Finance Techies - Finance and Technology Podcast

Today, we're diving into the fascinating space of AI for finance teams with Marie Speakman. Marie is a trailblazer. She transitioned from a role where she was the European CFO. She worked her way right up the, up the ranks of finance and was a CFO for many years. And now she spends her days consulting with finance teams on how to embrace AI to automate and transform their ways of working. She's got over 15 years in finance, in a number of different roles. She's founded her own accounting practice many years ago and currently spends her time working with lots of tech providers, like us, like me, and she's been really fantastic in that and working with her clients who are businesses. And also she's got a real big passion to help fractional CFOs. Those are CFOs who tend to work a day kind of as consultants, going around helping multiple businesses in a fractional, a part -time basis. So going around and helping multiple. And so that, and that's a, that's a tricky role and to do well as a fractional CFO, you really want to have great tech to automate a lot of the work so that you can just drop in, uh, see what's going on, add value. So we talked about the journey to AI. So she gave her recommendations on how to transition, where to start. We talked about the right tools and software. She's really big on this. So we talked about her kind of ideal stack, what tools to look for. We dived into a few specific areas and she gave us some great recommendations. The key takeaways, she really thinks, and I agree that the role of finance is evolving and we're more and more going to become strategic partners for the business. We need to embrace automation because there's a massive advantage. We automate the routine tasks. We don't need to do those anymore. We become more strategic and then we can just dive in and sort out the systems as needed. But the future of finance is more strategic. Marie teases us on a couple of great softwares that she is excited about that are coming that are still in sort of early phases. So that was fantastic. Don't miss out. This is a really fantastic episode that could redefine your career in finance. So tune in and enjoy. Thanks very much.  Chapters Introduction and Background Transition to AI and Automation Understanding Fractional CFO Benefits of Fractional CFO AI Tools and Gadgets Transformative Potential of AI in Finance AI's Impact on Finance Roles Automation in Different Areas of Finance Choosing AI Tools and Software# Becoming a Finance Business Partner Recommended AI Tools Useful links Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siritchie/ Sponsor: https://www.blox.so/ Sponsor Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blox-plan Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariespeakman-ai/ 

In this episode, I talked with Susan Power. Susan is the founder and CEO of Power Up Leadership. This is a fantastic consultancy that she started six years ago after a very successful career in the corporate world. At PowerUp Leadership they're all about executive coaching and leadership development. They work with clients and help them to train their teams on how to be better leaders and managers. For this episode today, I thought it was great to have a chat with Susan about how finance can be more of a business coach and how finance teams can redefine their role to be seen as a business coach and not just a scorekeeper. It's not just about tallying the numbers, but it's about helping to present some data and insights, but really also then ask the question and help our business counterparts to get to this moment of clarity. So Susan was fantastic. We talked through what it is to be a coach, some of the key techniques, the steps, the things that she goes through with every one of her coaching clients.  Some of the key questions that she asks to help them get to this moment of clarity so they can get a solution to a problem that they've been wrestling with and that they wouldn't have been able to get to on their own. She thinks that this is really the way that we can be, we can transform that, she said, she suggested that this is the way that we can transform from being just an average performer to an absolute exceptional finance person and key member of the team. She says that this is the way that we can transform our impact from being an average, from being average to really being exceptional. Susan says that this is the way that we can transform our impact from being average to being truly exceptional. It's a really fantastic conversation. Susan is an absolute expert in the field. And so I am really delighted that we can get this recorded and out for you. It's a really great conversation. Susan is an absolute expert in the field, very knowledgeable. And so I was delighted to be able to have this conversation today. I hope you enjoy. Chapters Introduction and Background Finance as a Business Coach Redefining the Role of Finance Teams The Role of a Coach Coaching Through Change Technology in Coaching and Learning Quick Fire Questions Leadership Philosophy Training and Contact Information Useful links Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siritchie/ Sponsor: https://www.blox.so/ Sponsor Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blox-plan Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpower/

In this episode we're joined by Carolina Lago. She is an expert in financial modelling. She's got a finance background and she's currently working as a consultant and trainer to help corporates and individuals to improve their financial modelling skills. This episode is all about the financial modelling essentials. I thought Carolina was a fantastic person to help us dive into some of the basics of financial models. What is a financial model? What are the different things that you can do with a financial model? Who should be building financial models? Who should know how they work and some tips and tricks. And she was absolutely fantastic. She shared her insights, her recommendations, also her things that you should really look out for and avoid. So this show is just packed full of golden nuggets to help you when you are making a big decision. If you really want to understand the finances and the data around a big decision, then this is the episode for you. Of course, at the end, I threw some fun questions at her just to keep her on her toes. But she was absolutely fantastic. And I hope you enjoy the episode. Thanks. Chapters Introduction and Background Carolina's Training Course The Importance of Financial Modeling Using Emojis to Describe Business Ventures Types of Financial Models What is Financial Modeling? Essentials of a Good Financial Model Common Financial Models Who Should Build Financial Models? Avoiding Hard-Coded Values in Models Using Consistent Design and Structure The Value of Future-Proofing Models When to Use Financial Models Financial Models for Different Departments The Role of Financial Models in Decision-Making The Use of Technology in Financial Modeling Common Mistakes to Avoid in Financial Models Using Python in Excel for Advanced Modeling Success Stories in Financial Modeling Building a Financial Model Emerging Trends in Financial Modeling Favorite Tech Tools Favorite Productivity Hack: Notion Dream Collaboration: Microsoft Collaborating with Google Sheets Favorite Phrase or Quote Favorite Chart or Visual: Waterfall Craziest Advice Given: Focus on Processes Desire to Learn Coding Launching a Course Useful links Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siritchie/ Sponsor: https://www.blox.so/ Sponsor Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blox-plan Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s-carolinalago/ 

In this podcast episode, I speak to Bhavik Vashi, We go way back, we used to work together! I thought he'd be a great guest to bring on - Currently Managing Director for Carta in APAC - the focus for this week is to hear from a Next Generation Sales leader about what makes a difference and how Finance teams can support the mission. Carta is an impressive B2B software company. They are commonly known as a cap table or an equity management company. Bhavik discusses his journey from his start at KPMG in accounting to his current role as a Sales leader and General Manager. He shares insights on what makes him successful - such as leadership cadence, major meetings and metrics that help him stay on top of the business.  Bhavik also emphasizes the importance of a strong finance business partner who understands the context of the business and empowers the sales leader to make informed decisions.  We dive into essential tech tools for sales leaders.  Bhavik discusses the importance of an “abstraction layer” - most people might call that "The Spreadsheet", the place where you bring together data from multiple systems, and connect both operational and financial data.  Bhavik is a rising star - Carta is an impressive company and this episode does not disappoint. Enjoy. Chapters Introduction and Background What Inspires and Motivates Surprising Personal Interest Transition from Accounting to Sales Role of a Managing Director Key Meetings and Ceremonies Key Metrics and Sales Forecasting Reporting and Accountability Ideal Finance Business Partner Essential Tech for Sales Leaders The Abstraction Layer The Need for Real-Time Decision Making Limitations of CRM Systems The Role of Enterprise Performance Management Tools Other Essential Tools: Slack and Zoom Favorite Catchphrase and Chart Favorite Place to Get Work Done Living the Dream Topics to Learn More About The Need for an Abstraction Layer The Search for a Middle Ground The Frustration with Excel How to Connect with Bhavik Useful links Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siritchie/ Sponsor: https://www.blox.so/ Sponsor Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blox-plan Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavikvashi/ 

In this podcast episode, I speak to Nick Vandesype, Co-Founder and CEO at Predikt -  Nick is an AI strategy and advanced analytics professional with a background in financial analysis, financial modelling, and data science. Nick started his career at Deloitte Before deciding to blaze his own trail and work on Predikt. Predikt is a new startup pioneering innovative technologies and building predictive analytics solutions for finance teams. What is Predictive Analytics you say - well... that's why we recorded this episode. Nick understands the topic so well that he makes something really complex sound so simple. It's impressive actually. Nick's superpower in working with finance teams is storytelling, using data and analytics to create digestible and actionable insights. Enjoy the episode. Chapters Introduction and Setting Background and Journey Overview of Predictive Analytics Predictive Analytics in the AI Landscape Benefits and Applications of Predictive Analytics Superpower in Working with Finance Teams Emerging Trends in Predictive Analytics Piece of Advice Topics to Learn Introduction to Predikt and Call for Alpha Customers How to Get in Touch Explanation of Digital Twin Conclusion Useful links Host: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siritchie/ Sponsor: https://www.blox.so/ Sponsor Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blox-plan Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickvandesype/  Guest website: https://predikt.tech/