Finance Techies - Finance and Technology Podcast Simon Ritchie

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/

In this podcast episode, we are joined by Alex Falcon Huerta, the Founder of her own Accountancy practice, Soaring Falcon Accountancy, where she helps ambitious Tech businesses to launch into new markets. If that wasn't enough she launched a second business based in Sri Lanka, and has built a following on linkedin where she shares advice and authentic moments from her journey.

In this episode we talk about the right “Finance Tech Stack” - Alex discusses the importance of embracing technology in finance, and shares her lessons and recommendations on what solutions you need, and what tools she recommends.

She is a Digital accountant (Cloud First) and uses technology to streamline her work with clients and enable her to follow her other passion - Travel.

I thought Alex was a great person to talk about because she helps to put in a Tech Stack from scratch - often moving things from ad hoc spreadsheets and emails into systems.

When she started her career everything was still running on paper - so she's been involved in the transition from physical books, to desktop based solutions, to Cloud.

Overcoming Resistance to Technology Adoption and Alex shares Success Stories of Technology Implementation, Exploring New Technologies she's excited about for Finance, Favourite Productivity Hacks, and tech Products she's excited about that improve her day to day as a Founder & CEO.

Alex is hilarious, really amazing approach to finance & work, she's building 2 really impressive businesses but is super humble and authentic.

She also talks about a new group she's launching with some partners called the "Global Women's Accounting Influencers" Group

I hope you enjoy.



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/alexfalconhuerta

Guest website: https://www.soaring-falcon.co.uk/ 



Chapters

Introduction and Background

Transition to Cloud Technology

Benefits of Embracing Technology in Finance

Expanding Business Ventures

Integrating Travel with Career

Role of Technology in Finance Operations

Transition from Manual to Digital Accounting

Importance of User-Friendly Reporting

Finance Tech Stack for Different Business Sizes

Overcoming Resistance to Technology Adoption

Success Stories of Technology Implementation

Benefits of Technology for Finance Teams

Exploring New Technologies

Productivity Tools

Favorite Products and Collaboration

Go-to Productivity Hack

Dream Collaboration

Favorite Phrase or Quote

Data Visualization

Craziest Advice Given

Learning Spanish

Global Women's Accounting Influencers Group