The FP&A Guy Network

In this episode, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Nick Desbarats, a data visualisation expert, bestselling author, and independent educator, to discuss data visualisation. Nick talks about the skills needed to create effective charts, how to avoid common mistakes, and the importance of understanding the "job" of a chart. He shares his journey from software executive to becoming an authority in the field and explains why the true skill of visualising data goes beyond knowing the software.
Nick is the author of Practical Charts (Amazon #1 New Release) and the upcoming Practical Dashboards. He has taught thousands of professionals globally, including teams at NASA, Bloomberg, Visa, the United Nations, Shopify, and more. He is also the first educator authorised by Stephen Few to teach his foundational data visualisation workshops.

Expect to Learn:
Why understanding the "job" of a chart is more important than the data itself
The key skills needed for creating effective charts
Common mistakes in data visualisation and how to avoid them
Why empathy for your audience is crucial when designing visuals
How to decide when to use default charts vs. creating custom visuals

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“The real job of a chart is to serve people, not the software.” – Nick Desbarats
“Data visualisation is not about the tool, it’s about the message you want to convey.” – Nick Desbarats

Nick Desbarats shared valuable insights on creating effective data visualisations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the purpose behind each chart. He highlighted key skills, common mistakes, and the need for empathy with your audience.

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 Nick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdesbarats/
Company: https://www.practicalreporting.com/

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] – Nick’s Background
[05:32] – Key Skills for Data Visualisation Experts
[09:50] – Executive to Data Viz Educator
[12:35] – Book Recommendations
[19:35] – Moving Beyond “It Depends”
[26:08] – Common Finance Chart Mistakes
[34:13] – The Pie Chart Dilemma
[37:54] – AI in Data Visualisation
[45:56] – Chart Type Selection Skills
[58:30] – Final Wrap-up

In this highlights episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper chat with Riya Grover about how AI is transforming order-to-cash workflows. Riya shares insights into billing automation, revenue operations, and the evolving role of finance teams. She also discusses her entrepreneurial journey and the evolution of Sequence, the first agentic AR platform, which is revolutionizing B2B pricing and contracts.
Riya Grover is the Co-founder and CEO of Sequence, an AI platform automating accounts receivable for B2B companies. Backed by a16z with $40M raised, Sequence streamlines quoting, billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition. Before Sequence, Riya founded Feedr, a venture-backed company acquired by Compass Group in 2020. She holds an MBA from Harvard and a BA from Oxford University.

In this episode, you will discover:
The role of AI in automating order-to-cash workflows
How Sequence helps B2B companies with custom pricing and revenue operations
Insights into building and scaling a venture-backed company
Why talent density is key to scaling businesses

Riya explains how complex contracts, usage-based pricing, and custom deal structures create massive billing challenges for growing companies. Sequence solves this by combining deterministic billing foundations with AI-powered workflow agents.

Follow Riya:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riya-grover-a22a4822/
Website: https://www.sequencehq.com/
Sequence Series A Fundraising: Announcement

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:
[00:26] – Riya’s background
[04:05] – Challenges of a Two-Sided Marketplace
[05:57] – Building Sequence: AI for AR
[10:00] – Human Oversight vs. AI Automation
[12:52] – Revolutionizing Billing & Invoicing
[14:18] – Defining Workflow Rules for AI
[19:23] – Final Thoughts

In this episode of Financial Modeler's Corner, host Paul Barnhurst chats with Nick Boberg, a financial modeler and consultant based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Paul and Nick explore the essentials of building well-structured, effective financial models. They discuss Nick’s approach to simplicity and consistency, the importance of clarity in model design, and the role of competition in refining one’s Excel and modeling skills.
Nick is a financial modeler and the co-founder of Boberg Advisory, a consultancy that specializes in providing financial modeling services to SMEs. With extensive experience as Finance Director at Anglesea Hospital and Associate Director at PwC, Nick has built and reviewed hundreds of models, many focused on cash flow forecasting, budgeting, and management reporting. He is also an accomplished competitor in the Financial Modeling World Cup and the Microsoft Excel World Championships, where he has achieved finalist and semifinalist placements.

Expect to Learn
Why structure and consistency are key in financial modeling
The role of simplicity in building models
Insights from Nick’s competitive modeling career
How to balance technical expertise with user-friendly design

Here are a few quotes from the episode:
"The beauty of financial modeling lies in its simplicity. If you can make a model both functional and easy to follow, you've mastered it." - Nick Boberg
"Consistency in formatting is key. A model that looks clean and well-structured builds trust with the user, especially when it's used for important decision-making." - Nick Boberg

Nick shares that the core of building great financial models lies in structure and simplicity. He emphasizes the importance of creating models that are not only accurate but also easy to follow and understand. Whether in competition or in client work, Nick highlights that clear, well-structured models make a real difference in their effectiveness and usability.

Follow Nick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickboberg/
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boberg-advisory/

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:
[03:30] – Worst Modeling Experience
[08:08] – Running Boberg Advisory
[12:11] – Competing in Excel Championships
[17:42] – Importance of Structure
[20:00] – Risks of Complex Formulas
[23:20] – Avoiding Hard Codes
[27:13] – Building "Pretty" Models
[30:10] – Dynamic Arrays in modeling
[36:05] – Rapid fire Section
[40:54] – Last Question & Wrap up

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Snyder are joined by HR leaders Cynthia Kenny and Deborah Hill to discuss the important partnership between HR and FP&A. They explore how aligning goals across departments can drive organizational success, share personal stories about career development, and highlight the importance of trust and collaboration.
Cynthia Kenny is a CHRO and C-suite partner with over 30 years of experience in human resources, focusing on change management and organizational transformation. Deborah Hill is an HR leader with over 10 years of experience leading HR teams in tech-focused and tech-enabled companies. She specializes in building culture and driving talent initiatives, and has managed businesses with revenues ranging from $400M to $5B.
Expect to Learn:
How HR and FP&A can partner to drive organizational success
The importance of aligning company, team, and individual goals
Best practices for goal-setting and performance management
Why flexibility is important when managing goals throughout the year
How to build trust and collaboration between HR and FP&A

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“Great FP&A is about turning financial data into actionable insights for business leaders.” - Deborah Hill
“Real success happens when HR and FP&A work together, understanding each other’s worlds and creating synergy.” - Cynthia Kenny

Cynthia Kenny and Deborah Hill provided valuable insights on the critical partnership between HR and FP&A, emphasizing the importance of aligning goals across departments to drive organizational success. They discussed how clear, actionable goals can lead to better decision-making, stronger collaboration, and improved business outcomes.

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 Deborah:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-hill-8a24771/
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-tire-distributors/

Follow Cynthia:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiakennymaccp/
Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunland-asphalt/

Follow Glenn:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder

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
[05:44] – What Great FP&A Looks Like
[10:07] – COVID Finance & HR Decisions
[16:55] – Hiring, Headcount & Data Issues
[23:49] – HRIS, ERP & Source of Truth
[27:29] – Aligning Corporate & Individual Goals
[36:07] – Flexible Performance Management
[47:56] – Effective Goal-Setting Practices
[59:17] – Final Takeaways & Career Growth

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Riya Grover to explore how AI is transforming order-to-cash workflows. The conversation explores billing automation, revenue operations, and the evolving role of finance teams. Riya shares her entrepreneurial journey and how Sequence is building the first agentic AR platform. This episode is packed with practical insights for modern finance leaders navigating AI adoption.
Riya Grover is the Co-founder and CEO at Sequence. Sequence, backed by a16z with $40M raised, is building the first agentic platform for accounts receivable. The company helps B2B businesses automate quoting, billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition, especially for complex pricing and custom contracts. Prior to Sequence, Riya founded Feedr, a venture-backed company that exited to Compass Group in 2020. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics and Management from Oxford University.
In this episode, you will discover:
Why building a two-sided marketplace is incredibly difficult
How modern B2B pricing models break traditional billing systems
The difference between deterministic systems and generative AI in finance
Why human-in-the-loop design is critical for financial AI agents
What the future finance tech stack will look like in the next five years

Riya explains how complex contracts, usage-based pricing, and custom deal structures create massive billing challenges for growing companies. Sequence solves this by combining deterministic billing foundations with AI-powered workflow agents. The discussion highlights where AI should and should not be used in finance operations. Trust, auditability, and human oversight remain central to successful AI implementation.

Follow Riya:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riya-grover-a22a4822/
Website: https://www.sequencehq.com/
Sequence Series A Fundraising: Announcement

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:
[02:05] – Riya’s Startup Journey
[06:55] – Marketplace Challenges
[08:28] – Modern Billing Gaps
[10:46] – AI in Finance
[13:10] – Human-in-the-Loop Design
[18:35] – ML vs. Gen AI
[24:26] – Series A & Scaling
[30:11] – Future Finance Stack
[35:15] – Rapid Fire & Wrap-Up