Future Finance

"FP&A is the earliest adopter according to the surveys, and controllers are typically the laggards." Nathan Bell sharing what the data says about finance adopting new tools.? Meet Nathan Bell, a finance leader who started as a COBOL programmer at TransUnion and evolved into a data analytics expert. His journey from credit analysis to CFO to working in Gartner's finance practice offers unique insights into the future of finance. Key takeaways from our latest Future Finance episode: ?? Data Before AI: Companies eager to jump into AI often lack the fundamental data infrastructure. Nathan shares how one company bought AI solutions but couldn't deliver results after two years due to poor data governance. ?? Finance's Hidden Responsibility: Many finance leaders don't realize they're ultimately accountable for company-wide metrics. Nathan recalls a pivotal moment when multiple departments presented conflicting numbers from the same BI tool, paralyzing decision-making. ?? The Skills Challenge: Organizations frequently lose their data experts after investing in their training. One government entity lost three trained experts in three consecutive years to higher-paying private sector roles. ?? The Path Forward: Start with governance, define KPIs tied to business drivers, and map data sources before jumping into advanced analytics or AI. Listen to the full episode to hear Nathan's practical insights on navigating finance transformation, including his experience meeting Dave Beckham at a Scottish pub in Malta! ??? https://lnkd.in/g76e_y38 ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

?? The Future of Finance is Here: Insights from the 1st ever Finance and Technology Expo from CFO Leadership Council (FATE 2024) this week on Future Finance This week we have brought you a special episode were Glenn Hopper and chat and share our experiences from the expo. We also bring clips from industry technology experts Liran Edelist, Ph.D. and Alex Brower A moment that stood out that Alex shared was watching a potential buyer at a vendor booth. Instead of polite nodding, they were asking pointed, technical questions. As Alex Brower, CEO of QFlow.ai noted, "This wasn't just small talk. This was the most efficient way to cut through the fluff and get to the heart of whether a product can actually solve their problems." Key Takeaways from the event: ?? Technology is an enabler, not a solution. The magic happens when you have the right people + right processes + right technology ?? The FP&A software landscape has exploded with 50+ new tools in the last 5 years - but size and needs matter when selecting the right fit ?? AI adoption is happening from the ground up - employees are finding ways to be more efficient, whether companies are ready or not ?? Data needs to be your foundation - without clean, unified data, no tool will deliver its full potential ?? The future isn't about digital transformation projects - it's about continuous modernization P. ?? Want to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode where we unpack these insights and more, featuring perspectives from industry leaders including Glenn Hopper, Liran Edelist, Ph.D., and Alex Brower.? Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gxNDuwrF ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

Meet Joe Manganelli, who turned a simple Excel macro into a financial platform and learn his thoughts on AI and AI adoption. Key insights from our latest Future Finance episode: ?? Finance teams need to walk before they run with AI ?? Simple tech solutions can often be the best for us - Amalgam operates in Excel by design ?? Data security doesn't have to be complicated - sometimes less storage is more ?? AI investment strategies should consider both tech-heavy and tech-agnostic opportunities ?? The future of finance tech lies in practical, workflow-integrated solutions ?? Listen to the full episode to hear: -How Amalgam evolved from a simple macro to a comprehensive platform -Practical strategies for AI adoption in finance -Joe's experience in startup investing -And yes, an amusing Little League baseball story! https://lnkd.in/gBn9inek ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

From Epidemiology to FinTech: How Andrew Einhorn is looking to Revolutionize Investment Research with AI ?? Andrew Einhorn's journey from studying mercury in tuna to founding @Level Fields, an AI-driven fintech platform, is a testament to the power of data-driven approaches in solving complex problems. On the latest episode of Future Finance, Einhorn shares his unique perspective on how AI can level the playing field between retail and institutional investors. Key takeaways: ?? Level Fields uses AI to analyze events that impact stock prices, making informed decisions easier for retail investors. ?? The platform covers about 6,000 US traded equities, far more than an individual could monitor manually. ?? Einhorn's background in epidemiology led him to apply similar analytical approaches to financial markets. ?? The company's proprietary AI language model is tailored specifically for financial services, allowing for more accurate interpretation of financial news and events. ?? Users can set up customized AI search agents to continuously monitor the market based on specific criteria. Einhorn's innovative approach to investment research demonstrates how AI and data science can transform traditional industries. His story is a reminder that sometimes the most groundbreaking ideas come from unexpected places. Check out this week's episode below:?https://lnkd.in/gxRkEevv #FinTech #AI #InvestmentResearch #FutureOfFinance ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

Nicolas Boucher shares how Generative AI can be used to help you code without experience. Share your thoughts in the comments.

?? The Future of Finance is Here: Insights from Nicolas Boucher ?? Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting Nicolas Boucher, founder of AI Finance Club, on our Future Finance podcast. His journey from finance professional to AI educator is truly inspiring! Nicolas shared several insights about the intersection of AI and finance: ?? Generative AI is creating "citizen developers" in finance? ?? Python is becoming more important and accessible to the masses for automating finance tasks? ?? Finance pros are using coding more than ever ?? Companies need clear AI usage policies ASAP? ?? Continuous learning is key to staying competitive One story that stuck with me was Nicolas' experience at a recent accounting summit. When he asked who used AI at work, nearly everyone raised their hand! This shows just how quickly AI adoption is accelerating in our field. He also shared how even six months ago if he asked that question a lot less hands would have gone up.? Are you ready to embrace the AI revolution in finance? ???? ?? Listen to the full episode for more insights and practical tips on leveraging AI in your finance career: https://lnkd.in/gJ45q-MH ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

From Orphanages to AI: Conor Grennan 's Unexpected Journey ?????? In our latest Future Finance episode, we had the privilege of speaking with Conor Grennan, chief AI architect at NYU Stern School of Business and founder/CEO of AI Mindset.? Conor's journey from working with orphans in Nepal to becoming a leading voice in AI education is as inspiring as it is unexpected. Key takeaways from our conversation: ?? Approach generative AI with the right mindset, not just through "prompt engineering"? ?? Treat AI like a conversation with a smart but junior colleague? ?? AI is likely to take over specific tasks rather than entire jobs? ?? Embrace and learn AI tools to gain a career advantage? ?? Keep humans "in the loop" when using AI for optimal results ?? Focus on learning frameworks and methods not building a library of canned prompts to use For finance professionals, Conor's insights offer valuable guidance on integrating AI into daily work: "I don't think this thing takes jobs. I think it takes tasks, and jobs are not big monolithic things," Conor explained, emphasizing the importance of understanding how AI can complement rather than replace human expertise. Conor's course on generative AI for professionals aims to help develop the right mindset for effectively using these powerful tools.? As he puts it, "Nobody fires the person who knows generative AI right now." Whether you're a Finance professional looking to enhance your skills or simply curious about the intersection of AI and finance, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice. ?? Listen to the full episode to learn more about Conor's journey and his perspective on the future of AI in finance and beyond.? https://lnkd.in/g4wVZjBw Your career might just thank you for it!? Link to episode:? ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

Gabriela Gutierrez's story is a testament to the power of continuous learning in finance. Faced with the challenge of creating more accurate forecasts, she dove headfirst into Python and statistics, transforming her approach to forecasting.? Key insights from our latest Future Finance podcast episode: ?? AI in finance is still in its early stages but progressing rapidly? ?? SQL is becoming a minimum requirement for many FP&A roles? ?? Learning how to utilize programming and data science can significantly improve financial forecasting and with AI this is becoming much easier ?? Generative AI tools can streamline processes like branding and design? ?? The role of CFO is becoming increasingly strategic, with more CFOs transitioning to CEO positions Gabriela's experience highlights a crucial point for all finance professionals: the willingness to adapt and learn new skills can open doors to innovation and career growth. As she puts it, "I kind of jumped into the cold water... I figured out quite quickly that the best [approach] was, for example, to run time series predictions and the best way to do it was with Python." Her journey from traditional finance to founding an AI-powered startup is a roadmap for those looking to stay ahead in our rapidly evolving field. It's not just about learning new tools – it's about applying them to solve real business problems. Listen to the full episode for more insights on how AI is reshaping finance and what you can do to stay ahead of the curve. https://lnkd.in/gzqrZuz3 #FutureFinance #AI #FP&A #ContinuousLearning ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

Reasons Excel breaks In this prior episode of Future Finance we had an amazing conversation with Jim O'Neill and he shared some great practical advice for using AI. We also discussed Excel and he shared the 3 main reasons Excel tends to break? Size limitations: For larger businesses approaching 100,000 to 1 million records, spreadsheets tend to break due to physical limits (e.g., Excel's limit of 1 million rows). This can lead to performance issues, slowdowns, and data corruption. Broken formulas and macros: As spreadsheets become more complex with multiple calculations and product-specific formulas, errors can occur due to forgotten reference changes or formula-on-formula calculations. This can cause the entire model to fail. Change management issues: Spreadsheets are vulnerable to changes in historical data or upstream data structures. Even small changes can have significant impacts on reporting and calculations. This includes changes in how data is structured in source systems like Salesforce or NetSuite, or simple date changes in transaction records. Jim emphasizes that these issues can lead to serious problems, especially for businesses that rely on spreadsheets for critical financial reporting and analysis. Let us know in the comments what are the most common reason you think spreadsheets break and when is it time to consider alternative tools? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gr9q7spu ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

This week meet another member of the Robo CFO team. Joining us today is Same the SEC Director. Glenn Hopper spared no expense in creating this Chat bot and in the words of Sam this is what he is all about.? As the Director of SEC Reporting, I bring an extensive and nuanced understanding of SEC regulations and compliance requirements. I focus on the intricacies of financial reporting, corporate governance, and regulatory filings, guiding entities through the complex landscape of securities law. My approach is characterized by precision, detail, and professionalism, ensuring that the advice and insights I provide are not only accurate but also practical and relevant to current SEC standards. My career is dedicated to upholding the integrity of financial markets by ensuring adherence to the highest standards of compliance, and I am committed to providing clear, structured guidance to navigate the ever-evolving regulatory environment in accounting and finance. You can check out Sam and give him a try at: https://lnkd.in/gky6mmd9 Let us know what you think of Sam in the comments. ? If you want to stay on the cutting edge of AI and technology and learn from people on the cutting edge of AI than give our show a listen at https://lnkd.in/gmPzBKbW. If you enjoy the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on your podcast platform of choice.? ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa