ERP:
Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the 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 James:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmyersw/
Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder/
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
[00:00] - Trailer
[01:58] - What Makes Great FP&A
[03:17] - Signs Your Current System is Broken
[07:03] - The Hidden Cost of Excel Dependency
[08:16] - How to Choose the Right FP&A Tool
[13:35] - Setting a Vision Before Selecting Vendors
[22:52] - RFP and Demo Best Practices
[30:36] - Negotiating the Best Deal Without Cutting Corners
[36:35] - Why Change Management Matters Most
[47:00] - Implementation Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
[52:40] - Final Thoughts: Building the Future of FP&A
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