Why so many unemployed accountants are already struggling..and how I can help?
I often get direct messages on LinkedIn from people asking me for either a job, career advice or helping them understand financial modelling and how do they apply for jobs in Australia, thinking Australia is immune to accountants losing jobs or unable to get them.
I wrote this blog to help the many that are lost in this fast evolving work force.
Why being a 1-man/women VCFO business is a really bad idea?
3 years ago I stepped out of the corporate world and became, what I didn't realise at the time, a virtual CFO for Banjo (Fintech lender).
I don't really like the word VCFO but it's what we have for now so let's just roll with it. Probably a blog on its own.
This post is some more tips and tricks I learnt along the way and especially clearly proving the Power of One = Power of None.
I hope you can learn from my mistakes.
Why Vlookup (vs Index(match) shows your lack of embracing change, innovation and better Excel skills
Over the past year I've met many finance professionals as part of our FOFM world tour and future of finance workshops.
Despite all the hype of digital finance transformation and the rise of analytics and advanced AI and ML there is one thing that still concerns me deeply about our ability to adopt change, innovation and better Excel skills.
I'm not even referring to adopting new tools and technologies (many of which will radically change our work today and are here now) but changing how we use our existing tools.
Why a Truly Integrated Business Planning Solution Requires a Flexible Dual Architecture known as Core and Edge.
This is a technical architectural blog on the best system archicture for future of finance. It has to be Agile and yes, have a bit of Excel mixed in the middle.
Enjoy
Excel is Dead!
This is a passionate topic of mine so join me in a jousting sessions with Christopher Argent and Andrew Codd on a video recorded podcast - Strength in the Numbers show.
It is guaranteed to be a blast !
Financial Modelling Innovation: Predictive analytics vs Financial Modelling
This is one of those potentially game changing posts where people really get to understand the different between Finacial Modelling and Predictive Analytics.
Enjoy.
Financial Modelling: Diamonds in the rough
This blog is an update to one I did previously on the skills relating to financial modelling.
This blog also covers off on the other aspects to consider when closing the gap on this skill.
Why Monte Carlo will change the way you make financial decisions and think about scenarios?
Ever heard of the term Monte Carlo Simulation. Its more than just an awesome casino its a much better way to make forecasting decisions.
Want to know more?
Read this blog and you will change your mind about decision making.
Inside the mind of a spreadsheeter vs a financial modeler
After meeting so many finance professionals there are really 2 camps they fall into. The spreadsheeter or the financial modeler. Of course most would claim that they are a financial modeler and few would dare admit they are a spreadsheeter.
But sadly, only a very small % of them are financial modelers. But this is changing as the demand for great modelers increases and awareness of skills gaps are highlighted and resolved.
Hopefully this post enables even greater awareness of the differences.
Virtual CFO the Good, Bad and the Ugly
This Blog post is intended to provide future finance professionals with some insight in terms of developing a VCFO business.
Having evolved my CFO role into a VCFO there were many things I learnt and also would have changed had I known better.
Hopefully my mistakes don't need to be repeated by others.
Part 3 of Finance Innovation – The Airbnb of spreadsheets - first major wave of spreadsheet innovation
This blog post explores the first major wave of spreadsheet innovation and compares it to Airbnb.
There are a lot of benefits from the sharing economy but when it comes to spreadsheets sharing content is not only foreign but also risky.
But now it is both possible and lower risk resulting in new opportunities.
Do You Model Off against the Masters of Financial Modelling?
Your forecast is only as good as your financial model. Do you agree?
Finance Masters use financial modelling to their advantage by creating forecasts updated in real-time, using internationally recognized modelling standards and might even compete in Model Off. Here's a jointly written post by myself and Anders Liu-Lindberg on what it takes to become a Finance Master in financial modelling. So, do you model off with the masters?
NEED HELP searching for the best advisory tool in the market?
NEED HELP searching for the best advisory tool in the market.
After meeting over 50 finance professionals and accountants last week, it remains absolutely clear to me that, the majority of people have no idea which rabbit hole of technology to go down to assess the best advisory tools.
So, I decided to write this post and create a poll.
I would like the customers to talk. Knowledge shared is extremely powerful and time saving for us all!
Part 2 of Finance Innovation - Data Analytics / Big Data is not Financial Modelling
This post provides the readers some insight as to the differences between Data Analytics/Big Data and Financial Modeling.
After reading this post, finance and business professionals should have a clearer understanding of what these skills, processes and systems can enable.
Most important is to understand the problem first then find the solution, not just follow trends.
Why I disrupted my own role and you should do the same?
This post explores the benefits and opportunities that arise when it comes to disrupting a finance role.
The post goes into specifics of the why and the how of job disruption. The benefits are significant with 75% time savings in this example. The replacement of which was the flexibility to do more interesting and valuable work for both myself and my employer.
Consulting, Advisory, Finance and the art of influencing is about to change forever.
The Modeloff (World Financial Modeling Champsionship) Global Training Camps are an excellent place to explore and learn new technologies and skills.
This blog explores the first ever Australian Modeloff GTC in August 2016 and some of the latest platforms and innovations.
Your Financial Model can save lives !
This post explores other potential applications of the skills in financial modeling. The rise in social benefit bonds require a financial model to better estimate the returns to investors and the cost to governments and potential benefits to society.
Now its possible to save more than just money with a financial model.
The Machines Are Not Coming… they are here!
The reality of what "the machines are coming" really means in the context of disruption in the roles of Finance teams in large organisations.
This is a cautionary tail of what happens when you try to be innovative in a large organisation and don't support staff to embrace change.
Why financial modelling skills will be a big career door opener for emerging accounting and finance talent.
Requirements for accountants and finance professionals to develop financial modelling skills is a key to career success. Read more to find out why.
The Demand for Financial Modelling Skills Reaches new Heights
Demands for financial modelling have increased significantly over time. Find out why.