FP&A Today

CFO and Partner, Tyler Caskey loves hunting down and automating manual processes, installing better systems, and redesigning how information is gathered. He adds: “On average I can cut 40% of the time cost out of most finance and payroll teams within 12 months. And with the 40% saved time they can significantly reduce error rates and start to show their true value.” In this episode Tyler talks to Glenn about some of his experiences working with teams from New Zealand, Australia, the US, UK and Europe. This episode covers: Getting dropped into audit in KPMG New Zealand before discovering a  “love for helping messy clients” Nonprofits and the finance of Movember getting up to 3000 transactions per day  How to sell the change of system stack  SAP vs Xero vs QuickBooks  Tech upgrades ahead of a liquidity event How I have seen PE destroy the culture of the business (and some good experiences) Sharing scars and war stories from PE  My finance horror at a restaurant business and why I walked out  CFOs and sniff testing the budget How we are using AI in finance and budgeting   My experience being a CFO in the wild recruitment business  How finance can prepare themselves to make informed tech decisions Involving junior team members on projects Basketball meditation and wellness   Connect and chat with Tyler on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylercaskey/

Brandon Wilson, Founder and CEO of Steady Dynamic, shares his expertise in leveraging data for financial planning. He emphasizes the shift from predictive to prescriptive analytics, where data not only provides insights but also actionable recommendations. The conversation dives into the impact of AI on finance, real-time data acquisition, and the transition of FP&A from being a cost center to a value-adding function. Wilson also explores the role of complex modeling techniques and the benefits of different database systems in enhancing data analytics.

Nicholas Mann, founder and CEO of Stratos Consulting, shares his expertise in optimizing data strategies for businesses. He discusses the journey towards a unified data architecture and emphasizes the crucial role of FP&A in a company’s overall strategy. Mann highlights the impact of AI on variance analysis and the importance of collaboration across departments. He also opens up about his personal journey living with achromatopsia, showcasing resilience in the face of challenges while transforming financial planning through data-driven approaches.

In this engaging conversation, Maria del Dado Alonso Sanchez, a seasoned CFO with a robust background in finance across major corporations like Amazon and Booking.com, shares her transformative journey. She discusses essential strategies for financial adaptability in fast-growing sectors, revealing lessons from launching Amazon Prime and navigating Booking.com's acquisition. Maria emphasizes the importance of aligning KPIs with industry challenges and the promising role of AI in finance. Plus, she shares some fun personal insights about kickboxing and karaoke!

Christian Wattig, former FP&A leader at major companies, shares insights on creating the Wharton FP&A Certificate Program. Topics include FP&A in multinational companies, startup vs big FP&A, new analysis techniques, building an FP&A team, AI in FP&A, and key trends in finance. He also discusses the importance of FP&A tools and the evolution of FP&A teams towards strategic value creation.

Joe Knight, author of 'Financial Intelligence', discusses the importance of storytelling in finance, empowering small businesses through financial literacy, evolving financial roles, addressing financial literacy challenges, empowering decision making through financial literacy, and exploring the impact of automation and technology on knowledge and power.

Researcher Alex Kim discusses groundbreaking study showing AI outperforms humans in financial analysis. Topics include AI accuracy, practical implications for finance pros, combining AI with human intelligence, and future research projects in AI and finance. Podcast also touches on Alex's background, self-taught coding skills, and the importance of staying updated on AI trends.

Learn career progression tips from Nick Gribbon and Laura Streather at Essenta in the finance industry. Topics include getting noticed by headhunters, transitioning to CFO roles in private equity, importance of behavioral competencies, referrals, and salary negotiation.

Geetha Ramachandran, an FP&A change agent, discusses her career journey from big corporations to startups, focusing on transforming operations. She shares key achievements like reducing days of closing, establishing KPIs aligned with business goals, and addressing challenges at multinational companies. Geetha also talks about her approach at Triangle Home during COVID, lessons from two decades in business partnering, and the impact of AI on finance professionals.

Soufyan Hamid, FP&A leader, and Matthew Herbert, Chewy Director of Finance, discuss the importance of storytelling in FP&A. They cover topics such as transitioning from numbers to storytelling, the gap between perception and reality in storytelling, actionable tips for presentations, and the significance of providing insights in FP&A.