What’s the connection between FP&A and Taylor Swift? To answer this the FP&A Today podcast from Datarails is joined by Michael Stotland, Vice President of FP&A at AEG Presents. AEG Presents is one of the largest live music companies in the world, and most famously the concert promoter behind the $1 billion dollar revenue Eras Tour by Taylor Swift: the highest grossing tour of all time. For good measure, Stotland’s FP&A team also supports the tours of Paul McCartney, Katy Perry Elton John, and the Rolling Stones, and 25 music festivals, including the iconic Coachella Valley Mus ..read more

Antonio Reza is the Head of Finance for Google Cloud Consulting in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). In this episode he reveals the FP&A life and lessons he has learned over the past 14 years working in finance and strategy at Google, Microsoft, and GE. He brings experiences across 10 different countries leading teams across the globe spanning different industries (he also speaks four languages). In this episode he reveals: How Getting into GE’s finance and FP&A training was life-changing Why so many tech people like himself are inspired to get into finance  Country specifi ..read more

Greg Lopez has served as the CFO and VP of operations at companies including Futurism, a digital media company, Wirecutter (acquired by the New York Times) and Gawker Media (acquired by Univision). Now Greg is a consultant at high-growth companies working with clients ranging from a “family owned business doing $20 million”,  “SaaS businesses doing $10 million a year” to private equity-backed business doing $500 million a year.” In this episode he provides his formula for success in FP&A and finance: How a career in finance suited my character traits and passions Learning the full as ..read more

Anytime you see the words “net” or “gross” before a financial metric, it can lead to confusion about what they imply and how they can change how you interpret your numbers. Specifically, these two small words have significant implications regarding net income vs. gross income—we will explain everything you need to know about them in this article. Net Income vs. Gross Income: An Introduction In simple terms, gross income is the total payment you receive before taking out expenses (such as taxes). Net income is the “take home” money – the amount that you receive after all expenses are taken out ..read more

Financial Planning and Analysis, or FP&A, circumscribes a wide variety of practices finance teams perform on any given day. While the term itself has a relatively broad definition, there are ways to dig deeper into the intricacies of this essential function to understand how it shapes the backbone of a successful organization’s financial health and strategic decisions. Introduction to FP&A Financial Planning and Analysis is a crucial function within organizations responsible for a suite of strategic activities that include:  Financial planning Budgeting Forecasting Analysis Scena ..read more

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic of conversation in virtually any industry. However, AI is proving to be particularly transformative in finance and FP&A. The financial landscape in 2024 is buzzing with AI-driven initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, security, and user experience. Here, we have amassed seven crucial AI trends shaping finance’s future.  7 AI Trends in Finance in 2024 From personalization to the surging field of decentralized finance, each trend underscores AI’s seismic impact on financial services.  1) AI-Driven Personalization Financial entities use sop ..read more

We’ve written extensively about AI tools in finance, but today, we will discuss the actual process of using artificial intelligence in finance in a more detailed manner. From the first models that sought to predict stock market trends to today’s sophisticated algorithms that can manage massive portfolios and generate financial reports, the role of AI in the finance sector has clearly evolved. This article will serve as a comprehensive guide, revealing step-by-step applications of AI in finance across various sectors. Introduction: AI in Finance The fusion of finance and technology is proof of ..read more

When you choose financial modeling software, you’re ultimately making a decision that will impact not only the efficiency and accuracy of your financial analysis but also your business’s long-term financial strategy. With all of these options to sort through, finding the best financial modeling software can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. It requires balancing the ease of use with comprehensive features, ensuring data security while offering the flexibility of customization, and, of course, getting the most value for your investment. With these challenges in mind, we have curated ..read more

In business finance, two metrics stand out as indicators of success and stability: revenue and profit. Though often used interchangeably, these two terms are actually very different financial concepts that are essential for any company’s growth story. Here, we pit these terms against one another to highlight the differences. Revenue and profit represent very positive things, illustrating a healthy financial performance for a business. However, they aren’t the same metric, as similar as they might seem. The key difference between the two is that revenue is the total amount of income generated b ..read more

Tory Bauman, Vice President, FP&A at Zayo Group joins new host Glenn Hopper. In this fascinating episode they go deep on FP&A metrics and processes at one of the most exciting companies in telecoms. Tory leads an  FP&A team underpinning business decisions at Zayo whose network stretches over 16.8 million fiber miles and spans 141,000 route miles. With telecoms long at the forefront of technology, Tory explains her cutting edge philosophy around FP&A realizing “ leadership’s strategy and their goals” “closing gaps” and making necessary “pivots”. In this episode Tory reveals ..read more