The FP&A Guy Network

In this engaging episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes back Bryan Lapidus, Director of FP&A Practice at the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), to explore how finance professionals can better prepare for the evolving demands of the industry. They discuss how AFP supports the finance community, the role of technology in shaping FP&A, and why soft skills are critical in today’s collaborative environment.
Bryan Lapidus is the Director of FP&A Practice at AFP, where he serves as a subject matter expert on financial planning and analysis. With more than 20 years in FP&A and treasury at organizations like American Express and Fannie Mae, Bryan brings deep knowledge of corporate finance. At AFP, he develops thought leadership, leads advisory councils, and curates content that helps professionals thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Expect to Learn:
The two core competencies every great FP&A professional must master
Why “getting out from behind the screen” matters for business insight
How AFP curates learning and networking experiences for finance professionals
What to expect from AFP’s FP&A Forum and Annual Conference
How to avoid low-value work and focus on driving business impact

This episode highlights the evolving role of FP&A, emphasizing the need for both strong technical skills and human-centered business insight. Bryan Lapidus reminds us that tools like AI are valuable, but true impact comes from understanding the business and adding strategic value. Continuous learning and community are key to thriving in today’s finance landscape.

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

Follow Bryan:
LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/bryan-lapidus-fpac
Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-financial-professionals/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[03:33] – What Is AFP?
[05:38] – What Makes Great FP&A?
[13:34] – Inside the AFP Conference
[18:13] – How AFP Chooses Conference Tracks
[23:12] – AFP FP&A Forum Highlights
[27:30] – How Soft Skills Shape Career...

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss the AI landscape and how CFOs and finance leaders should approach AI in 2026. Reflecting on the developments of 2025, they explore how AI adoption is progressing at the individual and company levels and discuss the surprises and challenges they've encountered in the AI space.
Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows.
In this episode, you will discover:
The current state of AI adoption by individuals and companies.
Surprising shifts in AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft in 2025.
The growing role of specialized AI models and their potential impact on industries like finance.
Predictions for the future of AI in 2026, including advancements in LLMs and robotics.

Glenn and Paul discussed the evolving AI landscape and its impact on finance, offering insights into key developments and predictions for 2026. They highlighted the challenges, growth, and opportunities AI presents for finance leaders and businesses.

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:
[00:15] - Reflections on AI in 2025
[05:07] - Paul’s Surprises on AI’s Progress
[11:05] - OpenAI’s Consumer Focus
[13:23] - Predictions for Specialized Models
[14:51] - AI and Robotics
[17:20] - Small vs Large Models
[18:28] - Closing Thoughts on AI in Finance

In this episode of The ModSquad, hosts Paul Barnhurst, Ian Schnoor, and Giles Male welcome Tim Jacks, founder of Taglo, for an insightful discussion on the integration of AI in financial modeling. Tim’s expertise bridges the worlds of financial modeling and AI, and in this episode, he shares his journey and discusses how AI is reshaping the financial modeling landscape.
Tim Jacks is the founder of Taglo, a company dedicated to improving financial modeling with AI technology. His career journey spans financial consulting and software development, including building financial modeling tools. Over time, Tim's interest in artificial intelligence grew, and he delved into how AI, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), could be used to enhance financial modeling processes.
Expect to Learn
How AI is revolutionizing financial modeling and the specific ways it’s being used today.
The technical components behind AI agents and how they differ from simple chatbots.
The importance of context and system prompts when working with LLMs in financial tasks.
Insights into the memory limitations of LLMs and how agents work around this challenge.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"If you're using AI for Excel modeling, you need to remind it to follow good financial modeling principles, like the FAST Standard." – Tim Jacks
"The beauty of LLMs is that you can go back and change the conversation, they're stateless, so it's like resetting the clock." – Tim Jacks

Tim Jacks provided valuable insights into the integration of AI in financial modeling, particularly how LLMs and agents are transforming workflows. While AI can significantly enhance efficiency, human expertise remains essential for applying financial modeling principles. Understanding the technical workings of these tools helps users leverage them effectively. The future of financial modeling will be human-led, AI-assisted.
Follow Tim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timjacks/

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

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

In today’s episode:
[00:05] - Intro & Hosts
[01:33] - Guest Introduction: Tim Jacks
[02:42] - Tim's Background in Modelling & AI
[04:16] - What Are LLMs Really?
[09:55] - ChatGPT vs. LLMs Explained
[12:09] - LLMs Have No Memory
[15:02] - How Tools Add Context to AI
[19:35] - What Is an AI Agent?
[22:35] - How Excel Agents Work
[30:08] - Demo: Tools in Action
[35:03] - Defining an Agent: LLM + Tools + Prompts
[38:49] - Key Takeaway for Modellers

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst talks with Ben Pierce, General Manager of Workday Adaptive Planning, to discuss the evolving landscape of FP&A, the challenges of planning software, and the future of finance in an AI-driven world. Ben shares his career journey, from semiconductor engineering to leadership roles in the FP&A software industry, and dives into his vision for how AI is transforming the way businesses plan and make decisions.
Ben Pierce is an experienced executive with over two decades of experience in the enterprise software industry. Currently, he leads Workday Adaptive Planning’s global strategy, growth, and innovation efforts. Prior to joining Workday, Ben held senior roles in several companies, including River Logic, Tidemark, and IBM, where he honed his expertise in analytics, financial software, and business leadership. His career has been shaped by his passion for leveraging technology to improve business operations and drive impactful change.

Expect to Learn:
Why Ben believes the future of FP&A is in AI and analytics
The importance of challenging the business with actionable insights
How to make FP&A tools work for you, not just as a data repository
What to consider when choosing and implementing FP&A software
The balance between strategic planning and flexible budgeting processes

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"A great FP&A partner doesn’t just provide data, they come to the table with a point of view and push you to do better." – Ben Pierce
"At the end of the day, it’s not about the tool, it’s about the implementation and how you engage with it." – Ben Pierce

Ben Pierce offers invaluable insights into FP&A, emphasizing the need for technology to not only streamline processes but also enhance decision-making capabilities. His advice on selecting the right FP&A tools and the importance of having a supportive implementation partner is essential for any finance team looking to modernize their planning processes.

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

Free Trial of Workday
Try Workday Adaptive Planning free for 30 days -

In this first episode of Future Finance for 2026, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper take time to reflect on how AI actually showed up in finance over the past year, and what that means going forward. Without a guest, the conversation focuses on real experiences, observations, and lessons from working directly with finance teams, CFOs, and operators who are navigating AI adoption day to day.
Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows. They also share their thoughts on notable developments from 2025, including OpenAI’s shift toward consumer use, Microsoft Copilot’s mixed results, Google Gemini’s rapid improvement, and Nvidia’s continued growth.
In this episode, you will discover:
How AI adoption differs between individuals and organizations
Why poor data quality still limits many finance teams
What recent changes from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia suggest
Where Microsoft Copilot works well today and where it falls short
Why automation and basic app-building are becoming more important

Paul and Glenn share concrete examples from Excel, Outlook, reporting, and close processes. They also emphasize that banning AI use is no longer realistic and that clear guidelines matter more than strict restrictions.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

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:
[02:47] – How Individuals vs. Companies Used AI in 2025
[06:12] – OpenAI, Monetization, and Market Signals
[09:27] – Google Gemini’s Turnaround
[15:56] – Big Models vs. Specialized Tools
[21:21] – Consumer AI and Platform Control
[26:26] – Real Copilot Use Cases in Excel
[35:28] – What Finance Professionals Should Focus on in 2026
[39:31] – What Finance Leaders Need to Do Now
[41:45] – Automation, Vibe Coding, and What’s Next
[43:07] – Final Thoughts and Closing