In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Snyder sit down with Jeffrey Bernstein to explore how finance leaders can better communicate financial insights and influence decision-making across an organization. The conversation focuses on the gap between technical financial knowledge and the ability to clearly explain what the numbers actually mean to non-finance stakeholders.

Jeffrey is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets Advisory at Riveron, a leading advisor to the Office of the CFO and Private Equity. Early in his career, Jeff was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, where he helped execute IPOs in the technology sector for over a decade. Afterward, he spent more than 15 years as a portfolio manager investing in disruptive public and private companies. For the last eight years, Jeff has served as a trusted strategic advisor to pre-IPO companies, guiding them toward successful public exits.

Expect to Learn:

1. Why finance professionals play a crucial role in the IPO process
2. How to prepare a company financially for a successful public listing
3. The importance of building financial trust with public investors
4. How to evaluate the readiness of your financial systems and team for the IPO process

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

1. “The biggest change from private to public is transitioning from over-promising to under-promising and over-delivering.”- Jeff Bernstein
2. “Financial integrity isn’t just about the numbers; it’s about being transparent, avoiding gimmicks, and sticking to metrics that have real meaning.”- Jeff Bernstein

Jeff shares valuable insights on the complexities of going public, managing quarterly earnings, and maintaining investor trust. He also discusses how FP&A teams can help steer the company through financial reporting, forecasting, and strategic decision-making post-IPO.

Follow Jeffrey:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-bernstein-498a23158/

Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/riveron/

Website - 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, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[01:42] – Meet Jeff Bernstein

[04:58] – Transitioning to Public Company

[08:36] – The Role of FP&A in IPO

[12:44] – Investor Trust and Forecasting

[17:10] – Financial Integrity

[21:58] – Preparing for the IPO Process

[26:35] – Stress-Testing Forecasts

[30:42] – Earning Investor Trust

[34:18] – Organizational...

In this engaging episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes back Bryan Lapidus, Director of FP&A Practice at the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), to explore how finance professionals can better prepare for the evolving demands of the industry. They discuss how AFP supports the finance community, the role of technology in shaping FP&A, and why soft skills are critical in today’s collaborative environment.

Bryan Lapidus is the Director of FP&A Practice at AFP, where he serves as a subject matter expert on financial planning and analysis. With more than 20 years in FP&A and treasury at organizations like American Express and Fannie Mae, Bryan brings deep knowledge of corporate finance. At AFP, he develops thought leadership, leads advisory councils, and curates content that helps professionals thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Expect to Learn:

1. The two core competencies every great FP&A professional must master
2. Why “getting out from behind the screen” matters for business insight
3. How AFP curates learning and networking experiences for finance professionals
4. What to expect from AFP’s FP&A Forum and Annual Conference
5. How to avoid low-value work and focus on driving business impact

This episode highlights the evolving role of FP&A, emphasizing the need for both strong technical skills and human-centered business insight. Bryan Lapidus reminds us that tools like AI are valuable, but true impact comes from understanding the business and adding strategic value. Continuous learning and community are key to thriving in today’s finance landscape.

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation,

close management, and more, all in one unified platform.

Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy

Follow Bryan:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/bryan-lapidus-fpac

Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-financial-professionals/

Earn Your CPE Credit

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

In Today’s Episode

[03:33] – What Is AFP?

[05:38] – What Makes Great FP&A?

[13:34] – Inside the AFP Conference

[18:13] – How AFP Chooses Conference Tracks

[23:12] – AFP FP&A Forum Highlights

[27:30] – How Soft Skills Shape Career...

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst talks with Ben Pierce, General Manager of Workday Adaptive Planning, to discuss the evolving landscape of FP&A, the challenges of planning software, and the future of finance in an AI-driven world. Ben shares his career journey, from semiconductor engineering to leadership roles in the FP&A software industry, and dives into his vision for how AI is transforming the way businesses plan and make decisions.

Ben Pierce is an experienced executive with over two decades of experience in the enterprise software industry. Currently, he leads Workday Adaptive Planning’s global strategy, growth, and innovation efforts. Prior to joining Workday, Ben held senior roles in several companies, including River Logic, Tidemark, and IBM, where he honed his expertise in analytics, financial software, and business leadership. His career has been shaped by his passion for leveraging technology to improve business operations and drive impactful change.

Expect to Learn:

1. Why Ben believes the future of FP&A is in AI and analytics
2. The importance of challenging the business with actionable insights
3. How to make FP&A tools work for you, not just as a data repository
4. What to consider when choosing and implementing FP&A software
5. The balance between strategic planning and flexible budgeting processes

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

1. "A great FP&A partner doesn’t just provide data, they come to the table with a point of view and push you to do better." – Ben Pierce
2. "At the end of the day, it’s not about the tool, it’s about the implementation and how you engage with it." – Ben Pierce

Ben Pierce offers invaluable insights into FP&A, emphasizing the need for technology to not only streamline processes but also enhance decision-making capabilities. His advice on selecting the right FP&A tools and the importance of having a supportive implementation partner is essential for any finance team looking to modernize their planning processes.

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation,

close management, and more, all in one unified platform.

Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy

Free Trial of Workday

Try Workday Adaptive Planning free for 30 days -