FP&A Unlocked Podcast
Listen and learn as Paul Barnhurst, aka The FP&A Guy, interviews the best and brightest people in FP&A globally, to discuss what FP&A looks like Today and help shape what it should look like Tomorrow.
The Go-To-Market Strategy for FP&A Pros to Drive Growth using Operational Metrics with Rohit Divate
Rohit Divate is a seasoned finance leader with expertise in high-growth SaaS companies. Having raised over $500 million and driven revenue growth from $20 million to over $500 million, Rohit has a deep passion for improving finance team effectiveness and is especially active in the AI space. He currently serves as the head of operations and finance at Sprig, an all-in-one product experience platform.
Expect to Learn:
How finance can act as a strategic partner to drive company growth, especially in the early stages.
The importance of balancing growth with sustainability in high-growth SaaS companies.
Key metrics and strategies for scaling operations and go-to-market efforts in early-stage startups.
Insights into how AI is changing the landscape of finance and operations.
Tips on building trust and accountability within teams to ensure collaborative success.
How To Master FP&A Business Acumen and Communication with John Sanchez
John Sanchez brings over 20 years of experience in FP&A and corporate finance. He has worked with world-class organizations such as Royal Caribbean Cruises and AutoNation, and now trains finance professionals through his consulting firm, FP&A Group. With a background in accounting and M&A, John brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to FP&A, including the importance of business acumen and communication skills for financial professionals.
Expect to Learn:
How great FP&A professionals go beyond Excel to understand the business.
The importance of business acumen in making impactful financial decisions.
Why communication, especially listening, is crucial in FP&A.
Insights on John’s career journey from accounting to FP&A.
Practical tips for improving communication and networking in finance.
The CFI Certification for Finance Professionals to Master Excel and Power Query with Landon & Clarke
Clarke Carter is a CPA and CMA working as a senior accountant in the healthcare industry. He supports budgeting and planning and has deep experience with Adaptive Insights and Excel modeling. Landon Cortenbach is a veteran CFO and finance executive who has scaled startups and worked with Fortune 50 companies. With a background in accounting, operations, and enterprise tech, Landon’s passion is in financial transformation and continuous learning. He’s a CPA, Six Sigma Green Belt, and a big advocate for real-world financial education.
Expect to Learn:
Why mastering Excel is still foundational in FP&A
The difference between theory and real-world finance training
How Power Query can save you hours every week
What separates effective FP&A teams from the rest
How to choose between certifications like CFA, FMVA, or FPAC
How SaaS CFOs Can Fix FP&A Gaps to Scale Performance and Boost Profitability with Paul Lynch
Ramya Krishnaganth is an experienced advisor with a background in cost accounting, financial planning, and enterprise transformations. She holds an executive MBA from Wharton and has helped companies across industries build smarter, more responsive finance functions. Her passion is making data more meaningful and empowering teams to work better together not just through systems, but through clarity, communication, and care.
Expect to Learn:
Why great FP&A is about being the “nervous system” of a company, not just reporting numbers.
How a CFO used one simple metric to drive company-wide cost discipline.
Why fixing data issues means looking beyond tech and starting with people and processes.
How to build credibility in finance by solving one problem at a time.
What it means to approach data with empathy and why it changes how you solve problems.
The FP&A Fix for Finance Leaders to Solve Data Trust Issues using Empathy and Strategy with Ramya
Ramya Krishnaganth is an experienced advisor with a background in cost accounting, financial planning, and enterprise transformations. She holds an executive MBA from Wharton and has helped companies across industries build smarter, more responsive finance functions. Her passion is making data more meaningful and empowering teams to work better together not just through systems, but through clarity, communication, and care.
Expect to Learn:
Why great FP&A is about being the “nervous system” of a company, not just reporting numbers.
How a CFO used one simple metric to drive company-wide cost discipline.
Why fixing data issues means looking beyond tech and starting with people and processes.
How to build credibility in finance by solving one problem at a time.
What it means to approach data with empathy and why it changes how you solve problems.
Strategic Finance Insights for FP&A Executives to Drive Growth in PE-Backed Companies with Nate Saperia
Nate Saperia is a finance veteran with a background spanning economic consulting, corporate finance at companies like GE and Hess, and advising private equity-backed firms on financial planning and analysis. Recently, Nate launched his own consulting firm, focusing on helping businesses navigate strategic finance challenges and achieve smarter growth. Known for his clear and pragmatic approach, Nate is passionate about helping FP&A professionals elevate their role beyond reporting into true business partnering.
Expect to Learn:
Why truly great FP&A means understanding the business and enabling better decision-making.
How to break down high-level financial goals into clear, measurable, and actionable KPIs.
The nuanced difference between traditional FP&A and strategic finance roles.
What it’s like working in private equity-backed companies, including the heavy reporting demands and rapid pace.
The top technical and interpersonal skills FP&A professionals should prioritize now.
The Influence Skills for FP&A Pros to Build Boardroom Trust Without the CFO Title with Wassia Kamon
Wassia Kamon is a finance powerhouse with over 15 years of experience across various industries, including manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, and nonprofits. As CFO at ACE, a nonprofit lending institution, she plays a key role in providing capital to entrepreneurs. Wassia has also been recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by CPA Practice Advisor and is the host of the podcast The Diary of a CFO. She's passionate about helping high-potential finance leaders step into executive roles and shares her expertise through coaching, speaking engagements, and teaching at the Wharton Online Certificate Program.
Expect to Learn:
How Wassia transitioned from FP&A to CFO and the unexpected challenges she faced along the way.
The power of trust and relationships in becoming a key business partner, not just a number cruncher.
Why being invited into decision-making conversations early is a game changer for finance teams.
What it was really like dealing with the board of directors for the first time as a CFO.
How to expand your influence and take a broader view of business to become a true strategic partner.
How Finance Teams Can Eliminate Data Errors and Automate Accounting with AI Parker Gilbert
Parker Gilbert is the CEO and Co-founder of Numeric, a financial close platform designed to make accounting teams faster, more accurate, and more collaborative. With a background in investment banking and hands-on experience as Head of Finance at Hearth, Parker understands both the strategic and operational challenges finance teams face. Frustrated by the limitations of traditional accounting tools, Parker set out to build Numeric, software purpose-built to simplify and streamline the month-end close.
Expect to Learn:
Why Parker and his team started Numeric to solve overlooked pain points in accounting.
How traditional tools like Excel and legacy ERP systems are failing modern accounting teams.
What it means to build software specifically for the financial close process.
Why visibility and collaboration are essential in reducing close errors.
How Numeric empowers teams to understand what’s been done, what’s left, and where issues arise.
How FP&A Pros Can Fix Poor Executive Communication Using a 5-Step Framework with Anders Liu-Lindberg
Anders is the co-founder and partner at the Business Partnering Institute, where he helps finance teams transform into strategic business partners. With over 10 years of experience as a business partner at Maersk, Anders has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to create value through finance. He is the co-author of Create Value as a Finance Business Partner and is about to release his new book, Communicating Financials to Executives. He is also a top LinkedIn voice with over 400,000 followers, where he shares valuable content for finance professionals looking to grow their careers and impact.
Expect to Learn:
How FP&A can go from just reporting numbers to playing a strategic role in the company.
The best way to present financial insights so executives can act on them.
Why synthesizing data is important for decision-making, and how it's different from just summarizing it.
Practical steps to improve communication between finance teams and business leaders.
How to build strong relationships with stakeholders, even when they’re hesitant to work with finance.
How the FPAC Certification Helps FP&A Professionals Get Promoted and Earn Strategic Credibility
Cassie is the Vice President of FP&A at Ultradent Products, a dental manufacturing company, where she played a key role in building the company’s first FP&A team from the ground up. Marcus serves as the Senior Finance Director at Wellpath, a healthcare company, where he is passionate about making finance accessible across all departments. Mario is the Senior Director of Finance at E.W. Scripps Company, brings over 25 years of experience in FP&A. He was part of the first cohort to earn the credential and shares valuable insights on how the certification helped him stand out and advance in his career.
Expect to Learn:
The impact of continuing education on staying up-to-date in the field of FP&A.
The value of the credential and how it can impact your career in FP&A.
Key insights on how to prepare for the exam and tips for success.
The importance of continuous learning and staying updated in the financial industry.
The role of FP&A in driving business strategy and decision-making.
The Real Revenue Risk from 104% Tariffs for CFOs with Karan Sood
Alfredo Kinanga is a finance and trade marketing professional with 14+ years of experience in accounting, planning, and commercial finance.He’s passionate about driving business growth and using FP&A to connect strategy and execution. Jihane Mochamad is a CPA from Canada with over 10 years in payroll, financial reporting, and budgeting.She works in the senior living industry, focusing on automation and preparing for the future of finance.
Expect to Learn:
What Alfredo and Jihane gained from the strategy and AI modules
How financial modeling and data storytelling helped transform their work
The power of co-creation and business partnering in FP&A
Why communication, empathy, and stakeholder relationships are must-have skills
How the program helped them reconnect with foundational finance knowledge
An overview of the CGFPA Certification & How it Helps FP&A Professionals Become Strategic Leaders with Alfredo and Jihane
Alfredo Kinanga is a finance and trade marketing professional with 14+ years of experience in accounting, planning, and commercial finance.He’s passionate about driving business growth and using FP&A to connect strategy and execution. Jihane Mochamad is a CPA from Canada with over 10 years in payroll, financial reporting, and budgeting.She works in the senior living industry, focusing on automation and preparing for the future of finance.
Expect to Learn:
What Alfredo and Jihane gained from the strategy and AI modules
How financial modeling and data storytelling helped transform their work
The power of co-creation and business partnering in FP&A
Why communication, empathy, and stakeholder relationships are must-have skills
How the program helped them reconnect with foundational finance knowledge
How Wharton’s FP&A Program Teaches AI and Automation - from real students! Dan Cotoia and Anh Tran
Dan Cotoia is a Senior Finance Director in the pharmaceutical industry with 18+ years of FP&A experience across commercial finance, R&D, and cost accounting.Anh Tran is a finance professional with a background in investment banking and regulatory finance, recently returning to corporate finance after completing the Wharton FP&A Certificate Program.
Expect to Learn:
Why Dan and Anh chose the Wharton FP&A Certificate over other programs
What makes the program stand out, from live interaction to practical content
Key takeaways they applied directly to their jobs
How much time you’ll actually spend on the coursework
How the program supports career transitions and networking
The role of AI and Power Query in modern FP&A training
Scaling An Office of CFO SaaS Software Powerhouse with AI, Acquisitions & Finance Innovation - Elias Apel
Elias Apel is the CEO of Lucanet, a global provider of “Office of the CFO” software solutions for enterprises and SMEs. Founded in 1999, Lucanet offers tools for financial planning, consolidation, ESG reporting, tax compliance, and treasury management. The company supports nearly 6,000 customers in over 50 countries, with offices across Germany, Europe, the UK, Asia, and North America. Elias previously served as Lucanet’s CFO and VP of International Go-to-Market. He is also the co-founder of Argonas Corporate Finance Advisors, specializing in complex M&A and financing transactions.
Expect to Learn:
What makes FP&A truly impactful and strategic
How to build trust across finance functions
Leveraging AI to boost financial operations
Transitioning from advisor to successful CEO
Integrating data analytics under finance leadership
Strategy behind Lucanet’s acquisition of Causal
How FP&A Teams can Influence CEOs and CFOs and drive the business forward with Glenn Snyder
Glenn Snyder is a Senior Director at Riverrun Consulting, specializing in interim financial leadership. With a career spanning financial services, fintech, SaaS, private equity, and more, he has held leadership roles at Franklin Templeton, Visa, Charles Schwab, and Digital Realty. Glenn is also an author, educator, and board member, passionate about mentoring finance professionals and improving FP&A effectiveness.
Expect to Learn:
The key elements of great FP&A and how it drives executive decisions
How to balance company goals with employee career development
Strategies for building strong business partnerships in FP&A
The role of automation and efficiency in FP&A reporting and analysis
How to successfully transition into a new leadership role
Overcoming resistance from business leaders and earning trust in finance
The importance of storytelling and data visualization in financial reporting
How FP&A Can Use External Data to Improve Forecasting with Jeff Casale and Rich Wagner
Jeff Casale is the CEO of Board, a leading FP&A software company. With previous leadership roles at MarkLogic, Dell Technologies, VMware, and EMC, Jeff has a deep understanding of enterprise technology and how finance functions can drive business growth. Rich Wagner is the Field CTO at Board and the former CEO & Founder of Prevedere, a predictive analytics company that leverages external data for accurate forecasting. With over 20 years of experience in technology, consulting, and Fortune 500 leadership, Rich brings valuable expertise in the intersection of AI, finance, and business strategy.
Expect to Learn:
How AI is transforming financial planning, reducing manual work, and improving decision-making.
Why integrating external data is essential for more accurate forecasting and risk management.
Why traditional budgeting cycles are outdated and how real-time, agile forecasting is becoming the new norm.
How CEOs and finance leaders rely on FP&A teams for strategic decision-making.
How finance professionals can improve their skills and become more valuable business partners.
How AI Agents will Streamline and Eliminate Manual Work for FP&A Professionals with Albert Ramos
Albert Ramos is a fractional CFO, AI strategist, and the founder of Stratego Intel Consulting, an AI-powered fractional CFO and virtual Chief AI Officer firm. With 15 years of executive leadership across finance, operations, sales, and technology, Albert has worked with publicly traded, private equity-backed, and employee-owned companies.
Expect to Learn:
How AI and predictive analytics are shaping the future of finance.
Why businesses often get pricing wrong and how FP&A can help fix it.
How AI and agent-based automation are streamlining financial processes.
How AI is Being Used by FP&A professionals & Implemented by Software Vendors with Vena CTO Hugh Cumming
Hugh Cumming is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Vena Solutions, a leading FP&A platform for Excel users. Hugh has led global teams in engineering, UX, cloud computing, and AI-driven innovation at companies like Finastra, SecureKey Technologies, ADP Canada, and Manulife. Hugh talks about his passion for using technology to drive efficiency and smarter decision-making, and helping to overcome change resistance in finance teams
Expect to Learn:
How AI is reshaping FP&A workflows and automating financial reporting.
The role of AI-powered copilots in driving business efficiencies.
Why change resistance in FP&A is common and how to overcome it.
Why FP&A Fails at Supporting Go-To-Market and How to Fix it with Chris Walker
Chris Walker is a visionary in B2B go-to-market strategies. As the CEO of Pasetto and Executive Chairman of Refine Labs, he is shaping the future of revenue operations by integrating finance, marketing, and sales intelligence. With years of hands-on experience in sales, marketing, and finance, Chris brings a unique perspective to understanding and improving go-to-market efficiency.
Expect to Learn:
Why go-to-market investments are often misallocated and how finance can take ownership of optimizing them.
The biggest mistakes companies make when measuring marketing ROI and sales effectiveness.
The importance of rethinking attribution models and revenue operations frameworks.
Business Partnering Strategies for Women in FP&A to Influence Decisions and Get Promoted with Ritu Saxena
Ritu is an accomplished finance professional and career coach with over 13 years of experience spanning investment banking, Big Four consulting, and commercial finance in India and New Zealand. She is the founder of Project Upgrade Her, a platform dedicated to helping women increase their career confidence and earning potential. Ritu has also been recognized as one of the Top 20 Chartered Accountants to Watch in Australia and New Zealand.
Expect to Learn:
Going beyond budgeting and forecasting to provide strategic insights.
How to transition into business partnering and key skills required.
Why it’s essential for career growth to build a strong personal brand.