Future Finance

Never mastered Minesweeper as a kid it is not too late for you to do it starting today Tom Hinkle built a fully functional Minesweeper game in Excel using ChatGPT with just 6 prompts and 3 hours. What would have taken days of coding, he accomplished in an afternoon by leveraging AI. Download the file: https://lnkd.in/gi_tnrpC This example illustrates how AI is transforming the way we work, which Tom discussed in depth on the latest episode of Future Finance As a Microsoft MVP with 20+ years of experience, Tom brings a unique perspective on how AI is changing the landscape for finance professionals: ?? AI eliminates the "grunt work" of analytics: "What I see AI doing is all the rudimentary grunt work that we all know how to do. That frees the analyst up to spend more time on insights and finding patterns and doing the more exciting stuff." ?? Being tool agnostic becomes more important: As AI handles more technical execution, understanding core principles rather than specific tools will be most valuable. ?? Domain expertise remains critical: "AI is fantastic. It gives you a lot of answers. But it's still not smart." Human judgment and domain knowledge will be the differentiator. ?? Communication skills become paramount: As technical barriers lower, the ability to translate insights for non-technical audiences grows in importance. ?? AI as productivity multiplier: "Now you can solve ten problems in the same amount of time, but it's not going to have your personal stamp on it." One of Tom's most practical tips? Using the simple prompt "make this better" with emails he drafts. "I wrote the substance of the email to begin with, so I don't feel like that's cheating. I feel that's using a tool to make my product better." The episode also covers Microsoft's evolving Copilot strategy, the future of Excel formulas, and even Tom's quirky habit of telling restaurants his name is "Groot" (so he can respond "I am Groot" when his order is ready ??). Listen to the full episode to hear more insights on navigating the AI revolution in finance: https://lnkd.in/gqNBYvh4 #FutureOfFinance #AI #DataAnalytics #FPandA #MicrosoftExcel ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

"From Music Production to Digital Transformation: A Journey with Adam Shilton?????? Adam Shilton was this week's guest on the Future Finance podcast. Adam's journey from a music production degree to becoming a digital transformation expert shows how life is so often full of surprises.? Key insights from our discussion: ?? AI works best as augmentation, not replacement - domain expertise matters more than ever ?? The three pillars of AI success: doing (workflow), thinking (perspective), learning (skills) ?? Voice and clarity are crucial - reading content aloud helps validate AI-assisted writing ?? Build for scale - quick AI solutions might work now but could cause problems later ?? Tech is enabling more people to build careers around their passions Adam shared a fantastic framework for using AI effectively: "It becomes a part of you instead of a separate entity to you." This mindset shift from viewing AI as a separate tool to an integrated part of your workflow can transform how we approach digital transformation. ?? Want to hear more about Adam's journey and insights on the future of finance and technology? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/g4Cdn2uq ????????????? ?? 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 Ben D. - a tech leader who climbs mountains and finds inspiration in nature. Which means he is the kind of guy The FP&A Guy wants to hang out with. As founder of Fortified Data, he's helping organizations navigate the increasingly complex landscape of technology costs and efficiency. On the latest Future Finance episode, Ben shared invaluable insights on technology's evolving role in business: ?? Tech budgets have ballooned from 2-3% to 5-10%+ of revenue ?? Most organizations can't accurately measure their technology COGS or comprehend their tech debt costs ?? Environmental impact of tech is often overlooked - from power consumption to water usage for cooling ?? Clean, organized data is essential before jumping into AI implementation ?? SaaS costs quietly creep up through gradual upgrades and feature additions Ben's unique perspective comes from his dual background in finance and technology. As he says, "I have two degrees - financial and technology. I can hop between the two realms. Most technologists are proud of their technology and only speak technology. That's a huge challenge within organizations." A powerful insight he shared: "You could have all the green data centers you want. But it's like buying an energy efficient house and moving in 1970s non-energy efficient appliances and saying I'm energy efficient." Ready to transform how you think about technology costs and efficiency? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gjytaKhx ????????????? ?? 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 Jason Pikoos: From building a 120-person finance transformation team to becoming an amateur mixologist?? on weekends, Jason brings unique perspectives on AI governance in finance. On the latest Future Finance episode , Jason shared invaluable insights about AI implementation in financial processes: ?? Lack of governance often leads to complete inaction - having a framework actually accelerates adoption ?? AI requires new control frameworks because it evolves independently and makes inconsistent decisions ?? Plan for 2-3 months of parallel testing before full AI deployment ?? Never implement new technology in Q4 (learned from real-world close calls with restatements!) ?? The future isn't just AI - it's the combination of AI with your entire tech stack ?? Public companies face unique challenges with AI adoption in financial processes due to audit requirements and lack of established guidance from Big 4 firms and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) A key story that resonated: Paul shared how a Q4 software change nearly triggered a restatement, coming within 1% of the threshold. It perfectly illustrated Jason's point about timing technology implementations! Want to learn more about building effective AI governance frameworks? Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gEqDp4Wa ????????????? ?? 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

??? Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025: A Conversation with Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst In our latest Future Finance Show episode, we had a lighthearted conversation about the evolution of finance technology and the changing landscape of FP&A.? As Glenn shared, "My goal was never to be a professional talker, but to get the word out there" - a sentiment that resonates with many finance professionals navigating the world of technology and change. Key highlights from our discussion: ?? Why AI agents have not rolled out as fast as we expected ?? A fun moment of testing AI generated theme songs for the show.? ?? The rise of specialized tools for fractional CFOs, addressing a growing market need ?? The challenges of implementing planning software without extensive professional services ?? Quantum computing breakthroughs, like Google's Willow chip, promising to revolutionize computational capabilities Looking ahead to 2025:? ?? Expect increased AI adoption in finance and accounting? ?? Watch for purpose-built AI agents in financial processes? ?? Anticipate better integration of AI into existing financial tools What has you most excited for AI in 2025, comment below.? Listen to the full episode for deeper insights into where finance technology is headed. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/gsw6r7sn ????????????? ?? Check out our sponsor QFlow.ai at https://lnkd.in/ghV6WMDc your GTM Finance CoPilot ?? Follow the Co-Hosts at Paul Barnhurst, The FPandA Guy and Glenn Hopper ?? Check out the podcast on our YouTube Channel at https://lnkd.in/g8ce6WSa

From painting canvases to transforming financial data - Gabi Steele's journey from graphic design to co-founding Preql, a data analytics platform, showcases how creativity and analytics can intersect in powerful ways.? Glenn Hopper and I had a fabulous discuss with Gabi Steele on the Future Finance Show about how data visualization and financial analytics are evolving: ?? Many SMBs struggle with basic data infrastructure - one client had 900+ GL accounts just for revenue, making analysis nearly impossible ?? Finance teams often spend 70+ hours monthly manually consolidating data from various sources - time that could be spent on strategic analysis ?? The "fat finger" problem: Manual data consolidation isn't just time-consuming, it introduces accuracy risks that concern CFOs ?? Data visualization tools alone aren't enough - "It doesn't matter how beautiful or complex a visualization is if the numbers feeding into it aren't trusted" A key insight from the episode: When building a data-driven culture in SMBs, start with champions who have an appetite for automation. They become the catalysts for organizational change. Love this quote from Gabi: "Domain experts know best how they want their data structured... data engineers know best how to structure data. The challenge is closing that gap." As AI transforms finance, it's not about replacing functions but empowering business experts to focus on driving revenue while eliminating manual processes. Listen to the full episode for more insights on: -Building data trust in organizations -The future of AI in finance -How SMBs can compete with larger organizations through smart automation -Real-world examples of data transformation Click here to listen: https://lnkd.in/g8aRVaJB #FutureOfFinance #DataAnalytics #FPandA #FinancialPlanning #BusinessIntelligence ????????????? ?? 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

"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