The FP&A Guy Network

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Jason Brisbane and Tanvi Lal to discuss the economics of generative AI, why traditional SaaS metrics fall short, and how finance teams can forecast AI costs. They explore token pricing, AI budgeting, and the role FP&A can play in managing AI investments.

Jason Brisbane is the CEO and Founder of FinHelm, with over 15 years of experience in FP&A technology. He developed the UA-FP&A methodology and Uncertainty Exposure Score to improve forecast reliability. Tanvi Lal is an investor at Intuit Ventures, focused on AI and fintech. Formerly at Deloitte, she is also the co-founder of VC Unleashed and specializes in AI economics and usage-based pricing.

Expect to Learn:
How AI token pricing affects project costs and profitability.
Why traditional SaaS metrics don't fully capture AI economics.
How to forecast AI spending using scenarios and cost ranges.
Why labor and orchestration costs often exceed token costs.
How FP&A teams can guide AI adoption and investment decisions.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“Your most engaged customer is actually your least profitable with AI unit economics.” - Tanvi Lal
“We have to train our brains to not look at variance as a bad thing.” - Jason Brisbane

Jason and Tanvi explain why AI budgeting requires more than tracking token usage. They discuss project complexity, human involvement, and changing model costs. They also highlight how FP&A professionals can improve forecasting, measure uncertainty, and collaborate with business teams to manage AI spending effectively.

Follow Jason:
Website: https://finhelm.ai/
AFP Article: https://www.financialprofessionals.org/training-resources/resources/articles/Details/your-forecast-does-not-have-a-score-it-should
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brisbanejason

Follow Tanvi:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlal/
Intuit Ventures: https://intuit.com/ventures
VC Unleashed: https://vcunleashed.xyz/
AI Budgeting Calculator: https://ai-budget-calc.vercel.app/

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

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
[07:21] - Understanding AI Token Costs
[16:46] - Labor and Orchestration Costs
[23:56] - Forecasting AI Project Costs
[25:21] - Managing Cost Uncertainty
[30:58] - Learning From Forecast Variances
[38:59] - How FP&A Can Lead AI Strategy
[44:05] - Communicating Forecast Uncertainty
[49:29] - AI Budgeting Advice
[51:15] - Essential FP&A Skills
[56:06] - Closing Remarks & Thanks

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst discuss Anthropic's reported IPO plans, financial performance, and the future of AI profitability. They explore the company's reported S-1 filing, rapid revenue growth, infrastructure costs, and the risks of investing in AI companies.

Glenn and Paul also explain how different revenue accounting methods affect financial reporting, whether current AI valuations are sustainable, and what finance professionals can learn from the industry's growth.

Expect to Learn
What Anthropic's reported IPO filing reveals about AI risks.
How rising AI revenue and computing costs affect profitability.
Why different accounting methods change reported revenue.
What drives AI company valuations and investment risks.
How AI is changing financial analysis and decision-making.

The discussion highlights why finance professionals need to look beyond revenue growth and focus on profitability, cash flow, and long-term financial sustainability when evaluating AI companies.

Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

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
[00:00] - Introduction
[04:26] - Anthropic's IPO & AI Industry Growth
[08:54] - Major Risks in Anthropic's S-1 Filing
[15:24] - Computing Costs & Infrastructure Risks
[20:44] - Revenue Growth & Profitability
[28:31] - Revenue Accounting: Principal vs. Agent
[34:31] - AI Market Growth & Company Valuations
[40:10] - Cash Flow & Long-Term Investment Risks
[44:54] - The Future of AI Economics
[49:52] - Closing Remarks & Thanks

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Giles Male turns the tables on regular host Paul Barnhurst, also known as The FP&A Guy, to discuss Paul’s journey through FP&A, financial modeling, training, entrepreneurship, and the growing impact of AI on finance. They explore how Paul built his personal brand, transitioned from corporate finance into his own business, and developed a career centered around education, community, and connecting people across the FP&A ecosystem.

Expect to Learn
How Paul built The FP&A Guy brand.
Why entrepreneurship comes with different risks.
What makes financial modeling training effective.
How AI is changing financial modeling.
Why human judgment still matters.
Lessons from rebuilding a difficult model.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“What's the point of keeping a goal going for the sake of a goal if it doesn't make sense?” - Paul Barnhurst
“AI is going to change it, but trust still matters, and there will be areas you want a human.” - Paul Barnhurst

Paul explains how his career evolved from corporate FP&A into a business built around training, podcasts, software research, educational content, and professional connections. He also discusses how AI can help financial modelers work more efficiently while emphasizing that judgment, creativity, and an understanding of the business remain essential.

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

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

In Today's Episode:
[00:00] - Introduction
[03:03] - A Week in the Life of The FP&A Guy
[07:39] - How Paul Built His FP&A Brand
[12:12] - Lessons From Posting Consistently on LinkedIn
[15:42] - Leaving Corporate Life & Starting a Business
[21:42] - What Makes Financial Training Effective
[31:06] - Human Judgment & Creativity in Financial Modeling
[35:14] - Paul’s Worst Financial Modeling Experience
[42:17] - Rapid-Fire Financial Modeling Questions
[47:37] - What’s Next for The FP&A Guy

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst and co-host Glenn Snyder sit down with Josh Miller to discuss effective sales compensation plans, aligning incentives with business goals, and avoiding common commission mistakes. They also explore balancing base salary and variable pay, setting realistic quotas, and improving collaboration between finance and sales teams.

Josh Miller is the Head of Sales Compensation at CVS Health and Managing Principal at OnTarget Incentives, LLC. With over 20 years of experience in sales compensation, he is a Certified Sales Compensation Professional (CSCP) through WorldatWork and a frequent writer and speaker on industry best practices. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Arizona State University.

Expect to Learn:
How to design sales compensation plans that drive the right behaviors.
Why finance, HR, and sales teams must collaborate.
How to balance base salary and variable pay.
Why commission caps and unrealistic quotas can discourage salespeople.
How to avoid common sales compensation mistakes.

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“I'm definitely not a fan of overall payout caps.” - Josh Miller
“You want it to be as clear and simple as possible, and that does not happen by default.” - Josh Miller

Josh explains why successful compensation plans start with clear sales responsibilities and realistic incentives. He also shares how simple plan structures, fair performance targets, and cross-functional collaboration can improve sales performance and prevent costly mistakes.

Follow Josh:
Website: ontargetincentives.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmilleraz/

Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

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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
[01:17] - Hard Coded Opinion
[06:04] - Introduction to Josh Miller
[07:27] - What is a great FP&A?
[12:43] - Structuring Sales Compensation Teams
[17:18] - Sales Compensation Plan Design
[26:28] - Commission Sharing & Pay Structures
[34:49] - Compensating New Salespeople
[46:09] - Commission Payment Timing
[59:49] - Sales Compensation Resources
[01:07:24] - Closing Remarks & Thanks

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss how AI is reshaping finance technology, whether traditional SaaS platforms are at risk, and how CFOs should approach software decisions. They explore when to buy existing solutions, build custom workflows, or use AI to improve finance processes without replacing core systems.

In this episode, you will discover:
How AI is changing the finance tech stack and challenging traditional SaaS.
When finance teams should buy software or build custom solutions.
What the Finance Stack Survey reveals about AI adoption.
Why agentic AI differs from traditional automation.
How data quality and integration affect AI success.

Paul and Glenn explain that AI can help finance teams automate tasks, connect systems, and access financial information faster. However, businesses still need dependable core software, clear data practices, and appropriate safeguards.

Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.

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:
[01:24] - Is SaaS at Risk?
[03:38] - Choosing Core Finance Systems
[05:52] - Buy vs. Build
[07:55] - Finance Stack Survey
[10:51] - Understanding Agentic AI
[13:57] - AI Adoption & Software Satisfaction
[18:36] - Data Plumbing & Integration Challenges
[20:52] - Survey Findings & Closing Thoughts