FP&A Unlocked

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Alok Ajmera, CEO of Prophix, to explore how AI is reshaping FP&A, financial planning, and enterprise decision-making. Alok explains how modern finance teams are evolving from spreadsheet-heavy workflows to AI-enabled systems, while still relying on structured data, deterministic processes, and human oversight to maintain accuracy and trust in financial outputs.

Alok Ajmera is the CEO of Prophix, a leading financial performance management platform helping CFO organizations modernize planning, budgeting, and forecasting. With over 22 years at Prophix, he has supported more than 3,000 finance teams globally in transforming how they close, consolidate, and plan. Alok has led the evolution of FP&A systems from spreadsheet-first to system-first, and now toward AI-enabled finance operations.

Expect to Learn:
What makes FP&A a true force multiplier inside organizations
How data stewardship, collaboration, and forecasting define great finance teams
Why AI must stay deterministic when handling financial calculations
The difference between probabilistic AI and structured finance systems
How AI agents support FP&A without replacing financial control

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"The biggest opportunity is to take inefficient manual workflows and simplify them with AI agents, delivering value quickly while building confidence in the team." – Alok Ajmera
"AI democratizes capabilities, but there must be governance and discipline. It’s easy to build things, but maintaining them is hard." – Alok Ajmera

Alok explains that while AI is transforming FP&A through speed and automation, the core of finance still depends on structured systems, clean data, and human judgment. He emphasizes that the future of finance is a hybrid model where AI enhances productivity while finance leaders maintain control, context, and strategic oversight.

Follow Alok:
Website - www.prophix.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-ajmera-93896617/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@prophix

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.
In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[04:10] – What great FP&A looks like
[09:13] – Revenue and qualitative goals
[18:38] – Why AI in FP&A needs structure
[29:36] – AI in forecasting and planning
[33:45] – Risks, governance, and AI sprawl
[45:40] – Soft skills in FP&A
[49:11] – Travel and personal reflections
[51:25] – Closing thoughts

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Tim Stallkamp, Senior Managing Director at Riveron, alongside co-host Glenn Snyder. Tim shares insights on interim management and how it is reshaping finance leadership by helping companies fill critical gaps, accelerate value creation, and bring experienced finance leaders into organizations during transition periods.

Tim Stallkamp is a Senior Managing Director and the leader of Riveron’s Interim Management practice. He is a seasoned turnaround executive who provides interim management and turnaround management services to distressed and under-performing businesses. Tim has led turnarounds as interim chief executive officer (CEO), chief restructuring officer (CRO), chief transformation officer (CTO), and chief financial officer (CFO).

Expect to Learn:
Why private equity is driving demand for interim finance leaders
What makes a strong interim FP&A and finance professional
Why broad, cross-industry experience matters more than narrow expertise
How interim leaders create value from day one
The importance of clear scope and alignment in engagements

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"Interim management isn’t about replacing people; it’s about supplementing leadership to create value faster and help teams reach their full potential." – Tim Stallkamp
"The more experiences an individual has across industries and roles, the more effective they are in interim management. Breadth of expertise is key." – Tim Stallkamp

Tim explains how interim management is reshaping finance leadership by bringing experienced professionals into organizations during critical transitions. These leaders not only fill gaps but also help improve processes, guide decision-making, and leave companies stronger than before.

Follow Tim:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-stallkamp-537b0317/
Company: https://riveron.com/

Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenntsnyder/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[00:00] - Trailer
[05:06] - What interim management is
[07:42] - Why it’s growing
[09:13] - Value creation in leadership
[13:12] - Defining scope clearly
[17:58] - Alignment in engagements
[26:11] - Types of interim roles
[37:14] - Systems vs skills
[42:55] - Private equity decision-making
[50:42] - Final thoughts

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Nicholas Moen, CMA and Director of Finance at Section, an AI software company. Nicholas shares insights on leveraging AI in FP&A to streamline financial modeling, automate workflows, improve decision-making, and build high-performing teams. He discusses practical strategies for training finance teams, balancing human oversight with AI automation, and applying FP&A insights to drive operational impact in enterprise organizations.

Nicholas Moen is a CMA and finance leader at Section, where he reinvents finance through AI, helping organizations build AI-powered workflows at scale. Based in Franklin, Pennsylvania, Nicholas specializes in leveraging AI to streamline FP&A processes, automate workflows, and empower finance teams to focus on strategic decision-making.

Expect to Learn:
How AI frees FP&A teams from manual work
Automating reports, spreadsheets, and workflows
Training and empowering teams on AI tools
Key FP&A skills: business partnering, listening, and data understanding

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"Context is everything. Using AI to capture meeting insights and key assumptions helps teams make smarter, faster decisions." - Nicholas Moen
"A strong FP&A professional understands both data structures and business partnering, skills that AI cannot replace." - Nicholas Moen

Nicholas Moen demonstrates how AI is reshaping the role of FP&A, allowing teams to focus on strategic decision-making instead of manual tasks. By leveraging tools like Claude and Lovable, finance professionals can automate workflows, build models faster, and make more informed business decisions.

Follow Nicholas:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-moen-320a11106/
Substack: https://substack.com/@runningfinance

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[02:56] – What great FP&A looks like today
[05:14] – Automating spreadsheets with Claude
[14:31] – Building micro-apps with Lovable
[17:58] – Commission automation
[21:26] – Doing analysis on the go
[30:12] – Low-hanging AI wins for FP&A
[33:58] – Training and knowledge sharing
[38:41] – Top soft and technical skills
[41:35] – Personal side: music and hobbies
[45:53] – How to connect with Nicholas

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with Robert Blanding, an experienced finance and operations leader in the ag-tech sector. Robert shares insights on building high-performing FP&A teams, partnering effectively with accounting, developing financial acumen, and applying strategic finance to drive operational impact in global businesses.
Robert Blanding is the Chief Financial Officer at Fall Creek, a global leader in the Ag-Tech sector. He brings extensive experience in finance and operations from 18 years at Intel and leadership roles across industrial manufacturing, technology, and ag-tech companies. Robert combines strategic financial leadership with a focus on innovation, long-term business growth, and developing high-performing teams.

Expect to Learn:
What great FP&A looks like and the importance of business acumen
How to develop strong partnerships between FP&A and accounting
Strategies for building high-performing, empowered finance teams
Navigating systems, processes, and technology challenges in FP&A

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"It starts with being connected to the business, having strong acumen, and being consulted by stakeholders." – Robert Blanding
"Investing in relationships outside of crisis is critical to getting support from accounting and operations." – Robert Blanding

Robert shares practical insights for FP&A professionals and aspiring CFOs, emphasizing the importance of business acumen, strong partnerships with accounting, creative problem-solving, and developing high-performing teams.

Follow Robert:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rfb19/
Company Website: https://www.fallcreeknursery.com/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[03:55] – Defining Great FP&A
[07:39] – Career Path & First CFO Role
[17:49] – Fall Creek & Ag-Tech Overview
[21:18] – Importance of FP&A & Accounting Partnership
[32:23] – Creative Problem Solving & Process Improvement
[38:59] – Challenges in Building High-Performing Teams
[45:32] – Advice for Aspiring CFOs
[49:11] – Top Technical Skill for FP&A Professionals
[52:50] – Personal Interests & Basketball
[56:12] – How to Connect with Robert

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst sits down with David Dors to explore how artificial intelligence, particularly Claude, is transforming the future of FP&A. David shares his journey from banking and FP&A into finance transformation, where he now helps finance teams implement AI-powered workflows, automate repetitive processes, and rethink how work gets done in the Office of the CFO.

David Dors is a finance transformation consultant and AI educator specializing in helping finance teams adopt Claude, AI agents, and workflow automation. After beginning his career in banking and FP&A, David shifted his focus to helping finance professionals use AI to improve reporting, analysis, forecasting, and decision-making. Through workshops, training programs, and content creation, he teaches finance teams how to build AI-powered systems that save time and allow analysts to focus on higher-value strategic work.

Expect to Learn:
How AI is changing the future of FP&A
Practical ways to automate reporting and recurring finance tasks
The difference between Claude Chat, Claude Code, and AI agents
Why finance professionals should think of AI as a digital teammate
Key skills FP&A professionals need in an AI-driven world

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
"Every forecast, variance analysis, or deck you build should help somebody make a different decision." – David Dors
"If nothing changed from the analysis you're providing, there's not much value in what you're doing every day." – David Dors

David explains how finance teams can use AI to eliminate repetitive work, improve efficiency, and spend more time supporting business decisions. He also shares his perspective on the future of FP&A, where professionals will increasingly manage AI agents that handle routine tasks and reporting. non-traditional organizations.

Follow Dave:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddors/
Website: https://vantagepointconsulting.com/

Earn Your CPE Credit
For CPE credit, please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, answer a few questions, and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for the FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.
In Today's Episode
[00:00] – Trailer
[04:13] – Discovering Claude
[10:27] – AI Training for Finance Teams
[15:19] – Skills & AI Agents
[18:13] – AI Productivity Gains
[22:23] – Quick AI Wins in FP&A
[25:23] – AI Accuracy & Validation
[28:29] – Automating Reporting
[32:35] – The Future of FP&A
[39:01] – Excel Lessons Learned
[42:57] – Final Thoughts