Glean.ai

3 reasons why the CFO Tech Stack is broken 1. The stack frustrates modern CFOs The stack was designed for control, not speed. It’s a mix of legacy ERPs, disconnected billing systems, and dashboards that rely on manual updates. CFOs have outgrown it but they're still stuck in it. Modern CFOs want: - Real-time insights. - AI to do the manual work. - Finance to be part of the growth. The old tools don’t match the new expectations. 2. The stack can’t support the AI shift Finance teams want to use AI for forecasting, risk analysis, and planning. But most systems weren’t built for it. Data is fragmented, and workflows are static. That’s why fewer than 1 in 5 CFOs say they’re ready to use AI effectively, even though nearly half plan to invest. You can’t run AI on spreadsheets and siloed systems. You need infrastructure that thinks ahead, not just tracks the past. 3. CFOs don't want to become the back office again Modern CFOs are managing revenue ops, scenario planning, and tech adoption, not just accounting. But they’re still stuck reconciling reports and validating data across disconnected platforms. The tools aren’t the problem. The architecture is. Agentic systems, powered by AI and built around a central finance data layer, can let CFOs automate what slows them down and focus on what moves the business. TAKEAWAY The best CFOs are rebuilding the foundation with AI at the center. If your stack was built for compliance, it can't drive growth. You must rebuild it. P.S. I sent out a letter to 11,000+ CFOs. Join them here: https://lnkd.in/eYbxuzgv

3 things CFOs want from Accountants: 1. Be the data detective CFOs don't just want clean books. They want someone who can spot patterns in the numbers that others miss. Did that new marketing campaign actually move margins? Why is that subsidiary's efficiency ratio suddenly improving? Your ability to uncover these hidden stories in the data makes you invaluable. 2. Master the art of translation You're the bridge between complex financial concepts and business reality. When the sales team is confused about contribution margins or engineering needs to understand capitalization rules, you're the interpreter. CFOs need accountants who can make the complex simple and turn accounting speak into actionable insights. 3. Think like a business partner Stop focusing solely on cost control. Start being a value creator. Can you identify which customers are actually profitable? Which products are dragging down margins? CFOs need accountants who understand business strategy and can align financial decisions with growth objectives. Be the one who brings opportunities to the table, not just monthly reports. The modern accountant isn't just about reconciliations. Your CFO needs an innovator. Someone who transforms data into strategy and turns complexity into clarity. Stop counting. Start creating. Your move. Follow Howard Katzenberg for more accounting insights.

I'm a former CFO who got fed up with watching cash silently walk out the door that no one realized. There were no answers to the questions I cared about as a CFO: - Do we have a good deal? - Why did we choose this vendor? - What are we purchasing from them? I’d experienced that problem firsthand. And I could visualize what the solution would look like in terms of the user experience, the design, and the functionality I needed a solution for improving my visibility into vendor spend. Glean.ai is now the result.

I see customers leaving Bill.com for Glean.ai Here's why: With one click, Glean.ai gives you instant analytics. No more messy spreadsheets or manual data exports. It shows spending patterns and cost trends in seconds. It automates every step. Every invoice gets captured and turned into accurate, actionable data. No human input is needed. It tames month-end chaos too. Smart scheduling handles prepaid schedules, accruals, and even complex accounting entries on its own. Plus, it integrates directly with QuickBooks Online. So you only need one login for everything. You get all these powerful features at a mid-market price. People are frustrated with Bill.com. CFOs choose Glean.ai because it fixes AP problems that matter, delivering complete automation and clear insights when you need them.

Grateful to be included on this list by Favikon '100 most influential voices in Fintech' As a CFO, I was tired of watching cash disappear. Nobody could answer questions like: - Why this vendor? - What are we buying? - Are we getting a good deal? I saw the problem firsthand. I knew what the solution needed to look like. So, I built Glean.ai. Sharing stories is powerful. It connects us and helps us learn. I’ll keep sharing lessons from my career here. Whether you’re new or experienced, I hope these stories spark ideas and conversations. Follow Howard Katzenberg for more posts on AI and finance.

Honored to be named among the "100 Most Influential" in #Fintech on LinkedIn worldwide by Favikon (world's leading influencer marketing platform) Congratulations to all my fellow fintech experts whose efforts are well recognized With this incredible community, we're driving innovation and empowering millions in the world of financial technology 1. Linas Beliūnas 2. Marcel van Oost 3. Dan Held 4. Simon Taylor 5. Monica Jasuja 6. Raoul Pal 7. Aram Mughalyan 8. Laura K. Inamedinova 9. Michael Shlayen 10. Arthur Bedel 💳 ♻️ 11. Saleh ALhammad 12. Olugbenga Agboola 13. Anthony Scaramucci 14. Anthony Day 🕛 15. Alex Svanevik 16. Benjamin Fernandes 17. Rex Salisbury 18. Ram Rastogi 🇮🇳 19. Raphaël Bloch 20. Dwayne Gefferie 21. Richard Turrin 22. Sumit Gupta 23. Michael Nadeau 24. Howard Katzenberg 25. Nicolas Pinto 26. Diego Borgo ᵍᵐ 27.✨️ Muhammad Raza 🇵🇰 28. Ari Redbord 29. Ee Chien Chua 30. Adil Ashfaq #digital #linkedin #influencer

After 11 years as a CFO, here are 11 reasons why being a CFO is hard: 1. You kill good ideas to make room for great ones. 2. Excel mastery isn’t your superpower. Knowing which numbers not to track is. 3. The best CFOs don’t just present numbers. They craft narratives that win over boards and CEOs. 4. Spreadsheets look neat, but the real risks and rewards are hidden in the details. 5. The numbers everyone agrees on are often the most misleading. Your job is to say "no" more than "yes." 6. Being liked isn’t the goal. The best CFOs are respected, even when they appear to be bad. 7. Your real deliverable isn’t just reports. It’s peace of mind. The CEO sleeps at night because you’ve got the future covered. 8. You’re not a yes-man. You’re the CEO’s conscience, ready to disagree without being disagreeable. 9. Small risks become big threats, and it’s your job to see them first. That’s the art of productive paranoia. 10. Sometimes, you have to crush someone’s passion project with math. Do it with empathy, but don’t avoid it. 11. Every "no" isn’t just about saving dollars. It’s about saving time, the most valuable resource of all. What did I miss? Follow Howard Katzenberg for more Finance and Accounting lessons.

Grateful to be included on this list by Favikon '100 most influential voices in Fintech' As a CFO, I was tired of watching cash disappear. Nobody could answer questions like: - Why this vendor? - What are we buying? - Are we getting a good deal? I saw the problem firsthand. I knew what the solution needed to look like. So, I built Glean.ai. Sharing stories is powerful. It connects us and helps us learn. I’ll keep sharing lessons from my career here. Whether you’re new or experienced, I hope these stories spark ideas and conversations. Follow Howard Katzenberg for more posts on AI and finance.

Driving value from the CFO seat requires a change in mindset: At face value, the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable processes just seem administrative: - Paying your bills - And collecting customer payments. But thinking this way totally misses the point. Accounts Payable is really about ↘️ Expenses. If you're looking to control costs, _Understanding what you pay your vendors and why_ Should be a main area of focus. And AP is where you find that data. Accounts Receivable is really about ↘️ REVENUE and CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS. Because if you're selling to customers who ultimately never pay you, Or you're invoicing customers right in the middle of a project snafu, You're destroying: - Your LTV - Your retention - And your cash runway We dug into this shift in mindset and more in this week's episode of The Growth-Minded CFO Podcast. We had an awesome discussion with two startup CEOs Who are leveraging the AP and AR process to drive more company value from the CFO seat. My cohost Alex Louisy and our guest Howard Katzenberg explained how their tools, Upflow and Glean.ai, are changing the game in the financial operations space. Links will be in the comments! Or search "The Growth-Minded CFO" on Apple, Spotify, or Youtube to check out the full discussion. — 👋 I'm Lauren. I’m a 3x Founder-turned-CFO nerd who writes about building better companies. 🔔 Enjoy my content? FOLLOW for more! 📬 Want my newsletter? SUBSCRIBE (link in profile).

🚀 Our CEO recently joined The Growth-Minded CFO Podcast to share the origin story of Glean.ai, and how to boost efficiency within AP. 💡 If you're looking for fresh ideas to optimize your finance operations, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. 🎙️ Listen or watch here: https://lnkd.in/eajDqHPY A big thank you to the podcast team for hosting us!