Bijan Moallemi and Joe Garafalo, co-founders of Mosaic, discuss the evolving landscape of business and the importance of investing in finance functions. They emphasize the proactive approach of strategic finance, highlight the shift to continuous planning, and discuss the value of AI in finance operations and decision-making.
Investing in the finance function is crucial for protecting a company's assets and navigating the complex business landscape.
AI has the potential to transform finance processes and improve productivity, but it should be seen as a tool to assist finance professionals rather than replace them.
Deep dives
The importance of strategic finance
Strategic finance is not the starting point but the end state that you have to work towards. Investing in the finance function is crucial for protecting a company's assets and navigating the complex business landscape. Strategic finance combines financial expertise with strategic decision-making to drive business growth, optimize resources, and maximize shareholder value.
The role of planning in strategic finance
Planning is a critical aspect of strategic finance and it has evolved to be a continuous and agile process. Quarterly planning is necessary to ensure alignment with business goals and track progress, while annual planning allows for a comprehensive overview of the year ahead. Planning at the speed of business is essential in today's complex and fast-paced environment, enabling finance teams to make strategic decisions in a timely manner.
The potential of AI in finance
AI has the potential to transform finance processes and improve productivity. AI can help with data integrity and cleaning, identifying outliers and errors, and automating repetitive tasks. However, AI should be seen as a tool to assist finance professionals rather than replace them. Human judgment, storytelling, and controlling the messaging remain crucial aspects where AI cannot fully replicate human discretion and strategic thinking.
Real-life applications of AI
AI can be applied to various areas, such as cleaning vendor data, improving data integrity and accuracy, and automating accounting processes. It can also assist in generating creative ideas, improving marketing efforts, writing emails more efficiently, and even helping with personal tasks like creating grocery lists or workout plans. Leveraging AI effectively can significantly enhance productivity and drive meaningful impact in finance and beyond.
In this episode of The Role Forward, Joe Michalowski hosts a deep dive into strategic finance with Bijan Moallemi and Joe Garafalo, co-founders of Mosaic. The trio unpacks the evolving landscape of business and the increasing complexity that demands more from finance professionals.
Joe emphasizes the importance of investing in finance functions, especially in today's economy. He illustrates how strategic finance operates in real time, allowing businesses to know exactly where they stand and where they're heading. This proactive approach enables teams to assess ROI on significant expenditures and make informed decisions.
Bijan and Joe also discuss the shift in planning from a structured, periodic process to a continuous one. They liken traditional finance to driving with the headlights off, while strategic finance provides clear visibility and direction. The conversation concludes with insights on the value of AI in finance and its potential to save time and drive progress.
Tune in to The Role Forward for a comprehensive understanding of strategic finance and its role in shaping successful businesses.
Guests-at-a-Glance
đź’ˇ Name: Bijan Moallemi / Joe Garafalo
đź’ˇWhat they do: Co-Founder and CEO / Co-Founder and COO
đź’ˇNoteworthy: Joe is an experienced finance professional and the COO of Mosaic, a strategic finance platform. He has a deep understanding of the finance industry and is passionate about leveraging AI to enhance financial operations and decision-making.
As the CEO of Mosaic, Bijan is a strong advocate for strategic finance. He believes in the power of storytelling in finance and emphasizes the importance of translating complex financial data into understandable information to drive strategic decision-making.