Python Series

AI in Finance: Separating Hype from Reality This is the first installment in my series “Financial Leadership in the AI Era.” If you’re new here, check out the introduction post to learn what this series is all about. The Current State of AI in Finance Departments Three weeks into my new role as a finance manager, I’ve been cataloging every vendor pitch that mentions AI, machine learning, or automation. The result? A spreadsheet with 23 different solutions, all promising to revolutionize our finance function through the power of artificial intelligence. ...

Building Your Finance Team’s AI Literacy This is the second installment in my series “Financial Leadership in the AI Era.” If you missed it, check out the previous post where we explored separating AI hype from reality in finance departments. The Literacy Gap in Finance Six weeks into my role as a finance manager, I’ve identified a significant challenge: the varying levels of AI literacy within our team. During a recent discussion about potentially implementing an AI-assisted forecasting tool, I noticed reactions ranging from unrealistic enthusiasm (“This will solve all our forecasting problems!”) to deep skepticism (“I don’t trust any black-box system”) to anxiety (“Will this replace my job?”). ...

Financial Leadership in the AI Era: A Journey of Discovery Welcome to my new blog series where I’ll be documenting my learning journey as a finance manager navigating the evolving landscape of AI in finance. Why This Series? I recently stepped into a new role as a finance manager. Like many professionals in finance today, I’m facing a rapidly changing environment where artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword but an increasingly important part of our toolkit. Rather than pretending to have all the answers, I’ve decided to learn in public and bring you along for the journey. ...

Data Analysis with pandas for Finance and Accounting Welcome to post #12 in our Python journey! In the previous post, we explored NumPy and its powerful numerical capabilities. Now we’re taking a step up to pandas, which builds on NumPy’s foundation to provide specialized tools for working with tabular and time series data—exactly the kind of data we deal with daily in finance and accounting. As a finance professional, I’ve found pandas to be one of the most valuable tools in my Python toolkit. It’s transformed how I handle everything from financial statements to transaction records. Let’s dive in! ...

NumPy Fundamentals for Numerical Data (with Finance Applications) Welcome to post #11 in our Python learning journey! If you’ve been following along, you’re starting to build a solid foundation in Python. Now it’s time to explore NumPy, the powerhouse library that makes Python a serious contender for numerical computing and data analysis. As a finance professional myself, I’ve found NumPy particularly useful for financial calculations, portfolio analysis, and working with large datasets. Let’s dive in and see how this library can level up your Python skills. ...

Series Conclusion: Your Finance Leadership Roadmap This is the final post in my “Modern Financial Controller” series, documenting my journey from chartered accountant to strategic finance manager. Throughout this series, I’ve been learning in public and sharing insights primarily drawn from David Parmenter’s work and other finance thought leaders as I navigate this career transition. The Journey So Far Over the past eight posts, we’ve explored how the controller role has evolved from technical accounting specialist to strategic business partner. From developing meaningful KPIs to implementing rolling forecasts, from accelerating month-end close to enabling technology transformation, we’ve covered the essential elements of modern finance leadership. ...

The Python Ecosystem & Interactive Data Workflows As a finance professional diving deeper into Python, I’ve found that understanding the broader ecosystem of tools is just as important as learning the language itself. In this post, we’ll explore the different ways to manage Python packages and environments, and dive into interactive data workflows that can transform how you work with financial data. Package vs. Environment Managers: pip, conda, and Anaconda When I first started with Python, I was confused by the different tools available for installing packages and managing environments. Let’s clarify these concepts. ...

Part 8: Technology Enablement for Modern Finance This is part 8 of my “Modern Financial Controller” series, documenting my journey from chartered accountant to strategic finance manager. I’m learning in public and sharing insights primarily drawn from David Parmenter’s work and other finance thought leaders. Introduction Technology has transformed the finance function more dramatically in the last decade than perhaps any other aspect of our work. As David Parmenter emphasises in his book “The Leading-Edge Manager’s Guide to Success,” finance leaders who fail to embrace technological innovation risk becoming irrelevant in the modern business landscape. ...

Command-Line Tools & Automation in Python I’ve discovered that some of the most practical Python applications aren’t fancy data visualisations or machine learning models, but rather simple automation scripts that save time on repetitive tasks. In this post, I’ll walk through how to build command-line tools and automate everyday processes using Python. Building Command-Line Scripts with argparse When you’re working with financial data, you often need flexible tools that can handle different inputs. The argparse module lets you build command-line scripts that accept various arguments and options. ...

Part 7: Finance-Led Business Transformation This post continues my “learning in public” journey as a finance manager. All concepts and frameworks are attributed to their original creators, primarily David Parmenter, Robert Kaplan, and other thought leaders in the field. Finance as a Transformation Catalyst The finance function has traditionally been viewed as a steward of resources and provider of historical information. However, as David Parmenter emphasises in “The Financial Controller and CFO’s Toolkit,” modern finance leaders are uniquely positioned to drive enterprise-wide transformation. ...