FP&A Tomorrow

Meet Albert Ramos Jr., founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, who opened up about his journey from college football player to AI-powered fractional CFO on the latest episode of FP&A Tomorrow! Key insights from our conversation: ?? Great FP&A is about predictive analytics and being an advisor who can answer "now what?" for leadership ?? Pricing strategy is often overlooked in fitness businesses, with many simply copying competitors rather than using value-based mathematical models ?? AI tools can automate routine modeling tasks, freeing finance professionals to be more strategic ?? Technology has outpaced our brain's evolution, creating mental overload that AI can help manage by storing information we don't need to memorize ?? Start your AI journey by documenting current processes, experimenting with one tool at a time, and strategically integrating AI into specific workflows Albert believes we're shifting from spreadsheet jockeys to strategic business partners—and that the timeline for this transition is accelerating with new AI capabilities. Whether you're interested in finance transformation, AI implementation, or the intersection of mental health and technology, this episode offers valuable insights from someone who's leading at this intersection. Listen to our full conversation: https://lnkd.in/gdNDSQnx This week's episode is sponsored by Operators Guild. The Operators Guild is where the best CEOs, CFOs, finance, and BizOps leaders in the business connect, network, and grow together. Built by operators for operators, this members-only community is home to more than 1000 of the most elite high-growth operators in the world. Learn more and apply at operators-guild.com. ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

As a child, Hugh Cumming coded video games on a Commodore computer with his brother. When his father questioned the expense, they wrote him a word processor to demonstrate its value. Today, as CTO of Vena Solutions, Hugh is still showing the world what technology can do—but now he does it for FP&A professionals. On this week's FP&A Tomorrow podcast, Hugh shares how AI is transforming financial planning and analysis: ?? AI acts like "a really smart but inexperienced intern" that helps professionals start tasks faster, reducing the 30-40% of time spent on mental context switching ?? Their AI copilot is trained on each customer's unique dataset with 200+ common FP&A questions, generating Excel sheets directly from business queries ?? Excel isn't going anywhere (750M global users!)—instead, AI helps lower the expertise barrier, allowing users to do advanced work without being Excel gurus ?? The key to AI adoption? "Ask it to do little things many times a day and you'll be really surprised at what's possible" Hugh also shared a refreshing perspective on the most important soft skill for FP&A professionals: servant leadership. "This is a role where your success comes by helping other people be more successful," he explained. I personally loved this answer as I believe servant leadership is a kind of leadership we should all strive to emulate.? What's your experience with AI in FP&A? Are you using it for small daily tasks or bigger projects? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gUmjGgPz This week's episode is sponsored by Association for Financial Professionals.?The FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency, and strategic planning. ? I hope to meet you in person at FP&A Forum this year. https://bit.ly/40Cts3B ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst The FPandA Guy? ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

We try not to say this too often, but this week's episode is really one you cannot miss.? We had an incredible conversation with Chris Walker, CEO of Passetto and a true innovator in B2B Go-to-Market strategy. Chris shared so many amazing insights that our host felt like we should be paying him to come on the show. ? Key insights from our discussion: ?? GTM investments typically represent 30-100% of revenue in B2B tech - yet most companies measure success wrong ?? Stop attributing success by department - view GTM as a "revenue factory" with distinct stages ?? Treat marketing investments like a portfolio - different investments serve different purposes and need different metrics ?? Test content organically before moving to paid distribution ?? Finance teams are uniquely positioned to lead GTM measurement improvements My favorite quote from Chris: "FP&A should play offense, not defense." Being willing to help the business take risks.? Want to hear more about how you can better support your GTM? Listen to the full episode of FP&A Tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts! Link to Episode:?https://lnkd.in/g-hcMVp9 This week's episode is sponsored by Association for Financial Professionals.?The FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency, and strategic planning. Make sure to register by February 21st to save $200 off the registration price. I hope to meet you there at FP&A Forum this year. https://bit.ly/40Cts3B ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

From chartered accountant in India to strategic business partner in New Zealand, Ritu Saxena shares how very intentional career planning has led her to where she wants to be in her career. On this week's episode of FP&A Tomorrow, Ritu shares her inspiring story of breaking into finance and building a successful career across continents and how she helps women advance in their careers through Project Upgrade her, which she founded. Key takeaways from our conversation: ?? Great FP&A goes beyond budgeting and forecasting - it's about providing strategic insights that drive business decisions and acting as a bridge between finance and business ?? Master the "What? So What? Now What?" framework for effective communication with stakeholders ?? Your title shouldn't limit you - focus on creating value regardless of position ?? Build trust through consistency and error-free work ?? Think like a business owner to better serve your business units ?? The best business partners are proactive, identify risks and opportunities, and have the confidence to challenge the status quo ?? Personal branding is crucial - you could build complex models, but if people don't know about your capabilities, it limits your growth ?? Career transitions should be intentional - Ritu emphasized how she deliberately shaped her career moves based on what she wanted to achieve ?? Networking is vital for career growth - both within and outside your organization Ritu shared the following reason for why she wanted to move from consulting to a commercial finance role: "I wanted to understand how a business works. Moving from consulting where you're just preparing reports and not knowing what's happening - that kind of really bothered me." This episode offers practical advice and actionable strategies for those navigating their career transitions or looking to enhance their business partnering skills. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: -Building your personal brand -Developing crucial soft skills -Navigating career transitions -Using AI in FP&A -Breaking into business partnering ?? Available now wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/gBCwdR5A Let know in the comments what resonated with you from this week's episode. This week's episode is sponsored by Association for Financial Professionals.?The FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency, and strategic planning. Join me at FP&A Forum this year. https://bit.ly/40Cts3B ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Meet Ron Monteiro, CPA, CMA - from a shy teenager who moved from Kenya to Canada, to becoming a finance leader who teaches others how to find joy in their work. His journey is a testament to the power of personal growth and purposeful career development. Today on FP&A Tomorrow, Ron shares insights from his new book "Love Mondays!" and his 20-year finance career: ?? Your attitude accounts for at least 50% of job satisfaction ?? Early-career professionals need strong managers; senior pros can find mentorship elsewhere ?? Build your network before you need it ?? Create boundaries early to prevent burnout ?? Reframe "have to" into "get to" Ron shares a powerful story about teaching "Cash flow" to 200 sales people - stepping out of his comfort zone when others wouldn't volunteer. This experience became a pivotal moment in building his confidence to eventually start his own business. His four-step framework for loving what you do: -Find your purpose -Build bridges to your desired future -Burn the boats (commit fully) -Flex your muscles (adapt and grow) Listen to the full episode to hear Ron's practical advice on finding purpose in your career and creating a life where you truly love Mondays. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gr68jBQk Let me know in the comments how you found your passion. This week's episode is sponsored by Association for Financial Professionals.?The FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency, and strategic planning. Join me at FP&A Forum this year. https://bit.ly/40Cts3B ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter for more great content like this - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Meet Ron Monteiro, CPA, CMA - from a shy teenager who moved from Kenya to Canada, to becoming a finance leader who teaches others how to find joy in their work. His journey is a testament to the power of personal growth and purposeful career development. Today on FP&A Tomorrow, Ron shares insights from his new book "Love Mondays!" and his 20-year finance career: ?? Your attitude accounts for at least 50% of job satisfaction ?? Early-career professionals need strong managers; senior pros can find mentorship elsewhere ?? Build your network before you need it ?? Create boundaries early to prevent burnout ?? Reframe "have to" into "get to" Ron shares a powerful story about teaching "Cash flow" to 200 sales people - stepping out of his comfort zone when others wouldn't volunteer. This experience became a pivotal moment in building his confidence to eventually start his own business. His four-step framework for loving what you do: -Find your purpose -Build bridges to your desired future -Burn the boats (commit fully) -Flex your muscles (adapt and grow) Listen to the full episode to hear Ron's practical advice on finding purpose in your career and creating a life where you truly love Mondays. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gr68jBQk Let me know in the comments how you found your passion. This week's episode is sponsored by Association for Financial Professionals.?The FP&A Forum, March 17–19 in Austin, is the must-attend event for finance professionals seeking sales-free, expert-led insights on AI, process efficiency, and strategic planning. Join me at FP&A Forum this year. https://bit.ly/40Cts3B ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter for more great content like this - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

I would love to see FP&A called FA&P - those thoughts were shared by this week's guest on FP&A Tomorrow Andrew Hull, MBA, CFA If you ever wonder what it's like to manage finance for some of the world's biggest consumer brands, then this week's episode of FP&A Tomorrow is for you. ? I had the pleasure of chatting with Andrew Hull, MBA, CFA, who shared fascinating stories from his journey through Kraft, Nestlé, and now UNFI. One story particularly stood out—Andrew's experience with Delissio Pizza, where he saw a brand grow from inception to a $200M business through acquisition and ultimately discontinuation. It's rare to see a product's complete lifecycle, and Andrew's insights on where FP&A added the most value were illuminating. Key takeaways from our conversation: ?? Flip FP&A to FA&P: Spend 80% on analytics, 20% on planning ?? Great FP&A requires three elements: -Technical expertise -Storytelling ability -Action orientation ?? Budget process improvements: -Compress timelines to 2 months -Balance top-down and bottom-up approaches -Do it once annually and do it well ?? Career development wisdom: -Take lateral moves early -Gain board experience through non-profits -Practice strategy development at any level A highlight of our discussion was Andrew's perspective on poker and how it relates to FP&A - both require math skills, psychology, and storytelling ability! ?? Listen to the full episode to hear more about: -Managing through the pandemic -Navigating inflation challenges -The future of Excel in FP&A -Personal development strategies Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gnygj7GQ A special thanks to this week's sponsor, PARIS Technologies International, FP&A Your Way. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gzUMynZf ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook to learn more great ways to level up your FP&A skills - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

?? Deep Dive: The Complete Guide to FP&A Certifications Today's episode of @FP&A Tomorrow tackles a question I get all the time "Which certification should I pursue?" The reality is, "It Depends." As I often tell people, each has different strengths and weaknesses, and you need to find what is right for you. In this episode, I discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses of each program as I see them. ?? FPAC (AFP): The gold standard FP&A credential requiring rigorous exams, experience, and recertification hours ?? Wharton Online: Premium program strong instructors, weekly office hours and 1:1 coaching ?? CGFPA: Comprehensive 6-month program with live instruction ?? CFI: Strong technical foundation with flexible, self-paced, affordable learning programs ?? FMI: The benchmark program for validating your financial modeling skills to employers The investment ranges from under $500 to $5,000 with varying time commitments of 50-200+ hours. Remember Paul's key message: "You can have a great career without certifications, but they can be a great way to stand out and distinguish yourself." ?? Listen to the full episode for detailed insights on each program, including curriculum breakdowns, prerequisites, and real experiences. https://lnkd.in/g3TTyAhz You can also read my detailed review of each program at https://lnkd.in/g953dSC6 A special thanks to this week's sponsor PARIS Technologies International; FP&A Your Way learn more at https://lnkd.in/gzUMynZf ????????????? ?? For more great content like the above join my newsletter likes thousands before you at - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at @Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

Meet Lauren Elizabeth Pearl - a former rock opera performer turned finance leader who's mastering the art of startup finance! ?????? On this week's episode of FP&A Tomorrow, Lauren shares invaluable insights from her journey: ?? Financial models in startups should focus on feasibility, not precision ?? Technical hygiene beats complex analysis every time ?? Great FP&A translates data into actionable insights ?? Communication skills are your secret weapon ?? Traditional budgeting doesn't work for high-growth companies Lauren shared a powerful story about her early days as a CFO at a tech company. After creating what she thought was a game-changing profitability report, she was met with silence in the company Slack channel. This taught her a crucial lesson: technical excellence means nothing without understanding your audience's needs and language. Whether you're in startup finance or a large corporation, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on making finance more impactful. ?? Listen to the full episode to hear more about: ?? Teaching finance to non-finance professionals ?? The importance of operational experience ??Why top-down planning works better in startups ??Building better relationships across departments ?? Listen Here: https://lnkd.in/gZ8Jz_ZJ A special thanks to this week's sponsor PARIS Technologies International; learn more at https://lnkd.in/gkqMs6JP ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A

From Johnson & Johnson to Kenvue: A Transformation Journey ?? Recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jens Gutberlet, who shared his fascinating experience of helping create Kenvue - a $15B company - through its separation from Johnson & Johnson.? What stood out was his unique perspective and lessons learned, having gone through TWO major company separations in his career! Key insights from our conversation: ? The separation journey took 18 months from announcement to IPO, with Jens leading the finance PMO for Europe, Middle East, and Africa ? "We are building a plane while flying it" - this phrase from senior leadership captured the complexity of maintaining business operations while creating a new company ? The power of breaking down complex transformations into simple steps: "If you try to do it all at once, you get lost" ? FP&A's crucial role in transformation - from explaining financial benefits to reshaping organizational structure ? Communication emerged as a critical success factor - especially in managing cultural change and uncertainty What I loved most about this conversation was Jens's passion for developing others - he even shared how coaching his son's soccer team provided unique leadership insights different from his corporate experience! ?? Listen to the full episode for more insights on: ? Managing major company separations ? Building strong FP&A teams ? The future of financial planning ? Critical success factors in transformation Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gfsKnPCr ????????????? ?? Join The Modern Finance Playbook Newsletter and receive access to a free FP&A Business Partnering Digital Course Module - https://lnkd.in/g8g5XN7j ?? Follow the Host at Paul Barnhurst ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/gE45bU4A