Jarad Backlund is VP of FP&A at JFrog, a DevOps platform streamlining software development and delivery. In this episode Jarad provides frank insights and lessons from over 18 years of experience in FP&A spanning Apple, Google, and Facebook (as well as at bootstrapped startups). From overseeing multi-billion dollar capital projects to leading finance at cutting edge startups, he reveals his secrets to  building top quality FP&A teams, bringing strategic insights and creating a builder mentality.

In this episode: 

• My journey from failing as an architectural major to FANG FP&A 
• Canned reports vs the ability to create new processes and systems 
• Facing an “impossible” project at Facebook/Meta
• The skill needed to win an interview for FP&A at a FANG company
• From Bootstrapped FP&A to billion dollar companies 
• Raising the cap on Apple Care Products helping it become a $2billion+ business
• Clean data and analytics  
• LLMs contextual awareness and FP&A
• Skills and education in the age of AI 
• Becoming a builder in finance
• How VLookUp almost cost me a job 

Connect with Jarad Backlund: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaradbacklund/