Kathy Svetina is the founder of Newcastle Finance, specializing in fractional CFO services for businesses with $10 million+ in annual revenue. With over 14 years in senior-level FP&A roles in Fortune 500 companies, Kathy brings top-level financial acumen to smaller enterprises, helping them scale while improving financial stability and operational efficiency.

Expect to Learn:

Kathy’s five-part framework that structures financial health 

Practical approaches to FP&A for smaller businesses

The critical role of financial systems and processes

Brent Dykes is the founder of Analytics Hero, a consultancy dedicated to data storytelling. He's also an author and educator with years of experience in data analytics, consulting, and data visualization. Brent wrote the book Effective Data Storytelling and has taught data visualization at the University of Utah. His work focuses on enhancing how organizations use data to inform strategy and decisions.

Expect to Learn:

The core components of data storytelling: data, narrative, and visuals.

Why narrative is often the missing link in data-driven presentations.

Practical steps for creating a data-driven culture within your organization.

Olivia is a qualified CPA and ACA with a proven track record of delivering strategic solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and transparency across organizations. With a mastery of data extraction and transformation tools like MQL, SQL, and SOQL, Olivia has helped companies streamline operations, enhance financial transparency, and drive decision-making through data.

Expect to Learn:

What distinguishes great FP&A teams, with a focus on strategic business partnering.

How audit and FP&A share common skills, and how auditors can leverage financial modeling experience.

The importance of building strong relationships as an FP&A professional and working with different business units.

Aaron Goss is a seasoned executive with a unique career path. Starting as a part-time sales employee, Aaron quickly rose to the position of Chief Revenue Officer before becoming president of Brothers Paving and Concrete. With a background in public administration, Aaron brings a fresh perspective to leadership in the construction industry, having steered his company from small-scale operations to large-scale growth under private equity backing.

Expect to Learn:

The differences between budgeting in a privately owned company versus one backed by private equity.

Leadership strategies to improve collaboration between finance and operations teams.

Insights into transitioning from sales to executive leadership, and how skills from different fields translate into success.

Brett Hampson has spent over a decade in corporate FP&A, working with some of the world’s largest companies. He is the author of The FP&A Operating System, a book that outlines his approach to establishing a high-functioning FP&A department. Brett is also the founder of Forecasting Performance, a platform that promotes best practices in financial analysis and forecasting.

Expect to Learn:

What grassroots finance transformation entails and why it’s preferable to technology-centric approaches.

How to implement Brett’s FP&A Operating System and FP&A Flywheel framework to drive efficiency and value.

The importance of setting a clear vision and objectives for FP&A teams to move from reactive to proactive operations.

Soufyan Hamid has over 17 years of corporate experience in finance, starting in auditing and consulting with PwC before becoming a finance business partner. Today, he leads The Finance Circle, where he trains finance professionals on improving their storytelling and presentation skills, a key aspect often missing in FP&A. Soufyan is known for his Financial Storytelling Program and his popular LinkedIn presence, where he shares tips with over 75,000 followers.

Expect to Learn: Why it's not just about numbers but adding strategic value to the business and how effective storytelling can turn data into impactful business insights.

In this special episode, Paul Barnhurst, aka the FP&A Guy, recaps key insights from the past six months of interviews on the "FP&A Tomorrow" podcast. He reflects on the soft and technical skills needed for financial planning and analysis (FP&A) professionals, shares standout advice from his expert guests, and dives into what makes great FP&A.

Expect to Learn:

Discover why financial modeling, Excel mastery, and understanding data are critical for FP&A success.

Hear expert perspectives on what makes FP&A teams truly world-class, with an emphasis on technology, data, and strategy.

How to translate complex financial data into actionable insights that your business partners can easily understand.

Brian Lanier is a CFO who has held financial leadership roles in multiple growth-stage companies. With a career that started at EY as an auditor, he has since moved into CFO roles across public, private, and private equity-owned companies. His expertise includes introducing companies to their first budgeting processes, upgrading accounting systems, and overseeing over $7 billion in M&A transactions. His deep understanding of business levers and their impact has led to successful turnarounds and significant cost savings.

Expect to Learn:

The key components of a successful FP&A function, including operational alignment.

Strategies for managing financials during mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures.

The importance of flexibility and simplicity when creating financial models and budgets.

Jack McCullough is a recognized authority in the world of finance leadership. As President of the CFO Leadership Council, Jack has guided countless CFOs through leadership development and strategic decision-making. He holds an MBA from MIT, is the host of the podcast Secrets of Rockstar CFOs, and is the author of two books, including The Psychopathic CEO. With a background in accounting and finance, Jack brings deep expertise in helping finance professionals thrive in leadership roles.

Expect to Learn:

The key skills FP&A professionals need to develop to become future CFOs.

How the role of CFO has shifted from financial control to strategic leadership.

The importance of building strong relationships with board members and using them as resources.

Jim Caltabiano brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive career in FP&A and finance leadership roles at major companies such as Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Campbell Soup Company, Ajinomoto Foods, and Del Monte Foods. With a background in both finance and marketing, Jim offers a unique perspective on how FP&A professionals can go beyond traditional financial functions to become true business partners.

Expect to Learn:

Insights over data and the importance of connecting financial insights to drive business decisions.

Strategies to move from a siloed finance function to a business-first approach.

How FP&A professionals can better understand and contribute to business goals.

Techniques for making sound decisions when data is less than perfect.

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, Leslie Stuart, a seasoned expert in FP&A and finance transformation, shares her insights on how modern finance functions are adapting to new technologies, data management practices, and process improvements to drive better business outcomes.

Dr. Liran Edelist, referred to as "The Doctor" by Paul, is a distinguished professional with a PhD in Business Administration. Originally from Israel, Liran now operates out of the Greater Boston area and has extensive experience in consulting, technology, and business leadership.

With a career spanning nearly three decades, including a presidency at Jedox Americas and a role as an adjunct professor at Boston University, Liran brings a wealth of knowledge on the intersection of finance, technology, and business processes. 

Expect to Learn:

In this episode, host Paul Barnhurst dives into the intricacies FP&A with Renato Villanueva. They discuss what makes great FP&A, the journey from risk management to FP&A, and the challenges of scaling a startup while maintaining financial discipline.

Renato Villanueva is an accomplished finance professional and the CEO of Parallel, a company providing innovative financial modeling and forecasting solutions for startups. With a finance degree from Utah Valley University, Renato's experience spans multiple high-profile companies, including Qualtrics, American Express, and Divvy.

His deep understanding of FP&A and his entrepreneurial spirit drive the conversation as he shares valuable insights from his career and current ventures.

Expect to Learn:

The essential characteristics of effective FP&A and why understanding your company's goals is crucial.

How persistence and networking can open doors in your career, as demonstrated by Renato's journey into Divvy.

The importance of aligning financial planning with company growth strategies, especially in a startup environment.

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst dives into the evolving role of FP&A within organizations. This week’s guest is Zach Rial, the Senior Director of Finance and Strategy at Peak, a travel company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

With a background in finance, holding a bachelor's degree from Utah State and an MBA from the University of Utah, Zach brings a unique perspective to FP&A, blending operational insights with financial strategy. Known for his hands-on approach to finance, Zach shares his journey from operations to senior finance roles, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business from the ground up.

Here is a summary of the key points from the discussion:

What defines great FP&A and why partnerships are crucial for financial success.

The concept of a "finance athlete" and how it applies to modern finance roles.

The importance of intellectual curiosity and its role in driving business insights.

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst dives into the world of growth equity investing with Ryan Sanders, a seasoned investor from Mercato Partners.

The conversation explores the critical role of FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis) in supporting growth-stage companies, the nuances of growth equity investing, and how entrepreneurs can best position themselves for success.

Ryan Sanders is a growth investor at Mercato Partners, a growth equity firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. With a background in finance and an MBA in entrepreneurship from the University of Texas, His career spans various roles in investment, and he is known for his strategic approach to partnering with entrepreneurs.

Expect to Learn:

The key attributes and skills that FP&A professionals need to excel in supporting growth-stage companies.

The importance of customer-centric growth and why organic growth strategies often outperform inorganic ones.

The role of AI in transforming FP&A functions and the broader finance industry.

Practical advice for entrepreneurs on when and how to raise capital effectively

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst delves into the dynamic world of financial planning and analysis (FP&A). He is joined by Josh Aharonoff, an experienced finance professional who has navigated the complexities of FP&A, accounting, and entrepreneurship.

The conversation offers insights into the current state of FP&A and its evolving future, with practical advice for both aspiring and seasoned finance professionals.

Josh Aharonoff is a seasoned finance expert with a background in accounting and a wealth of experience in both big four accounting and startups. After obtaining his CPA and working in global banking services, Josh ventured into entrepreneurship, co-founding a startup and later establishing his own firm, Mighty Digits, specializing in outsourced finance and accounting services.

Key points of the discussion include understanding what makes financial planning and analysis effective and impactful. Insights into the chaotic yet rewarding environment of early-stage companies and essential technical and soft skills needed to excel in financial planning and analysis.