FP&A Unlocked

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
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Michael Gould, a technology entrepreneur and founder of Kaleidoscope, about his extensive experience in financial planning and modelling. Michael shares insights from his 40+ years in the industry, including his work with Anaplan, and discusses how modern finance teams can break free from the limitations of spreadsheets and legacy systems.

Michael Gould is a technology entrepreneur and software engineer with over 40 years of experience in financial planning and modeling systems. After studying Mathematics and Computation at the University of Oxford, Michael co-created Adaytum, a leading business planning platform, and later founded Anaplan, a globally successful enterprise planning platform that became a British tech unicorn. Today, he is the founder of Kaleidoscope, focusing on rethinking financial modeling for modern teams and continuing to pioneer innovations that drive better decision-making in business. .

Expect to Learn:
The challenges and complexities of modern financial modelling
How Kaleidoscope is helping businesses move beyond spreadsheets
Michael's journey from IBM to Anaplan and now Kaleidoscope
The importance of understanding business processes in financial modelling
How AI is impacting the financial modeling landscape

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“The key to financial modeling is representing the complexity of a business without over-simplifying it.” – Michael Gould
“AI is a powerful tool, but it’s the data context that drives the real value.” – Michael Gould

Glenn explains that career growth in FP&A is no longer about following a fixed path or relying on credentials. It comes from building relationships, gaining real experience, and understanding how the business works. He also highlights that strong professionals go beyond numbers by connecting financial results to real business drivers and supporting better decisions.

Follow Michael:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/migould/
Website: https://www.kaleidoscope.com/?utm_source=partner_fpandaguys&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=interview

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
[06:00] – Challenges of Multi-Dimensional Modelling
[12:00] – Transitioning to Anaplan
[15:00] – Kaleidoscope’s Mission to Help Small Businesses
[21:00] – The Role of AI in Financial Modelling
[27:00] – The Future of Financial Modelling
[33:00] – Key Learnings from the Entrepreneurial Journey
[39:00] – How AI is Changing Financial Decision-Making
[45:00] – Overcoming the Data Challenges in Finance
[51:00] – Final Thoughts on Innovation and Future Trends in Finance
[57:00] – Conclusion and Key Takeaways

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
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst speaks with Glenn Snyder about the current state of FP&A, focusing on career growth, hiring challenges, and how the role continues to evolve. Glenn shares his perspective on why networking matters more than ever in today’s job market, how professionals can stand out without relying only on certifications, and what it really takes to move up in FP&A. They also discuss the shift toward strategic partnership, the importance of understanding business drivers, and how leadership and empathy shape long-term success

Expect to Learn:
Why networking is the most effective way to find opportunities
How to stand out in a competitive job market
The shift of FP&A from reporting to strategic partnership
Why understanding business drivers is critical in FP&A

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"If you can't figure out how to get other people to move with you, your career is not going to go anywhere." — Glenn Snyder
“Leadership isn’t about telling people what to do, it’s about getting them to follow you.” – Glenn Snyder

Glenn explains that career growth in FP&A is no longer about following a fixed path or relying on credentials. It comes from building relationships, gaining real experience, and understanding how the business works. He also highlights that strong professionals go beyond numbers by connecting financial results to real business drivers and supporting better decisions.

Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder/
Website: https://www.riveron.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 FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[02:29] – FP&A Education Gap
[06:34] – Certifications vs Experience
[09:56] – Networking for Jobs
[11:22] – Building Personal Brand
[12:16] – Volunteering & Experience
[17:45] – FP&A as Strategic Partner
[22:19] – Finance & Business Roles
[24:03] – Empathy in Leadership
[29:46] – Career Growth Strategy
[33:14] – Leadership vs Execution
[38:12] – Drivers & Scenario Planning
[44:50] – People Management Lessons
[52:44] – Ethics & Transparency

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 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 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
[02:36] – What Makes FP&A Professionals Stand Out
[03:38] – Career Growth Is Not a Ladder
[04:25] – Early Career Struggles After Graduation
[05:47] – How to Approach Networking the Right Way
[06:37] – Turning Down Offers & Career Decisions
[07:28] – Moving into FP&A & Career Shift
[09:08] – Learning AI & Current Challenges
[10:06] – AI Skills, Courses & Future Focus