Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst, alongside cohosts Ian Schnoor and Giles Male, explores the realities of using AI in professional work, exploring trust, accuracy, and the risks of AI-generated misinformation.
AI isn't dangerous because it makes mistakes.
It's dangerous when mistakes sound completely believable.
One fabricated detail can undermine an entire piece of work.
The response wasn't just wrong. It confidently explained exactly how it became wrong.
That's the challenge every finance professional faces today.
AI can accelerate your workflow. But judgment, verification, and accountability still belong to you.
Trust is built through accuracy. And lost through assumptions.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on @thefpandaguy
#FinancialModeling #FPandA #FinanceLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInFinance #DataIntegrity #TrustInAI #FinanceProfessionals #DigitalTransformation #BusinessAnalytics #FutureOfWork #FinancialPlanning
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst, alongside cohosts Ian Schnoor and Giles Male, explores the realities of using AI in professional work, exploring trust, accuracy, and the risks of AI-generated misinformation.
AI isn't dangerous because it makes mistakes.
It's dangerous when mistakes sound completely believable.
One fabricated detail can undermine an entire piece of work.
The response wasn't just wrong. It confidently explained exactly how it became wrong.
That's the challenge every finance professional faces today.
AI can accelerate your workflow. But judgment, verification, and accountability still belong to you.
Trust is built through accuracy. And lost through assumptions.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on @thefpandaguy
#FinancialModeling #FPandA #FinanceLeadership #ArtificialIntelligence #AIInFinance #DataIntegrity #TrustInAI #FinanceProfessionals #DigitalTransformation #BusinessAnalytics #FutureOfWork #FinancialPlanning



![The Investment Banking Job Hasn’t Changed Since 1990. AI Is Changing It with Matan
Paul Barnhurst speaks with Matan Feldman, Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep. Matan shares insights from his career in investment banking and financial modeling, discussing the future of AI in the industry, its impact on investment banking roles, and how it will reshape financial modeling education. He also reflects on his journey founding Wall Street Prep and the lessons hes learned along the way.
Matan Feldman is the Founder and CEO of Wall Street Prep, where he leads business development, course creation, and training programs for clients such as Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, The Wharton School, and many others. Before founding Wall Street Prep, Matan worked at Chase Manhattan Bank and J.P.Morgan in investment banking and equity research.
Expect to Learn
How AI is transforming financial modeling and investment banking workflows.
The evolving role of financial modelers in an AI-driven world.
How AI accelerates repetitive tasks, enabling analysts to focus on higher-level judgment.
Why foundational financial modeling skills remain crucial despite AI advancements.
Here are a few quotes from the episode:
A model can either be the most powerful tool or the most frustrating one. – Matan Feldman
Judgment and interpretation will always remain important. – Matan Feldman
Matan Feldman shared valuable insights into the evolving role of AI in financial modeling and investment banking. He emphasized the growing importance of business judgment and foundational skills as AI tools continue to reshape the industry. Matans journey from investment banking to founding Wall Street Prep highlights the ongoing need for both technical expertise and strategic thinking in financial modeling
Follow Matan:
Website: https://www.wallstreetprep.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matanfeldman/
Follow Financial Modelers Corner:
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/financial-modeler-s-corner/
Newsletter - Subscribe on LinkedIn: https://www.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 https://bit.ly/497oAqW and use the code “Podcast” to save 15% when you register.
In today’s episode:
[00:00] – Introduction
[03:27] – Matan’s Modeling Nightmare
[05:07] – The Journey of Wall Street Prep
[08:21] – AI in Investment Banking
[14:06] – The Future of Modeling and Automation
[22:16] – Opportunities and Concerns in AI
[29:48] – AI’s Role in Teaching Financial Modeling
[36:02] – Rapid Fire Questions The Investment Banking Job Hasn’t Changed Since 1990. AI Is Changing It with Matan](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l2a76nz4MOg/mqdefault.jpg)

![The Future of FP&A with AI for Finance Professionals to Move Beyond Excel Analysis with Derek Baker
In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, Paul Barnhurst chats with Derek Baker, the Head of Strategic Finance at Circle, a growth-stage SaaS company. Derek shares insights from his experience in building strategic finance functions, scaling finance teams, and using AI to optimize financial reporting.
Derek Baker is the Head of Strategic Finance at Circle, a growth-stage SaaS company focused on building an all-in-one platform for online communities. He has built the Strategic Finance function from the ground up, covering areas like pricing, sales compensation, investor due diligence, and AI-powered financial reporting. Prior to Circle, Derek co-founded The FP&A Hub with Paul Barnhurst and Liran Edelist to support finance professionals. His career spans FP&A roles across SaaS, marketplace, and biotech startups.
Expect to Learn:
How AI is transforming financial reporting and analysis in FP&A.
The role of business partnering in aligning FP&A with strategic decisions.
Dereks transition from spreadsheets to AI-driven financial models.
How FP&A evolves as companies scale.
Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:
“Spreadsheets are great for MVP models, but AI and data warehouses are the future for repeatable, scalable analysis.” – Derek Baker
“AI can manage context better than prompts, and this is what drives its power in finance.” – Derek Baker
Derek shares that the future of FP&A is all about embracing technology and innovation. He emphasizes that its no longer just about spreadsheets and traditional methods; it’s about leveraging AI and data to drive smarter financial decisions. By focusing on both the strategic and technical sides of finance, professionals can better align with business goals and create more impactful outcomes.
Follow Derek:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-d-baker/
Website: https://community.thefpahub.com/home
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
[06:00] – What Does Great FP&A Look Like?
[12:00] – Scaling Finance Functions in Startups
[17:00] – The Role of AI in FP&A
[22:00] – Building an AI-Powered Financial Reporting System
[28:00] – Why Data Architecture is Key to AI Success
[33:00] – The Future of Financial Modeling with AI
[40:00] – Automating Monthly Finance Reports Using AI
[45:00] – Data Integration and Financial Modeling for Future Growth
[50:00] – Insights on Scaling FP&A Teams in Tech Startups
[53:00] – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways The Future of FP&A with AI for Finance Professionals to Move Beyond Excel Analysis with Derek Baker](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mKU0cr3pOrE/mqdefault.jpg)
![How AI is Being Used to Make Better Decisions and Build Faster Models with Nicholas Moen
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
[00:00] – Trailer
[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
[47:19] – Closing thoughts How AI is Being Used to Make Better Decisions and Build Faster Models with Nicholas Moen](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mPmiS0BgFAs/mqdefault.jpg)



