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
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

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper talk with David Ingraham, founder and CEO of HyperPerfect. David explains why AI works best in finance when it is used step by step, with clear context and human review. He also shares why Excel is still central to finance work and how better AI tools can help teams move faster without losing control.

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 teams are still slow to adopt AI
Why context matters when using AI in Excel
Why AI should be treated like a teammate, not a shortcut
How breaking work into smaller steps leads to better results
Where AI helps most in finance today

David Ingraham is the founder and CEO of HyperPerfect, a company that brings AI tools into Excel. He spent nearly 20 years in private equity and has worked on deals worth more than $1 billion. He also serves as board president of Aim High, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free summer education to students.

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:
[00:22] - David’s background
[02:49] - What HyperPerfect does
[06:01] - Why finance struggles with AI
[07:36] - Why context matters
[12:23] - What AI agents are good at today
[13:08] - Using AI as a partner
[17:51] - Building models step by step
[19:20] - Productivity gains and closing thoughts

In this episode of The Mod Squad, Paul Barnhurst, Ian Schnoor, and Giles Male share their real experiences using AI in financial modelling. They cut through the hype and discuss what AI actually does well, where it still struggles, and how professionals should be thinking about using it today. From building models to handling workflows, the conversation highlights both the value and the limitations of AI tools in real work.

Expect to Learn
Where AI actually helps in finance and modelling work
Why most “one-click solution” claims are unrealistic
The importance of checking and guiding AI outputs
How instructions and structure improve AI results

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“It’s not a one-click solution. You still have to check everything.” – Giles Male
“You will have to understand every line to guide AI properly.” – Ian Schnoor

AI is powerful, but it’s not a shortcut to good work. It still needs guidance, structure, and strong fundamentals. The people who benefit most will be the ones who understand both the tools and the work behind them. For now, the best approach is simple: use it, test it, and don’t trust it blindly.

Follow Ian:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianschnoor/

Follow Giles:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-male-30643b15/

In today’s episode:
[02:06] – Current thoughts on AI after recent progress
[03:45] – Daily use of AI and time savings
[05:00] – Mental fatigue and keeping up with AI changes
[08:03] – Calling out AI hype and unrealistic claims
[12:30] – AI training challenges and business demand
[17:57] – “Eye of the storm” phase of AI development
[24:13] – Testing AI-built financial models
[30:52] – Why fixing AI models can take longer than building from scratch
[35:15] – Responsibility to challenge misleading AI claims
[38:41] – Using instructions to improve AI output
[42:59] – Final thoughts on AI, stress, and the future

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