In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss AI fatigue, better ways for finance teams to use AI, and the growing challenge of forecasting AI costs. They explore why finance leaders should focus less on chasing new models and more on building the data, context, and workflows needed to get real value from AI.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why finance teams should stop chasing every new AI model.

• Why context is becoming more important than prompting alone.

• How better KPIs and data foundations improve AI results.

• How organizations can forecast and manage AI token costs.

• Why AI success should be measured by business outcomes.

Alex Curran is the CEO of Aptitude Software, a company that has spent over 40 years building finance solutions for complex organizations. After joining Aptitude over 12 years ago, Alex progressed through multiple leadership roles before becoming CEO in 2023. She now leads the company’s focus on AI-native finance technology and modern ERP solutions.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why CFOs are expected to become strategic partners in business decisions.

• Why clean data and strong architecture are essential for successful AI adoption.

• How AI-native ERP systems differ from traditional finance platforms.

• Why real-time finance and continuous close are becoming possible.

• How AI will change finance roles and create new opportunities.

Robert Collie is the founder and CEO of P3 Adaptive, a Microsoft analytics and AI consulting firm. During his 13 years at Microsoft, Robert helped lead the development of Power Pivot and Power BI. He is also the author of the bestselling Power Pivot and Power BI book and hosts the Raw Data with Rob Collie podcast. His upcoming book, Fair Game: Customizing AI to Your Business is Easier Than You Think, explores how organizations can make AI practical and accessible.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How Power BI and Power Pivot changed the way organizations use data.

• Why AI is creating new opportunities for finance and data professionals.

• Why sitting still with current skills can create career risks.

• How companies can build AI systems using strong data foundations.

• Why semantic models are becoming essential for AI adoption.

Alex Brower is the co-founder and CEO of QFlow.ai, helping finance and go-to-market teams connect data, improve forecast accuracy, and boost analyst productivity up to five times. He previously led finance and marketing at high-growth tech firms like AppTelligent (acquired by VMware) and Cloud Academy (acquired by QA).

In this episode, you will discover:

• Fix data plumbing before system consolidation.

• Use data dictionaries for consistent definitions.

• AI helps, but semantic logic is still needed.

• Vibe coding can create hidden costs if untested.

• Start with key unanswered questions, then plan solutions.

Dan and Nick are co-founders of Eagle Rock CFO, a financial advisory firm helping mid-size businesses grow faster and improve profitability. They combine AI and technology to deliver operational finance insights at a fraction of traditional consulting costs. Both are Harvard Business School graduates, with undergraduate degrees from Stanford and Dartmouth. Dan previously co-founded FinTech company Zanbato and worked as a professional investor at PrimeCap, while Nick has experience in private equity investing and scaling companies across SaaS, footwear, and trucking. 

In this episode, you will discover:

• AI works best when paired with structured financial data, not raw inputs

• Why deterministic systems still matter alongside AI in finance workflows

• How Eagle Rock’s 5-step system improves financial analysis accuracy

• Why human oversight is still needed in AI-powered FP&A systems

• How fractional CFOs can save 20–50 hours per month using AI tools

Ron Nachum is the founder and CEO of Sapien, an AI-native platform that deploys agents to understand and act on messy, siloed data across ERPs, data warehouses, CRMs, and spreadsheets. Ron studied at Harvard, where he focused on computer science, statistics, and applied AI research. He has spent years building AI solutions for finance and operational processes, creating systems that help companies make better, faster decisions and optimize their operations.

In this episode, you will discover:

• AI can unlock value from messy, siloed financial data

• Sapien’s platform automates reporting, forecasting, and operational decisions

• Human oversight and governance remain crucial for AI configurability

• Talent density and culture are key to scaling a young, fast-growing company

• Early entrepreneurial mindset shapes long-term innovation

Dave Trier is CEO of ModelOp, leading the company with a focus on customer value, product innovation, and enterprise execution. With over 20 years of experience across AI, data science, analytics, cloud, and enterprise software, Dave is a patent-holder and trusted partner to CIOs, CTOs, and AI leaders. Prior to becoming CEO, he shaped ModelOp’s product strategy and held senior roles at Think Big Analytics, Powered by Action, and Accenture Technology Labs. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame. 

In this episode, you will discover:

• How to industrialize AI delivery across an enterprise

• Managing risk, governance, and compliance for AI implementations

• Measuring AI ROI using financial, feedback, and usage metrics

• The CFO’s role in AI oversight and rationalizing AI investments

• Key lessons for change management and process discipline in AI adoption

Scott Leshinski is the President of OneStream Software, where he leads OneStream’s growth and innovation. With a background in corporate finance at GE Capital, co-founding Bluestone International, and working at Huron Consulting Group, Scott has a wealth of experience in driving major tech transformations. He joined OneStream in 2021 and was promoted to President in 2023 after helping the company achieve impressive growth. 

In this episode, you will discover:

• What OneStream's acquisition by Hg Capital means for its future

• The benefits of using a unified platform in finance

• How automation is improving financial processes

• The evolving role of automation in financial planning and decision-making

• How OneStream’s tools are helping businesses become more agile and efficient

Ali Hussain is the CEO and co-founder of Tabs, where he leads the development of AI-native solutions designed to automate the billing, collections, and revenue recognition process. With a background spanning product leadership at Google, strategy consulting at BCG, and public policy, Ali is at the forefront of the next wave of finance technology.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How AI is transforming revenue management in finance

• The importance of data context in AI-powered tools

• Why traditional finance systems fail to address modern revenue models

• How Tabs automates billing, collections, and revenue recognition

David Ingraham is the CEO and founder of HyperPerfect, a financial reporting and accounting platform that integrates powerful AI directly into Excel. With nearly 20 years of experience in private equity, David has worked on deals totaling over $1.5 billion. He is also passionate about educational initiatives, serving as board president of Aim High, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free summer education to nearly 2,000 students annually.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why are finance professionals slow to adopt AI despite its potential

• How AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement

• Why context is everything in AI models, especially in Excel

• The limitations of AI in finance and how to work around them

Josh Schauer is the CFO at insightsoftware, where he leads financial strategy and operations. He previously served as SVP of Finance from 2020 to 2024 and led Financial Planning and Consolidation at Longview before its acquisition by insightsoftware. Josh has extensive experience in FP&A, consolidation, and finance transformation, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why are finance teams slow to adopt AI despite knowing its importance

• Why AI should be treated as a teammate, not a replacement

• How poor data and broken processes limit AI’s value

• Practical use cases for AI in FP&A, including variance analysis

• How scenario planning can be done faster using AI

Shannon Nash is a global C-suite leader, CPA, attorney, and board director with over 30 years of experience across finance, technology, and governance. She is a Partner at Alpha AI, where she helps organizations strengthen AI governance and strategic decision-making. Shannon has served as CFO at companies like Wing, Reputation.com, and Inside Source, and currently sits on multiple boards, including SoFi Bank and NetScout Systems.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why finance professionals must continuously retool in the age of AI

• How AI is changing the role of CFOs and decision-making

• The importance of AI governance at the board level

• How to manage AI investment alongside “AI sprawl.”

• What key questions boards should be asking about AI

Riya Grover is the Co-founder and CEO at Sequence. Sequence, backed by a16z with $40M raised, is building the first agentic platform for accounts receivable. The company helps B2B businesses automate quoting, billing, invoicing, and revenue recognition, especially for complex pricing and custom contracts. Prior to Sequence, Riya founded Feedr, a venture-backed company that exited to Compass Group in 2020. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics and Management from Oxford University.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why building a two-sided marketplace is incredibly difficult

• How modern B2B pricing models break traditional billing systems

• The difference between deterministic systems and generative AI in finance

• Why human-in-the-loop design is critical for financial AI agents

• What the future finance tech stack will look like in the next five years

Paul and Glenn discuss their firsthand experiences with AI-driven tools, from tracking expenses and managing journal entries to building financial models. They also dive into the ways small and medium businesses are utilizing AI-powered Excel agents to streamline their financial processes without the need for expensive, traditional planning tools.

In this episode, you will discover:

• The impact of AI agents in finance and how they simplify workflows.

• Personal experiences with Claude and Copilot in real-world finance tasks.

• How to integrate AI into your finance team’s daily tasks.

• The benefits and challenges of AI-powered automation in finance.

Kevin A.Thomas, CFA, is the founder of Omniga and a seasoned strategic finance leader focused on scaling digital businesses. Kevin is passionate about rebuilding the back office to help businesses make smarter decisions, faster. Drew Hyatt is the Co-Founder and CTO of Omniga. He plays a key role in architecting Omniga’s infrastructure, translating complex workflows into scalable technology for finance teams. 

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why clean books are the foundation for strong financial decisions

• The hidden risks in small business bookkeeping and how to fix them

• The difference between replacing tasks and supporting human judgment

• How to expand from bookkeeping to full finance strategy support

• How to structure a finance workflow that scales with your business

Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows. They also share their thoughts on notable developments from 2025, including OpenAI’s shift toward consumer use, Microsoft Copilot’s mixed results, Google Gemini’s rapid improvement, and Nvidia’s continued growth.

In this episode, you will discover:

• How AI adoption differs between individuals and organizations

• Why poor data quality still limits many finance teams

• What recent changes from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia suggest

• Where Microsoft Copilot works well today and where it falls short

• Why automation and basic app-building are becoming more important

Ian Wong is the co-founder and CEO of Summation, an AI-powered decision platform built to help enterprise leaders better understand how their businesses are performing. Before Summation, Ian co-founded Opendoor and served as CTO through its journey to going public. He was also Square’s first data scientist, where he built early fraud and risk systems. Ian holds degrees in electrical engineering and statistics from Stanford University and brings a rare blend of deep technical expertise and business leadership experience.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What the “Monday Morning Problem” is and why it slows down decision-making

• Why dashboards and ad hoc reports often fail finance leaders

• The risks of relying on generic AI tools for financial analysis

• How decision-grade analytics differ from conversational AI

• What the coming “query flood” could mean for data infrastructure and costs

Cindy Vindasius is a CPA and MBA with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth technology and manufacturing companies through complex ERP, finance transformation, and AI-readiness initiatives. As the founder of Vindasius Advisory, she has led 12 ERP implementations, 8 IPO and M&A, and numerous SOX compliance projects. Her clients include industry leaders such as Tesla, Apple, 23andMe, and TenX. Through her ERP Preparedness Master Workshop and executive advisory programs, Cindy helps CFOs and CIOs align systems and processes for scale, resilience, and efficiency.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why 70% of ERP implementations fail and how to avoid common missteps

• What ERP readiness really means, and why it's often overlooked

• How AI-native ERPs compare to legacy systems in real-world implementations

• Why scalable data governance and documented processes are essential

• How Cindy’s ERP Preparedness Master Workshop helps teams succeed

Santiago Nestares is the CEO and co-founder of DualEntry, an AI-native ERP platform. Before DualEntry, he co-founded Benitago, a leading Amazon brand aggregator. His experience running a multi-entity, high-growth business exposed the inefficiencies in traditional finance systems, inspiring him to build a next-gen ERP solution from scratch.

In this episode, you will discover:

• Why legacy ERP systems are fundamentally broken, and how AI changes the game

• How DualEntry enables 24-hour ERP data migration

• The role of AI in journal entries, reporting, and reconciliation

• How auditors are embracing automation and AI for compliance and accuracy

• Why ERP systems must evolve beyond just being "AI-enabled" to truly AI-native