The FP&A Guy Network

FP&A & AI Software Showcase: Explore Leading Tools

FP&A leaders are embracing AI, and we’re here to help. On May 21st, I’ll host the FP&A & AI Software Showcase, featuring FP&A planning and AI tools like Concourse, Sapien, Drivetrain, and Una- AI. Join us for live demos, insights, and no sales pressure.

Register today: www.thefpandaguy.com/fpa-software-showcase

Onto this weeks episode

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Carolina Lago, founder of Tactic Financial, about the impact of AI on financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Carolina shares her extensive experience in the industry, discusses the power of AI in transforming finance workflows, and explains how AI is amplifying the work of finance professionals rather than replacing them. She delves into her use of AI agents, like Claude, as thinking partners in her work, and gives practical advice for finance teams on leveraging AI for strategic decision-making.

Carolina Lago is the founder of Tactic Financial, where she helps FP&A professionals integrate AI into their workflows through hands-on training and practical tools. With over 20 years of experience in financial planning, analysis, and modeling across multiple industries and continents, she brings a unique perspective on how technology can amplify (not replace) the work of finance teams.

Expect to Learn:

• The evolving role of FP&A as a bridge between strategy and operations
• How AI can reduce manual tasks and enhance strategic thinking
• The importance of understanding workflows and processes in FP&A
• Carolina's approach to using AI as a "thinking partner" to amplify human skills

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• "AI is not going to replace humans; it’s going to improve how we work and give us more time for strategic decision-making." - Carolina Lago
• "The differentiator for companies will be how they use AI to complement human intelligence, not replace it." - Carolina Lago

Carolina explains that AI is not here to replace humans but to enhance their capabilities and free up time for strategic decision-making. She also emphasizes that understanding workflows and the human factor will be key in effectively integrating AI into finance roles.

Follow Carolina:

This week's Guest Carolina has launched a hands-on program for FP&A professionals who want to move from manual processes to AI-powered workflows. Learn to use Claude for FP&A:

Course:https://hub.tacticfinancial.com/accelerator?utm_source=fpaguy&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=accelerator

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-carolinalago/

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 FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:50] – FP&A : Strategy & Operations

[06:43] – AI in Reducing Manual Tasks

[10:52] – Transforming Finance with AI

[14:26] – Learning AI & Human Judgment

[19:37] – AI in Finance: Real Applications

[25:57] – The Future of AI in FP&A

[33:12] – Elevating FP&A with AI

[39:45] – Adopting AI in FP&A

[45:30] – AI for Better Decision-Making

[50:15] – Getting Started with AI

[54:05] – Final Thoughts on AI & Collaboration

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 Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst is joined by Rafael Le Saux to explore the real-world challenges of financial modeling, valuation, and how the role is evolving with new tools like AI. They discuss why strong modeling fundamentals still matter, the risks of poorly structured models, and how professionals can improve their skills in a rapidly changing environment.

Rafael Le Saux is a valuation and modeling expert with over 16 years of experience in financial advisory and alternative investments. He leads Valuation and Modeling Services at PwC Deals and Strategy Luxembourg, advising clients on complex valuation matters across multiple asset classes. He has held senior roles at Partners Group and worked across multiple global markets and is actively involved in industry education and research.

Expect to Learn

• Why is the model structure important
• Common mistakes in financial modeling
• How to improve Excel and modeling skills
• How AI is used in modeling today
• Why analysis and judgment still matter

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• |“Those Frankenstein models built from different sources are always the hardest to fix.” - Rafael Le Saux
• “When you work on a bad model, you quickly understand why structure matters.” - Rafael Le Saux

Rafael explains that AI can help speed up work, but it cannot replace thinking. The real value comes from understanding the data and building models that others can trust and use.

Follow Rafael:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-le-saux/

Website: https://www.pwc.lu/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:

LinkedIn Page- https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation Today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast’.

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:

[00:34] – Rafael Le Saux Background

[03:04] – Modeling Horror Story

[05:09] – Teaching Financial Modeling

[07:15] – AI in Learning & Education

[09:50] – Using AI in Daily Work

[12:03] – Limits of AI in Analysis

[11:53] – Automation vs Analysis

[15:13] – Luxembourg as a Financial Hub

[17:56] – Regulation & Valuation

[20:31] – Advice for Financial Modelers

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst talks with Bryan McGowan, founder of Alpyne, about what great FP&A looks like, how technical skills can improve finance work, and where AI is actually useful for CFOs and finance teams. Bryan shares how his background in engineering shaped his approach to finance, why he built Alpyne to solve real workflow problems, and how AI can reduce manual work so finance professionals can spend more time on analysis and business partnering.

Bryan McGowan is the founder of Alpyne and a CFO with a rare mix of finance and technical skill. After spending a decade leading finance in tech, he launched Alpyne in 2021 to solve a problem he had lived himself: great CFOs were spending too much time on manual work and not enough time on strategic thinking.

Expect to Learn:

• What great FP&A looks like in practice
• Why accounting fundamentals still matter
• How coding and data knowledge help finance professionals
• Why Bryan built Alpyne to solve his own CFO workflow problems
• How AI can help save time in finance roles

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “Models are never right, but sometimes they're useful.” - Bryan McGowan
• “If you can create a structure, if you can provide a framework that allows for supports effective decision making across the organization, I feel like you're doing your job.” - Bryan McGowan

Bryan explains that FP&A is not about predicting the future perfectly. It is about giving the business a useful framework to make better decisions. He also shares that AI works best when it is used on process-heavy work like cleanup, mapping, reporting, and system workflow.

Follow Bryan:

Primary Alpyne website: https://getalpyne.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-mcgowan-8572644/

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 FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:55] – What Great FP&A Looks Like

[04:03] – How Bryan Uses AI Today

[08:26] – Why Technical Skills Matter in Finance

[10:47] – Why Bryan Built Alpyne

[14:24] – Using AI in Finance Workflows

[17:49] – Building Client Context Into AI Tools

[21:44] – Checks, Controls, and Trust in Finance

[24:26] – A Real Finance Problem Solved With AI

[29:04] – Advice for Finance Professionals Starting With AI

[33:12] – What Holds Finance Teams Back From AI

[35:31] – The Most Important Skills in FP&A

[40:43] – Better Business Partnering and Closing Thoughts

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 Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Rafael Le Saux to talk about valuation, modeling, and how the field is changing. They dig into real challenges from working on complex models and what happens when things go wrong. The conversation also covers how private markets are evolving and why valuation is getting harder. It’s a practical look at how modeling connects to real decisions in today’s finance world.

Rafael Le Saux is a valuation and modeling expert with over 16 years of experience in financial advisory and alternative investments. He leads Valuation and Modeling Services at PwC Luxembourg, working across multiple asset classes. He has also worked at Partners Group and across global markets, including France, Australia, and Chile. Alongside his professional work, he teaches, speaks at industry events, and supports the valuation community.

Expect to Learn

• Why a strong model structure is critical in real-world projects
• The impact of evergreen and semi-liquid funds on valuation risk
• Why regulators are increasing scrutiny on valuation practices
• How AI is helping improve workflows but not replacing human judgment
• How to bridge the gap between auditors and investment teams

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Some students are actually afraid of Excel, and you can see that change in just a couple of days.” - Rafael Le Saux
• “Financial modeling is not just about numbers. It’s about understanding where you are today and where you’re going tomorrow.” - Rafael Le Saux

Valuation and modeling are becoming more demanding as markets continue to change. Better tools make the work faster, but they don’t replace the need for clear thinking and solid structure. The people who focus on understanding the “why” behind the numbers, not just the output, will be the ones who stand out.

Follow Rafael:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-le-saux/

Website: https://www.pwc.lu/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:

LinkedIn Page- https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation Today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast’.

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:

[04:25] – Modeling Horror Story

[06:36] – Teaching Modeling

[09:11] – AI in Education

[11:21] – AI in Daily Work

[16:45] – Luxembourg as a Financial Hub

[19:48] – Regulation & Valuation

[22:55] – Retail Investors & Private Markets

[26:59] – Valuation Frequency

[30:10] – Auditors vs Investment Teams

[33:30] – Excel Tips

[35:20] – World Cup Model

[37:30] – Rapid Fire

[44:00] – Final Advice

In this special solo episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst celebrates reaching 100 episodes of the podcast while also reflecting on his broader journey of hosting over 200 FP&A episodes across multiple shows. He shares lessons from his experience in FP&A, career growth, and learning AI, along with what actually matters in the field today. He also shares his thoughts on AI and how it’s changing finance workflows, explaining why building repeatable processes matters more than just prompting. He also previews upcoming conversations with professionals already using AI in their day-to-day work.

Expect to Learn:

• What helps FP&A professionals grow beyond technical skills
• Why career paths are rarely linear
• How to approach networking in a more effective way
• Why AI is more about processes than prompts
• How AI can help save time in finance roles

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “AI is a magnifier. If you don't know what you're doing, it will magnify that.” - Paul Barnhurst
• “Technical skills get you your first job, the soft skills get you promoted.” - Paul Barnhurst

Paul explains that FP&A is not just about reports and models. It’s about understanding the business and working with people. AI can help speed up tasks, but it doesn’t replace core skills like financial modeling, data understanding, and communication. If anything, those skills matter more now.

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

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 FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[00:00] – Trailer

[01:41] – 100 Episodes Milestone

[03:38] – Career Growth Is Not a Ladder

[06:37] – Turning Down Offers & Career Decisions

[10:06] – AI Skills, Courses & Future Focus

[14:52] – AI Is a Skill You Have to Practice

[18:34] – Modern Finance Platforms Built for the AI Era

[21:49] – AI Won’t Replace Technical Skills

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 Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Riley Edwards to discuss what it’s like starting out in financial modeling and how those skills carry into real-world financial planning. The conversation covers early mistakes, learning experiences, and the importance of presenting financial information clearly. Riley shares his journey from studying finance to working in wealth management, along with how financial modeling helped him build confidence, improve communication, and handle client conversations more effectively.

Riley Edwards is a Financial Planning professional at IG Private Wealth Management, working with Fox-Revett Heslegrave & Associates. He is an Adrian College alumnus and is currently building his career in the financial planning industry. Based in Schomberg, Ontario, Canada, he focuses on helping clients understand their finances and make better decisions through clear analysis.

Expect to Learn

• What early mistakes in financial modeling look like and how to fix them
• Why understanding the basics is more important than just building models
• How financial modeling improves confidence in professional settings
• Why presentation skills matter just as much as technical skills
• How modeling helps handle difficult client conversations

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Learning modeling is easier when you have people around you to share ideas and solve problems together.” - Riley Edwards
• “Financial modeling is not just about numbers. It’s about understanding where you are today and where you’re going tomorrow.” - Riley Edwards

Financial modeling is not just about spreadsheets. It’s about turning numbers into something people can understand and use. As Riley explains, the real value comes from how you present and communicate that information, especially when the conversation is not easy.

Follow Riley:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileyedwards0405/

Company’s Website: https://www.foxrevettassociates.com

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:

LinkedIn Page- https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/

Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation Today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast’.

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:

[02:57] – First Modeling Mistake

[05:07] – Getting Started in Financial Modeling

[07:29] – Learning Experience & Education

[10:04] – Most Rewarding Part of Modeling

[12:23] – Importance of Presentation Skills

[13:37] – Challenges in Learning Modeling

[15:29] – Current Role in Wealth Management

[17:38] – Personal Motivation & Background

[19:00] – Using Modeling in Client Work

[21:18] – AI in Learning & Modeling

[25:18] – Excel Tips & Shortcuts

[27:28] – Rapid Fire Round

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst is joined by Josh LaSov to explore how FP&A is evolving with data, BI, and AI. They discuss how finance professionals can move beyond traditional reporting by combining financial and operational data, and why understanding data at a deeper level is now essential. Josh shares how AI is changing analysis, forecasting, and workflows, and how FP&A teams can use it to increase productivity and deliver faster insights.

Josh LaSov is an FP&A and data professional with experience in consulting, ERP implementations, and analytics. He has implemented NetSuite and FP&A tools across many companies and previously co-founded Satori Reporting, a BI platform for NetSuite users that was later acquired by private equity. He is now the founder of Causi AI, where he focuses on building AI agents to help finance teams automate analysis, processes, and forecasting.

Expect to Learn:

• What makes FP&A professionals stand out today
• Why combining financial and operational data is critical
• How BI tools expand the role of FP&A
• How AI is improving analysis, forecasting, and workflows

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

• “AI helps you save a lot of time, but the judgment and analysis still need to be done by you.” - Josh LaSov
• “You can’t explain why numbers changed if you don’t understand the data behind them.” - Josh LaSov

Josh highlights that FP&A is no longer just about building reports or models. The role is shifting toward deeper analysis and faster decision-making. While AI can handle large amounts of data and speed up workflows, the real value still comes from understanding the business and communicating insights clearly.

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 Josh:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-lasov-7897334/

Homepage: https://www.cauzzy.ai/

AI Agent Marketplace: https://marketplace.cauzzy.ai/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cauzzyAI

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: 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 FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:25] – Introducing Josh LaSov

[04:59] – What Great FP&A Looks Like

[09:52] – Building Satori Reporting

[13:19] – BI Tools and Reporting Challenges

[16:25] – Introduction to Causi AI

[25:05] – AI Agents and Accuracy Challenges

[29:22] – How FP&A Should Use AI

[36:10] – AI Tech Stack & Future Direction

[43:05] – Key Skills for FP&A

[46:53] – Get To Know Function