While finance might not be the first industry you associate with innovation, behind the scenes, it has been getting a serious tech upgrade. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Michael McGeein, Program Director and Product Management Leader at IBM, and Brian Simpson, Senior Director of Presales, Data & AI at Pellera, to unpack how AI is transforming financial planning and analytics. From the early days of algorithmic forecasting to today’s dynamic, real-time modeling, Michael and Brian share how AI is helping teams move beyond static spreadsheets to more agile, decision-ready tools. They dive into the real-world impact across industries like pharma and manufacturing, explore how platforms like AWS are accelerating time to value, and explain how agentic AI is helping democratize forecasting by reducing technical barriers. Most importantly, they discuss why AI in finance isn’t about replacing people, it’s about empowering them to focus on higher-value work. So if you’re wondering what AI in finance looks like in practice, or how it’s reshaping the role of the finance team, this episode may just pay dividends.