Key learnings and takeaways from actual attendees of Campfire's AI finance summit

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst takes you inside the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit in San Francisco, a one-of-a-kind event exploring how AI is transforming finance. Instead of one guest, this special edition features four conversations with top finance leaders and innovators who share what they’re seeing, building, and doing with AI in real time. From ERP innovation to the EQ behind great CFOs, this episode delivers tactical advice and big-picture thinking from the forefront of modern finance.

John Glasgow is the CEO and co-founder of Campfire, leading the charge in AI-native ERP innovation for modern finance teams. CJ Gustafson, the founder of Mostly Metrics and a former CFO, brings real-world insights on scaling, AI adoption, and the shift from executive to creator. Libby Francke, Head of Finance at Klarity, shares her experience modernizing data infrastructure and running a lean, high-impact finance function with Campfire. Kevin Neary, VP of Finance at Brainly, reflects on managing global finance operations and how AI is helping his team boost efficiency and productivity.

Expect to Learn:

• Why Campfire is building an AI-native ERP with its own large accounting model
• How to identify when legacy systems like QuickBooks are holding your company back
• What makes great FP&A beyond technical skill: EQ, storytelling, and sniff tests
• How to think tactically about AI adoption, agents, and automation

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Trying to make the most of AI and low-cost solutioning is how we’re building the finance function of the future.” - Libby Francke
• “A lot of companies are stuck in pilot purgatory; they test AI, think it’s cool, but don’t know how to roll it out.” - CJ Gustafson

This special episode of FP&A Unlocked captures the momentum and insight from the Campfire Finance Forward AI Summit, showcasing how finance leaders are navigating the rapid shift toward AI-native systems. From foundational models to practical automation, the conversations with John Glasgow, CJ Gustafson, Libby Francke, and Kevin Neary highlight that the future of finance isn’t just about technology; it’s about strategic thinking, clean data, and bold leadership.

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 John:

LinkedIn -  www.linkedin.com/in/johnglasgow/

Follow CJ Gustafson:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/

Follow Libby:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-francke-cpa-831b4854/

Follow Kevin:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-neary-cpa/

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 FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[01:37] - Overview of the Campfire Summit & Key Panels

[07:39] - Interview: John Glasgow on Building Campfire and AI-Native ERP

[15:47] - Interview: CJ Gustafson on Scaling, AI Hype, and EQ in Finance

[29:00] - Interview: Libby Francke on ERP Migration, Data, and Lean Finance Teams

[37:58] - Interview: Kevin Neary on Global Finance Ops and Getting AI-Ready

[44:52] - Final Reflections & Takeaways