FP&A at Early-Stage Companies and the Benefits of Using Python to Automate Data and Enhance Analysis with Todd Niemann

Note: Please note that all opinions and thoughts shared during this episode represent those of our guest, who joined in his own personal capacity and he is not representing any of the companies he works for.

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Todd Niemann, Treasurer at Varo Bank, who shares his unique path through finance, treasury, and FP&A across multiple startup banks. Todd discusses how he helped launch and scale three new banking institutions, how FP&A supports better decision-making in banking, and why he believes Python is transforming financial analysis.

Todd Niemann is the Treasurer at Varo Bank, where he oversees treasury and FP&A functions. A CFA charterholder with an MBA from Brigham Young University and a BA from Utah State University, Todd has helped build treasury and FP&A teams for three startup banks. His background spans banking, investing, and corporate finance, making him an authority on financial analytics and modeling in regulated industries.

Expect to Learn:

• How to build and scale FP&A and treasury functions at startup banks
• Why speed and accuracy are essential hallmarks of effective FP&A
• How to forecast effectively when historical data doesn’t exist
• The benefits of learning Python for finance automation and analytics

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “The best FP&A teams don’t wait for perfect data; they create frameworks that help the business move forward anyway.” - Todd Niemann
• “In finance, speed matters. The faster you can analyze accurately, the more valuable you are.” - Todd Niemann

Todd Niemann brings clarity to how FP&A drives smarter banking decisions through data, speed, and precision. His journey shows the power of combining technical skill with curiosity and innovation. This episode proves that the future of finance belongs to those who build, automate, and never stop learning.

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for 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 Todd:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddniemann/

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 FP&A Certificate, take the quiz on Earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[02:58] - What Makes Great FP&A?

[05:27] - Building FP&A at New Banks

[10:37] - Banking and Regulation

[15:08] - Challenges of FP&A in Early-Stage Banks

[23:08] - Learning and Applying Python in Finance

[31:51] - Predicting Deposits with Big Data

[38:21] - Recommended Reading for Finance Pros

[40:19] - Top Technical and Soft Skills for FP&A

[42:48] - What Todd Would Change About FP&A

[47:00] - Wrapping Up the Conversation