Helping FP&A professionals and teams become the partners their businesses rely on.
I'm Paul Barnhurst, The FP&A Guy. After 12+ years in the seat at companies including American Express, Solera, and DigiCert, I went independent to teach FP&A, research the tools shaping finance, and share the honest advice I wish I'd had earlier in my career.
New here?
Meet The FP&A Guy
No fluff. No hype. Just real-world FP&A, beard included at no extra charge.
- 12+ years in corporate FP&A
- 115K+ LinkedIn followers
- FPAC · FPAP · AFM · Microsoft MVP
Choose Your Path
Start with the path that’s right for you.
For FP&A & Finance Professionals
I want to grow my FP&A career.
Practical FP&A courses, AI training, podcasts, Excel resources, and guides to help you build skills and advance your finance career.
- Self-paced FP&A, AI, and Excel courses
- Live FP&A Best Practices training
- FP&A certification and AI program comparisons
- Podcasts, articles, Excel files, and best-practice guides
For Finance Leaders & Teams
I want to build a stronger finance team.
Customized FP&A, Excel, modeling, data storytelling, and AI training for finance teams that need to sharpen their skills, select better tools, and influence better decisions.
- Corporate FP&A training programs
- Excel, modeling, and data storytelling
- Business partnering and decision support
- FP&A software selection support
For Finance Software Vendors
I want to reach finance buyers with trusted content.
Educational content, sponsored campaigns, market research, and advisory for finance software companies that want to reach FP&A and finance buyers and better understand the market.
- Educational content and sponsored campaigns
- Podcast, newsletter, and webinar opportunities
- Finance software quick pitches
- Market research and advisory
For PE & VC Investors
I need to understand the FP&A and finance software market.
Independent market intelligence for PE and VC firms evaluating FP&A and finance software, grounded in 300+ vendor conversations, market maps covering 150+ tools, and 3 published buyer guides.
- Deal flow & target identification
- Market maps & competitive landscape analysis
- Product, category, and commercial diligence support
- State of the FP&A software market briefings
Trust, Authenticity & The Beard
Why FP&A and finance professionals trust The FP&A Guy.
Practical education, independent recommendations, and real-world advice shaped by years in the finance seat and hundreds of interviews with finance leaders, software experts, and practitioners.
Built on trust
Clear, independent guidance on the tools, training, certifications, and trends shaping modern FP&A.
Authentic by design
Plain language, real-world examples, and a practitioner’s point of view, shaped by years in the FP&A seat.
Built for actual FP&A work
Lessons grounded in 12+ years of corporate FP&A experience, hundreds of podcast interviews, and examples built for the work finance teams actually do.
A global audience across LinkedIn, YouTube, podcasts, and The FP&A Guy newsletter.
The FP&A Guy Podcast Network
Three finance podcasts covering FP&A, modeling, finance technology, and AI.
Three shows for finance professionals covering FP&A, financial modeling, career advice, and AI in finance. Press play on any of them right here.
Practical conversations with FP&A leaders on how to become a better FP&A professional.
There's a reason Paul's podcasts are some of the highest-rated in the world — he finds world-class guests and always offers varying perspectives. — Chris Reilly, Founder, Financial Modeling Education
Deep dives into modeling craft, technique, and the people building the world's best financial models.
An engaging host and moderator, Paul brings insight, humor, and a unique perspective that leaves listeners with a sharper understanding of financial modeling. — Brian Egger, Global Head of Financial Modeling, Bloomberg LP
Co-hosted with Glenn Hopper. How AI is rewriting the finance function, week by week.
Paul and Glenn are awesome — funny, educational. I expect this to help me meaningfully run a better company. — EssaouirAB, Apple Podcasts Listener
Comparison Guides
Choose the right FP&A certification or AI finance program for your goals.
Use these quick snapshots to get oriented, then visit the full comparison guides for the details behind each program.
FP&A Certifications
Which FP&A certification fits your goals?
| Certifiates / Credentials | Best For | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| FPAC | Professionals who want a formal FP&A credential | Broad FP&A competencies required for the typical FP&A job |
| Wharton Online / WSP | Professionals who want the Wharton name, cohort experience, and network | FP&A, business partnering, modeling, forecasting, and AI |
| CGFPA | Professionals who want live or self-study FP&A instruction at a strong value | Globally oriented FP&A practice, planning, analysis, and professional development |
| FPAP | Professionals early in career who want an overview of FP&A | Forecasting, modeling, scenario planning, analytics, and communication |
| AFM | Finance professionals wanting to become better financial modelers | Advanced model design, structure, and logic |
AI Finance Programs
Where should finance professionals learn AI?
| Program | Best For | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia AI Certificate | Professionals who want a premium cohort program and university-backed certificate | Comprehensive AI education, implementation projects, and executive education credibility |
| AI Finance Club | Finance professionals who want continuous learning, community, and templates | Weekly workshops, AI tools, community learning, and practical finance use cases |
| AIFP&A | Professionals who want a budget-friendly, self-paced AI finance certification | AI use cases for FP&A, finance workflows, and practical application |
| Microsoft Copilot Masterclass | Microsoft 365 users who want practical Copilot training | Copilot for Excel, Outlook, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and business workflows |
| Glenn Hopper AI Finance Program | corporate finance departments looking for help with AI Implementation | Program details coming soon |
| Carolina Lago Claude Accelerator | Professionals who want to learn Claude for finance and business workflows | Program details coming soon |
What’s New
A quick look at current resources, research, and opportunities from The FP&A Guy.
Finance Tech Research
Help shape the 2026 Finance Tech Stack Survey
Share how your finance team uses tools, technology, and AI. The survey takes about 5 minutes, responses are reported only in aggregate, and participants who provide an email will receive the published results.
FPAC Credit Update
Earn up to 12 FPAC credits with the Best Practices FP&A course
The FP&A Best Practices Course has been approved by AFP for up to 12 FPAC recertification credits. The live virtual course includes 10 hours of instruction across 4 sessions covering analytics, AI, budgeting, forecasting, visualization, storytelling, and business partnering.
Featured Resources
Helpful resources to get you started.
A curated collection of practical resources, research, and articles worth exploring.
Upcoming Events
Where can you see Paul live?
Workshops, keynotes, webinars, and podcast recordings — all in one place.
Wall of Love
What people say about The FP&A Guy
Real words from finance professionals, course participants, and podcast guests.
Came for the content, stayed for the beard. A true champion of good modelling!
Who thought finance could be fun? Paul transforms complex financial topics into engaging and entertaining conversations on his podcast. A must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding.
There's a reason Paul's podcasts are some of the highest-rated in the world — he's amazing at what he does, finds world-class guests, and always offers varying perspectives. Must-listen if you work in finance.
Without a doubt the Best-Practices FP&A Course was the best course I ever had. I learned a lot and I can't wait to use what I learned in my company.
About Paul
The practitioner behind The FP&A Guy.
I am the beard and the brand behind The FP&A Guy. After 12+ years in FP&A roles at American Express, Solera, and DigiCert, I went out on my own to help elevate the FP&A profession.
So I built something different: practical FP&A training, finance podcasts that entertain and educate, and honest perspective on the FP&A software market. My goal is to create a place where FP&A and finance professionals can learn, grow, and become better business partners.
Credentials & experience
Teaching & Leadership
FP&A experience
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about The FP&A Guy
Quick answers to the questions finance professionals, teams, vendors, and investors ask most often.