The CFO Role is Changing for Finance Leaders to Own AI, Talent, and Strategy with Omar Choucair

In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Omar Choucair, the CFO of Trintech, to discuss the evolving role of the CFO, the importance of technology in finance, and the strategic value of FP&A teams. Omar shares insights on how AI is transforming financial operations, the need for technical skills in FP&A, and the shift in CFO responsibilities over the years.

Omar Choucair brings over 25 years of experience in corporate finance, accounting, governance, and FP&A. His background spans private equity, public company software businesses, and M&A deals, having successfully navigated over 40 major transactions. With expertise in financial software solutions, he leads Trintech in helping businesses automate and streamline critical financial processes.

Expect to Learn:

• The evolving responsibilities of CFOs and the strategic value they provide in today's organizations
• How AI and technology are revolutionizing finance and FP&A functions
• The critical role of FP&A in helping companies understand and act on data
• Why intellectual curiosity and technology expertise are essential for modern FP&A professionals
• Key insights on hiring and developing top FP&A talent

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “To be successful in FP&A, you have to be technically savvy. If you are afraid of technology, you will not do well in FP&A.” – Omar Choucair
• “The CFO is the voice of reason, objective under pressure, and the protector of the company and its employees.” – Omar Choucair

Omar discusses the increased pressure on CFOs, the growing reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT, and the importance of being inquisitive to drive better financial insights. He also touches on the importance of collaboration between FP&A and other departments to drive business success and better decision-making.

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

Follow Omar:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/omar-choucair-cpa-80264815/

Company - https://www.trintech.com/

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:

[02:04] - Omar’s Career Journey and Experience in Finance

[04:41] - Defining Great FP&A and What It Looks Like in Practice

[07:19] - The Role of Technology in Modern FP&A

[11:40] - Leveraging AI to Drive Efficiency in Finance

[14:04] - The Key to Unlocking FP&A Success

[26:21] - Best Practices for Building and Leading an FP&A Team

[33:13] - Integrating Business Intelligence into FP&A Workflows

[38:55] - Managing the Budgeting Process and Alignment with ELT

[44:27] - Key Skills for Future FP&A Leaders and Career Advice