The FP&A Guy Network

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 episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by Josh Schauer to discuss how AI is being adopted in finance and why many teams are still hesitant. They explore the gap between knowing AI is important and actually using it, along with the challenges around data quality, risk, and accuracy expectations.

Josh Schauer is the CFO at insightsoftware, where he leads financial strategy and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance from 2020 to 2024 and led Financial Planning and Consolidation at Longview prior to its acquisition by insightsoftware in 2020. Josh has deep experience in FP&A, consolidation, and finance transformation, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

In this episode, you will discover:
Why AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement
How poor data limits the value of AI
Practical ways AI is used in FP&A today
How AI improves variance analysis and scenario planning
Why finance teams need to become more proactive

Josh highlights that AI is not a shortcut. It works best when built on strong data, clear processes, and a thoughtful approach. While there is pressure to adopt AI, the focus should be on using it in a way that improves decisions without compromising accuracy..

Follow Josh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-schauer-51b18b115/
Website: https://insightsoftware.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:
[00:27] – Josh Schauer Background
[01:33] – AI in Finance & Accounting for Dummies
[04:13] – AI as a Teammate, Not a Threat
[05:40] – AI as a Thought Partner
[08:06] – Why Finance Teams Struggle with AI
[09:46] – Evolution of FP&A
[10:53] – RevOps & Finance Alignment
[12:32] – Practical AI Use Cases
[15:03] – Closing

In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Rafael Le Saux to talk about valuation, modeling, and how the field is changing. They dig into real challenges from working on complex models and what happens when things go wrong. The conversation also covers how private markets are evolving and why valuation is getting harder. It’s a practical look at how modeling connects to real decisions in today’s finance world.
Rafael Le Saux is a valuation and modeling expert with over 16 years of experience in financial advisory and alternative investments. He leads Valuation and Modeling Services at PwC Luxembourg, working across multiple asset classes. He has also worked at Partners Group and across global markets, including France, Australia, and Chile. Alongside his professional work, he teaches, speaks at industry events, and supports the valuation community.

Expect to Learn
Why a strong model structure is critical in real-world projects
The impact of evergreen and semi-liquid funds on valuation risk
Why regulators are increasing scrutiny on valuation practices
How AI is helping improve workflows but not replacing human judgment
How to bridge the gap between auditors and investment teams

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Some students are actually afraid of Excel, and you can see that change in just a couple of days.” - Rafael Le Saux
“Financial modeling is not just about numbers. It’s about understanding where you are today and where you’re going tomorrow.” - Rafael Le Saux

Valuation and modeling are becoming more demanding as markets continue to change. Better tools make the work faster, but they don’t replace the need for clear thinking and solid structure. The people who focus on understanding the “why” behind the numbers, not just the output, will be the ones who stand out.

Follow Rafael:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-le-saux/
Website: https://www.pwc.lu/

Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page- https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984

Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation Today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast’.

Visit https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.

In today’s episode:
[04:25] – Modeling Horror Story
[06:36] – Teaching Modeling
[09:11] – AI in Education
[11:21] – AI in Daily Work
[16:45] – Luxembourg as a Financial Hub
[19:48] – Regulation & Valuation
[22:55] – Retail Investors & Private Markets
[26:59] – Valuation Frequency
[30:10] – Auditors vs Investment Teams
[33:30] – Excel Tips
[35:20] – World Cup Model
[37:30] – Rapid Fire
[44:00] – Final Advice

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.

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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

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper are joined by Josh Schauer to explore how AI is being adopted in finance and why many teams are still hesitant. They discuss the gap between understanding AI’s importance and actually using it, along with the challenges around data quality, risk, and expectations of accuracy.

Josh Schauer is the CFO at insightsoftware, where he leads financial strategy and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance from 2020 to 2024 and led Financial Planning and Consolidation at Longview before its acquisition by insightsoftware. Josh has extensive experience in FP&A, consolidation, and finance transformation, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

In this episode, you will discover:
Why are finance teams slow to adopt AI despite knowing its importance
Why AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement
How poor data and broken processes limit AI’s value
Practical use cases for AI in FP&A, including variance analysis
How scenario planning can be done faster using AI

Josh emphasizes that AI is not a shortcut. It works best when built on strong data, clear processes, and a thoughtful approach. While the pressure to adopt AI is real, the focus should be on using it in a practical way that improves decision-making and productivity without compromising accuracy.

Follow Josh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-schauer-51b18b115/
Website: https://insightsoftware.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:
[01:35] – Josh Schauer Background
[03:02] – 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