Best AI Finance Programs 2026: Columbia, Nicolas Boucher, David Fortin & More | The FP&A Guy
AI: The Future of Finance

Learn AI for Finance

Top AI certifications and programs from Columbia, Nicolas Boucher, David Fortin, Carolina Lago, FPI and more with exclusive discounts.

59% CFOs Using AI Gartner, 2025
20%+ Productivity Gains PwC AI Jobs Barometer, 2025
56% Wage Premium PwC AI Jobs Barometer, 2025
79% Increasing AI Budget Bain Capital Ventures, 2025

The AI Revolution in Finance

AI is transforming finance at unprecedented pace. These programs represent an opportunity to master critical AI skills for FP&A & Finance Professionals.

Why AI Skills Matter: According to PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer, AI-skilled workers earn a 56% wage premium. Bain Capital Ventures reports 79% of CFOs plan to increase their AI budgets, and Gartner's 2025 survey found 59% of finance functions are already using AI.

Program Comparison

Program Price Duration Format Best For
Columbia AI Certificate $4,700 8 weeks Live cohort Comprehensive education & credential
AI Finance Club $900/year Ongoing Community Continuous learning & networking
AIFP&A $77.60 - $277.60 4 weeks Online Budget-friendly certification
Microsoft Copilot Masterclass $177 Self-paced On-demand video Dedicated Copilot training for M365 users
AI FP&A Accelerator Set at enrollment 4 weeks · 8 sessions Live cohort Building a real FP&A workflow in Claude
AI-Powered Accountant (AIPA) $900 ($765 w/ code) 7 weeks Live + modules Accountants building AI workflows in Excel

The table covers programs you take yourself. If you are a finance leader who needs AI built and governed across your team, see Glenn Hopper's consulting below.

Explore Each Program

Ivy League and industry-leading AI certifications for finance professionals

Ivy League

AI in Business & Finance Certificate

Columbia University & Wall Street Prep

Regular Price: $5,000 $4,700 Save $300

Use code: THEFPAGUY300

  • 8-week intensive cohort program
  • Columbia Executive Education certificate
  • 10 hours per week commitment
  • Live instruction from industry experts
  • Real-world AI implementation projects
  • Elite peer network included
Apply to Columbia Program
3M+ Social Media Followers

AI Finance Club

Nicolas Boucher

Regular Price: $1,000 $900 Save 10%

Use code: YNVTUWKG

  • Weekly AI workshops and masterclasses
  • Access to 3,000+ member community
  • Exclusive AI tools and templates
  • Direct access to Nicolas Boucher
  • Monthly events
  • Early access to new AI features
Join AI Finance Club
Specialized

AI for FP&A Professional

FP&A Professionals Institute

Regular Price: $97 - $347 $77.60 - $277.60 Save 20%

Use code: FPAGUY

  • AI fundamentals to advanced applications
  • Finance-specific AI use cases
  • Practical tools and techniques
  • Self-paced learning options
  • Multiple package tiers available
  • Future-ready skill development
Explore AIFP&A
Only Dedicated Copilot Training

Microsoft Copilot Masterclass

David Fortin, CPA & Microsoft MVP

Regular Price: $197 $177 Save 10%

Use code: THEFPAGUY10

  • Only dedicated Copilot training I offer my audience
  • Hands-on Excel, Outlook, Word, Teams & PowerPoint
  • Taught by a CPA and Microsoft MVP
  • Self-paced with lifetime access
  • Prompting framework and ready-to-use templates
  • Finance and business lens throughout
Enroll in Copilot Masterclass
Built for Claude & FP&A

AI FP&A Accelerator

Carolina Lago, AFM · Tactic Financial

Pricing Set at enrollment Waitlist open

Waitlist members get first access to seats, dates & pricing.

  • 4-week live cohort: 8 working sessions (~2.5 hrs) plus orientation
  • Build a real FP&A workflow in Claude on your own data
  • Tactic OS skill library, yours to keep and extend
  • Companion course and masterclasses (roadmap, security, mini apps, storytelling)
  • All session recordings, yours to keep
  • Accelerator Lab: lifetime community access
Explore the Accelerator
Excel-Native AI

AI-Powered Accountant (AIPA)

Lance Rubin, Andrew Siah & Iris Meng

Regular Price: $900 $765 Save 15%

Use code: 15OFF3

  • 7-week live cohort: 6 live sessions plus 3 self-paced modules
  • Build real AI workflows in Excel and Power BI
  • Taught by three practitioners: modeling trainer, AI researcher, finance AI lead
  • Pick-the-right-tool framework across Claude, TabAI, Power BI & Xero
  • Prompt library and change-management templates to keep
  • Direct access to the instructors
Explore AIPA

For Finance Leaders and Teams

The programs above are for upskilling yourself. If you lead finance and need AI implemented and governed across your team, that is a different job, and a different person.

Consulting, not a course

AI Finance Consulting

Glenn Hopper, RoboCFO.ai

Tailored to you

No standard price list. Glenn scopes each engagement to what you actually need, from an advisory sprint to a full production build.

  • Strategy through production: scope, build, govern, and support AI in finance
  • Four stages, enter or stop anywhere: Discover, Diagnose, Build, Operate
  • Governance built for SOX, GAAP, and IFRS
  • Work directly with Glenn, a multi-time CFO, not junior consultants
  • Best for CFOs, VPs, and heads of FP&A rolling out AI at the org level
Explore Working With Glenn

When you reach out, mention that Paul Barnhurst, The FP&A Guy sent you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which AI program should I start with?

It depends on your goal. For community and steady, practical upskilling, start with Nicolas Boucher's AI Finance Club. For a prestigious, comprehensive credential, choose the Columbia certificate. To build a real FP&A workflow hands-on, Carolina Lago's AI FP&A Accelerator is a live cohort built around Claude. For dedicated Microsoft Copilot skills, go with David Fortin's Masterclass. And if you lead finance and need AI implemented across your team, that's Glenn Hopper's consulting, not a course.

Is the Columbia AI certificate worth $4,700?

For professionals seeking training from an elite university and comprehensive AI education, absolutely. The Columbia name carries significant weight.

What's included in the AI Finance Club?

Weekly workshops, a 3,000+ member community, exclusive tools and templates, and regular learning events with Nicolas Boucher.

Do I need programming experience?

No! These programs are designed for finance professionals without coding backgrounds. They focus on practical application of AI tools.

What if I specifically want to learn Microsoft Copilot?

David Fortin's Microsoft Copilot Masterclass is the only dedicated Copilot training I offer my audience. Taught by a CPA and Microsoft MVP, it's built around Excel, Outlook, Word, Teams, and PowerPoint: the M365 tools finance and business professionals use every day. Use code THEFPAGUY10 for 10% off.

What's the best program for actually building AI workflows in FP&A?

If you want to build, not just watch demos, Carolina Lago's AI FP&A Accelerator is the most hands-on option here. It's a 4-week live cohort where you build a real FP&A workflow in Claude on your own data, with direct access to Carolina. It's best for practicing FP&A professionals ready to do the work between sessions.

How do these programs differ at a glance?

They solve different problems. Columbia is the premium, cohort-based credential for those who want an Ivy League mark on their resume. AI Finance Club is an ongoing community for continuous learning and networking with Nicolas Boucher. AIFP&A is a budget-friendly certification focused on finance use cases. Microsoft Copilot Masterclass is tool-specific training for professionals who live in Microsoft 365 and want practical Copilot skills. Carolina Lago's AI FP&A Accelerator is a hands-on live cohort where you build a real FP&A workflow in Claude on your own data. Most professionals benefit from pairing one credential-focused program with one hands-on or tool-focused program. Separately, if you are a finance leader who needs AI implemented across your team rather than training for yourself, Glenn Hopper's consulting is the org-level option.

What if I need AI implemented across my finance team, not just training for myself?

Then you want implementation, not a course. Glenn Hopper's consulting (RoboCFO.ai) helps finance leaders scope, build, and govern AI across the team, from an advisory sprint to a full production build, with governance for SOX, GAAP, and IFRS. It's built for CFOs and heads of FP&A, not individual upskilling.

Can I expense these programs through my employer?

Many finance professionals successfully expense these through professional development or training budgets. The Columbia certificate, in particular, fits well within executive education budgets given its university credential. For smaller programs, framing them as tool-specific productivity training (Copilot, ChatGPT) often aligns with existing software training budgets. I'd recommend asking your manager before enrolling; a short ROI case focused on time savings usually does the trick.

How long before I see real results from these programs?

It depends on the program and how quickly you apply what you learn. Tool-focused training like the Copilot Masterclass can save you hours in your first week if you apply the lessons immediately. Certification programs like Columbia and AIFP&A deliver broader value over a longer time frame as you implement AI workflows. The common thread: value compounds with application, not completion.

Do the discount codes stack with other offers?

The discount codes on this page are for my audience, and I have worked with each program to obtain these exclusive discounts. They typically can't be combined with other promotional offers, but they represent the best available pricing I could secure. Final pricing and any stacking rules are confirmed at each provider's checkout.

Are these programs only for FP&A professionals?

No. While I cover them through an FP&A lens, the skills transfer across finance and business. Accountants, controllers, corporate strategy, operations, and consulting professionals all get strong value. The Copilot Masterclass in particular applies to anyone working in Microsoft 365, and Columbia's program is designed for business and finance leaders broadly.