FP&A Today

Andrew Polito is VP, Controller at Go HQ which provides a suite of back office services, including recruiting to delivery companies. The Fort Worth-based company provides back office support for transportation and logistics, seeing 500% growth in five years, earning a spot on the Inc 5,000 list of fastest- growing private companies in America.  In this episode: From audit to shifting to a private company finance team Building FP&A from the ground up  Power of the 13 week cash forecast How I introduced automation in an initial two-person finance team   How our finance tech stack delivers the data and insights to succeed  

Mariya Guttoh is  Director of FP&A and Treasury at PayJoy, a global FinTech company expanding credit access through smartphones to underserved customers in emerging markets. Celebrating 10 years this year , the company has served over 15 million customers and is on track to reach $650 million in revenue and $110 million in profit by the end of 2025. In this episode Mariya traces her steps from cosmetic marketing in Ukraine to arriving in the US with $300 and working three jobs while earning her MBA to becoming a finance leader. My finance journey working three jobs to pay for my MBA Becoming an advocate for AI in finance Two finance camps– “excited but clueless” and “cautious but clueless”  Using AI to automate vendor reporting across 10 countries  Identifying high impact AI wins (forecasting)  My ideal magic FP&A solution  How I turned myself into a self-created extrovert  Offset in Excel 

Akhil Khunger, VP Quantitative Analytics, Barclays, has more than ten years of experience in the field. Akhil develops statistical models to forecast balance sheets, revenue and probability of default. He has experience with time series modeling, statistical modeling, machine learning and building implementation frameworks using Python and other programming languages. Akhil, who has a master’s in Financial Engineering from UC  Berkeley and London School of Economics, has worked in CCAR and Bank of England stress testing and know the Basel III/IV framework, SR 11/7, SR 15-18, and SR 15-19. He also has experience managing junior model developers. In this episode:  The worst year for modeling? Diving into models  Working with big datasets Getting to the real reasons behind trends and data   The power of stress testing  What human judgement can bring to the table  The AI component in forecasting 

Esti Levy Dadon, the Executive VP Finance at Fiverr, transitioned from public accounting at Ernst & Young to build Fiverr’s finance team from scratch. She shares her insights on preparing for the company's IPO in 2019 and establishing a robust forecasting model for a rapidly changing marketplace. Esti discusses the challenges of balancing aggressive growth with solid controls and the importance of hiring talented FP&A professionals. She also emphasizes the value of a mindset shift for finance leaders to truly connect with the business.

Marcos Bento, Director of BI at Wasabi Technologies, and David Suter, Director of FP&A, share insights into their successful collaboration. They discuss the evolution of net retention metrics and the significance of storytelling in communicating complex data. The duo highlights their journey from manual to automated data processes, resulting in improved efficiency. They emphasize the importance of problem-solving skills in team dynamics and explore the challenges of measuring ROI while ensuring effective communication within lean teams.

Marcos Bento, Director of Business Intelligence, and David Suter, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, share insights from their work at Wasabi Technologies, a leading cloud storage company. They discuss building trust between BI and FP&A teams for better collaboration. Key topics include improving forecasting accuracy, utilizing KPIs like dollars per terabyte, and the role of predictive analytics in financial planning. They also delve into the transformative impact of AI in automating variance analysis while emphasizing the importance of clear communication in data management.

Daniel Gardner, operational finance business partner at FirstGroup Plc, shares insights from his diverse finance career with brands like L’Oreal and the Body Shop. He emphasizes the power of 'systems thinking' in understanding organizational dynamics and the importance of collaboration in finance. Gardner discusses his transformation projects, the shift from lagging to leading indicators, and how philosophy enhances financial decision-making. He also touches on the integration of Python within Excel for improved data analysis, all while navigating the evolving landscape of AI in finance.

Join Sarah Schlott, Senior Director of Finance at Tray, as she shares her candid journey from billing temp to finance leader. Schlott challenges conventional practices like annual budgets, advocating for a realistic, operator-first approach to FP&A. She emphasizes the importance of aggressive curiosity and transparency in financial processes. Learn why variance analysis can be misleading and how Excel limitations can bog down financial planning. Her insightful take on managing data and fostering collaboration is a must-listen for anyone in finance!

Connagh Hopkins, Head of Business Planning and Reporting at Western Power, shares her unique journey from working on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to tackling Australia's energy transformation. She discusses the complexities of scenario planning in the evolving energy landscape and the challenges posed by inflation. Connagh emphasizes the critical role of AI in finance and the necessity of cross-functional collaboration for success in FP&A. Additionally, she offers insights into navigating leadership in finance and the importance of data management in utility companies.

Matt Hudson, CFO of Grammarly and former founding member of Coda, discusses the exciting intersection of finance and AI. He explains Grammarly's recent $1 billion in non-dilutive financing aimed at fueling future growth and acquisitions. Hudson shares insights from his journey at YouTube and highlights the evolving role of finance in tech amid AI advancements. He emphasizes the need for a blend of data science and finance skills, while also envisioning a future where AI reshapes business applications and workforce dynamics.