Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ilyas Anis, CFO and Chartered Financial Modeler, about using financial models to build stakeholder confidence, drive operational decisions, and tell a clear business story. Ilyas shares insights on integrating AI, avoiding common modeling pitfalls, and the importance of scenario analysis and three-statement models.
Ilyas Anis is Finance Lead at Turning Point Brands Canada and Founder of IMnS Associates. He has 15+ years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and governance across multiple industries. An FCA, CPA, AFM, and FMVA®, he is also a board advisor and AI enthusiast.
Expect to Learn
Models build trust, not just numbers
Connect finance with operations for better decisions
AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters
Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Stakeholders don’t pay you for getting the right thing. They pay for the confidence.” – Ilyas Anis
“Financial models should open every Monday morning, they shouldn’t die after fundraising.” – Ilyas Anis
Ilyas Anis highlights how financial models go beyond numbers to build trust, enable strategic decisions, and communicate a clear business story. He emphasizes the role of AI as a supportive tool, the importance of connecting finance with operations, and practical strategies for building models that deliver actionable insights for stakeholders.
Follow Ilyas:
Website: imnsassociates.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilyasanis
Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984
Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast”
Visit bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.
In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[02:35] – Early Career Horror Stories
[04:28] – Storytelling in Models
[09:52] – Fundraising vs Operational Models
[12:39] – Connecting Finance & Operations
[18:36] – Revenue Models as Foundation
[25:29] – AI in Modeling
[27:38] – Automating Dashboards
[34:30] – Rapid-Fire Modeling Best Practices
[42:03] – Final Advice
Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ilyas Anis, CFO and Chartered Financial Modeler, about using financial models to build stakeholder confidence, drive operational decisions, and tell a clear business story. Ilyas shares insights on integrating AI, avoiding common modeling pitfalls, and the importance of scenario analysis and three-statement models.
Ilyas Anis is Finance Lead at Turning Point Brands Canada and Founder of IMnS Associates. He has 15+ years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and governance across multiple industries. An FCA, CPA, AFM, and FMVA®, he is also a board advisor and AI enthusiast.
Expect to Learn
Models build trust, not just numbers
Connect finance with operations for better decisions
AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters
Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
“Stakeholders don’t pay you for getting the right thing. They pay for the confidence.” – Ilyas Anis
“Financial models should open every Monday morning, they shouldn’t die after fundraising.” – Ilyas Anis
Ilyas Anis highlights how financial models go beyond numbers to build trust, enable strategic decisions, and communicate a clear business story. He emphasizes the role of AI as a supportive tool, the importance of connecting finance with operations, and practical strategies for building models that deliver actionable insights for stakeholders.
Follow Ilyas:
Website: imnsassociates.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilyasanis
Follow Financial Modeler's Corner:
LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7079020077076905984
Sign up for the Advanced Financial Modeler Accreditation today and receive 15% off by using the special show code ‘Podcast”
Visit bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.
In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[02:35] – Early Career Horror Stories
[04:28] – Storytelling in Models
[09:52] – Fundraising vs Operational Models
[12:39] – Connecting Finance & Operations
[18:36] – Revenue Models as Foundation
[25:29] – AI in Modeling
[27:38] – Automating Dashboards
[34:30] – Rapid-Fire Modeling Best Practices
[42:03] – Final Advice
