The Adam Shilton Podcast

Episode 021: A special episode where we learn from three previous podcast guests about the impact of AI on the finance industry, the future of work, why you shouldn't panic (yet), how you can get started, and the importance of AI governance and ethics. Daniel Lawrence is the CEO at Bots for That and an expert in Robotic Process Automation. Simon Devine is the Owner of Hopton Analytics and an expert in Business Intelligence. And Chris Bell is the Co-Founder at Luka and an expert in ChatGPT. Together, they share their insights on the rapid pace of technological innovation, the growing importance of data, and how finance teams can maximize the benefits of AI and automation. They also discuss the role of AI in decision-making, the implications of AI for the younger generation, and the challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI governance. Show Notes Where to find the guests on LinkedIn: - Daniel Lawrence - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbotsforthat/ - Simon Devine - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simondevine/ - Chris Bell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbellprofile/ Check out their websites at: - www.botsforthat.com - www.hoptonanalytics.com - www.lukahq.com Contents (0:00:00) - Navigating Finance Tech & AI Change (0:09:25) - Large Language Models in Business AI (0:20:18) - Implementing AI With Governance Framework (0:24:43) - Starting Small With AI in Finance (0:31:39) - Limitations of AI and Problem-Solving Approaches (0:42:55) - Future of Work and Learning With AI (0:49:05) - AI in Decision Making Role (0:57:17) - Trusting AI (1:07:32) - AI Language Model Governance Challenges (1:12:46) - AI Governance Ethics & Challenges (1:24:49) - AI Awareness Impact on Adoption 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter: https://www.techforfinance.com 🎙️: Download the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/adamshiltontech

Episode - 020: - Where we learn from John Ladaga about building a remote business, organizing with tools like Slack, Trello, and Loom, fostering a positive work culture, AI's impact on creative arts like music, connecting financial and non-financial data to make decisions with CFOChat, the evolving role of AI in knowledge work, and the security of AI technologies. John is an experienced entrepreneur and the Co-founder of Sturppy, a company dedicated to helping users build financial models fast using proven templates. With a background as a digital strategy consultant at Accenture, John, along with his co-founder Filippo, established Sturppy in 2021. In his free time, John embraces the great outdoors of Colorado, enjoying activities such as skiing, hiking, and playing Pickleball. Show Notes Where to find out more about John & Sturppy - John on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnladaga/ - Sturppy - https://www.sturppy.com/ - Sturppy Plus + CFOChat - https://www.sturppy.com/plus?ref=openlink.ai Websites Mentioned - IndyHackers - https://www.indyhackers.org/ - There's an AI for that - https://theresanaiforthat.com/ Tech Mentioned - Slack - https://slack.com/ - Trello - https://trello.com/ - Loom - https://www.loom.com/ - Licecap - https://www.cockos.com/licecap/ Books Mentioned - Ideas That Stick (book) - https://www.amazon.com/Made-Stick-Ideas-Survive-Others/dp/1400064287 Other Mentions - GrowCFO - https://www.growcfo.com/ Chapters (0:00:00) - Building a Business Remotely (0:14:09) - Organize With Slack, Trello, Loom (0:18:50) - Building Human Connections (0:22:40) - AI's Impact on Music (0:36:07) - Connecting Financial Data (0:45:54) - AI and Knowledge Work (0:52:55) - The Benefits of AI Self-Reflection (1:00:02) - Building Live Systems With AI (1:03:43) - The Security of AI Technologies (1:12:18) - Optimistically Leveraging Technology for Success 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter here 📺: Subscribe on YouTube here

Episode - 019: In this episode, we welcome Chris Reilly, founder of Mission Capital Consulting and Financial Modeling Education, as he shares insights on self-employment, marketing, financial modeling, and the impact of AI on the finance industry. We discuss strategies for transitioning to self-employment and the importance of marketing and sales skills for finance professionals. Chris also highlights the pros and cons of low-code tools versus Excel, the role of junior finance professionals in mergers and acquisitions, and valuable resources for learning more about finance. We explore the limitations of AI in surfacing context and the skills needed for building financial models, the issue of trust in AI, and its potential impact on education. Additionally, we examine the future of AI, its integration into various industries, and the challenges of policing and securing the technology. Don't miss out on this engaging conversation with Chris Riley, packed with valuable insights, advice, and resources for finance professionals and those considering a transition to self-employment. Show Notes: Where to find Chris -Chris on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-reilly-mission-capital/ -Chris' Linktree - https://linktr.ee/chrisreillymissioncapital People Mentioned -Oana Labes - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oanalabes/ -Justin Welsh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinwelsh/ -Glenn Hopper - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii/ Technology Mentioned -Motion - https://www.usemotion.co/ -ChatGPT - https://chat.openai.com/chat Chapters: (0:00:00) - Navigating the Transition to Self-Employment (0:09:18) - Marketing & Sales for Business Success (0:16:39) - Mastering P&L and EBITDA (0:26:33) - AI Assistance Risks & Benefits (0:37:53) - Human Perspective in AI Age (0:47:48) - Leveraging AI for Time Management (0:55:13) - Business Modeling 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter here 📺: Subscribe on YouTube here

Episode -18: In this episode, Christian Martinez, Finance Automation Manager at the Kraft Heinz Company, shares his insights on embracing AI in the world of finance. We explore the use of generative AI like ChatGPT alongside traditional automation tools like Alteryx, Tableau, and Snowflake, and discuss how Python programming is becoming increasingly accessible for finance professionals. Christian also sheds light on the decision-making processes behind choosing AI tools and how focusing on fundamentals can lead to better results. From machine learning algorithms for forecasting to web scraping for pricing strategy, and automating tasks in Excel and PowerPoint, we delve into the myriad of applications Python has to offer. We also discuss the potential growth of single-use applications, the importance of soft skills like storytelling and stakeholder management, and much more. Don't miss out on this captivating conversation with Christian Martinez! Show Notes Where to find Christian: Medium - https://christianmartinezfinancialfox.medium.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianmartinezthefinancialfox/ Tech Mentioned - Alteryx: https://www.alteryx.com/ - Tableau: https://www.tableau.com/ - Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com/ - ChatGPT: https://www.openai.com/chatgpt/ - Python: https://www.python.org/ - Google Colab: https://colab.research.google.com/ - Jupyter Notebooks: https://jupyter.org/ - Cody: https://getcody.io/ - Dedupely: https://dedupe.ly/ - Blinkist: https://www.blinkist.com/ People - Glenn Hopper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii/ Other Resources - Zane's Superhuman Newsletter: https://superhuman.beehiiv.com/ - "There's an AI for That" List: https://theresanaiforthat.com/ 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter here 📺: Subscribe on YouTube here Contents -[0:02:55] Automation and Generative AI for Global Teams -[0:04:59] Benefits of Chatbots and Automation for Business Process Improvement -[0:07:12] Use of Python in Finance -[0:14:04] Machine Learning Tools for Python Script -[0:15:51] Discussion on Low-Code Tools for Business Knowledge Management -[0:20:10] AI and Automation in the Finance Industry -[0:25:58] The Role of Hard and Soft Skills in the Age of Automation -[0:30:23] Exploring the Benefits of Entrepreneurial Thinking and Data Democracy -[0:32:16] Exploring Disposable Apps and Tableau -[0:36:21] Conversation Summary: Exploring the Benefits of Chatbot Summarization

Episode - 017: - Where we learn from Glenn what puzzle pieces make up finance transformation, what steps finance teams can take to start using AI, the limitations of ChatGPT, Chat GPT-4, the different applications of different Ais, the importance of mindful work, and much much more. Glenn is a CFO, Director & Author, known for his industry renowned book ‘Deep Finance’ that charts the course for modern CFOs in leading digital transformation using AI. His most recent move has seen hhttps://openai.com/ im become Director and CFO for the Eventus Advisory Group, who provide CFO services for SMEs. And, in his spare time, Glenn is a triathlete and marathoner, is in the process of finishing a 200,000 word sci-fi epic novel. Show Notes Where to find out more about Glenn • Glenn on LinkedIn - here • Glenn’s website - here • Glenn’s book - here • Glenn’s GhatGPT FP&A tool project - here Tech Mentioned • ChatGPT-3 & 4: here • DataRobot: here • Google Glass: here (Google Glass is now discontinued) • Meta Portal Glasses: here • Wolfram Alpha: here • GitHub Co-Pilot: here • Notion: here • TensorFlow: here • Keras: here • PyTorch: here • Garmin Watch: here • Apple Watch: here People Mentioned • Chris Bell: LinkedIn here 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter here 📺: Subscribe on YouTube here Contents [00:01:48] Why Glenn got into AI [00:11:37] Glenn’s FP&A tool written by ChatGPT [00:14:02] The puzzle pieces that make up finance transformation [00:23:03] What’s the entry level for finance teams that want to start using AI? [00:28:01] Beware the accuracy of AI [00:32:50] Differences between RPA & AI [00:37:39] Is prompt engineering actually going to be a thing? [00:41:16] Virtual AI assistants, and merging man/woman and machine [00:47:49] GPT is not a math engine, Wolfram Alpha is a better bet [00:50:32] Different Ais for different purposes + ChatGPT-4 [00:57:30] Moving from mindless work to mindful work [00:58:49] The tools Glenn can’t live without

Episode - 016: - Where we learn about Adam’s move from finance into software development, his view on low-code tools, why you don’t need a finance background to be a good business partner, AI autosuggestion, how Adam’s building ChatGPT into his tools, the future of FP&A AI predictions and much much more. Adam is the founder of FlowCog who make SaaS financial projections easy. Adam is a developer himself, and writes about everything SAAS related, modelling metrics, FP&A and more. And in his spare time, he likes to spend time with his wife and 15 month old and has been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with his wife for the past three to four years. So watch out everyone. Show Notes Where to find out more about Adam • Adam on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-tzagournis-cpa/ • FlowCog website - https://flowcog.com/ Tech Mentioned • Notion - Notion - https://affiliate.notion.so/tech-for-finance • Trello – https://www.trello.com • GitHub Copilot - https://github.com/features/copilot • ChatGPT - https://chat.openai.com/chat • Nixsheets - https://www.nixsheets.com/ • SaasAnt - https://www.saasant.com/ 📧: Sign up for The Tech for Finance Newsletter here 📺: Subscribe on YouTube here Contents [00:02:07] Adam’s move from finance into software development [00:08:46] The evolution of low-code tools [00:17:38] Not needing a finance background to be a good business partner. [00:23:42] Finance + Sales & finding the right customer fit [00:26:07] Why Saas companies? [00:31:57] Auto-suggesting industry specific accounts structures [00:39:11] AI Autosuggestion + future user interfaces [00:45:57] Building ChatGPT into FlowCog [00:53:08] How long before AI can make predictions from external variables. [00:59:02] AI seeing context vs prompt engineering [01:01:25] Failing building ChatGPT into Google Docs [01:07:14] Adam’s favourite tools

Former Audit professional, Chris Bell, discusses creating a junior accountant using AI with Luka, automation workflows, AI integration in finance, tools used in business operations, and the future of AI in mainstream accounting platforms like Xero. Topics also include Notion and Spark Mail productivity tools, transitioning to Notion for task management, exploring Reddit for niche gadgets, and the future of AI moderation and search engines.

Dante Healy, former Accounting Manager at Ford Motor Company, shares insights on finance transformation projects, XP&A vs FP&A, AI implementation, and productivity tools. He emphasizes building a business case, benchmarking, leveraging accurate data for AI, and the importance of clean data. Dante delves into the evolving tech landscape, the concept of technical debt, and recommends productivity tools like Notion and Rize.

Guest Angel Lam shares insights on qualities for finance pros, tech skills importance, LinkedIn profile tips. Discussed working style changes, skepticism towards ChatGPT. Emphasized personal branding, effective communication for career growth. Explored balance between human interaction and tech, caution with NFT trends. Shared tech tools for productivity in finance career.

Episode - 012: - Where we learn from Kevin Appleby – COO and Podcast host at GrowCFO and host of ‘The next 100 Days’ Podcast – What is GrowCFO, and why you should join for free, how to think about software assessments, Kevin’s finance predictions for 2023, whether we’ll ever see a continuous close, dealing with transformation, ChatGPT and much much more. Kevin started his career as an auditor for BDO before working for businesses like ICI, PwC, Mouchel and EDF Energy. Kevin's goal is now to help finance teams and CFOs thrive by sharing insight through his podcasts and growing the GrowCFO network. Show Notes Where to find Kevin & GrowCFO Kevin on Linkedin here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-appleby-295417a/ GrowCFO here - https://www.growcfo.net GrowCFO podcast here - https://www.growcfo.net/growcfo-show  Tech Mentioned Slack – https://www.slack.com Aqilla – https://www.aqilla.com ChatGPT - https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt Jasper - https://www.jasper.ai People Mentioned Paul Barnhurst - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy/ Christoph Iwaniez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christoph-iwaniez/ Chris Treadwell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tredwellchris/ GrowCFO Recordings [Note – You must become a free member before you can access these recordings] https://www.growcfo.net/webinars/ Contents [00:01:46] What is GrowCFO? [00:07:30] GrowCFO Transformation Training [00:10:27] How to think about software assessments [00:17:27] Finance Predictions for 2023 [00:23:49] ESG, Data Governance, Month-End Close [00:27:50] Will we ever see a continuous close? [00:33:45] Dealing with transformation & change [00:38:45] ChatGPT & Jasper [00:44:04] Find more about Kevin & GrowCFO