How Founders Mistake Models Only for Fundraising and What They Should Do With Ilyas Anis

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.

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Website: https://imnsassociates.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasanis/

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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