AI Builds Obsession for Financial Modelers to Refocus on Specification Testing and Trust Now

In this episode of The ModSquad, Ian Bennett, Partner at PwC, joins Paul Barnhurst, Giles Male, and Ian Schnoor to discuss the rapid changes happening in financial modeling with the rise of AI. The team explores how AI tools like Claude are revolutionizing the industry, the critical role of strong modeling skills, and the ongoing importance of trust in financial modeling. They also touch on the future of Excel in the age of AI and how professionals can adapt to stay ahead in this rapidly changing landscape.

Ian Bennett is a Partner at PwC, leading Deals Modeling in Australia and globally. With over 25 years of experience, Ian has built and reviewed complex models for transactions, infrastructure, finance transformations, and BAU forecasting across Australia and the UK. Ian is a founding member of the Financial Modeling Institute's (FMI) Advisory Council and a member of FMI's Financial Modeling Global Leaders Council. He is also the lead author of PwC’s Global Financial Modeling Guidelines.

Expect to Learn

1. How AI tools like Claude are reshaping the financial modeling process.
2. The crucial role of human oversight and strong modeling skills, even with advanced AI.
3. Why AI in financial modeling is seen as an augmentation tool rather than a replacement.
4. How the role of financial modelers is evolving in the age of AI and automation.
5. What the future holds for Excel, and how AI integration is transforming it.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

1. “We all trade in trust. Whether you use AI or not, it’s your name behind it. That’s the most valuable thing in our profession.” - Ian Bennett
2. “Financial modeling is so much more than just building a calculator in a spreadsheet. It’s a profession, it’s a discipline, it’s a career.” - Ian Bennett

Claude and other AI tools are significantly enhancing the way financial modeling is done, but as Ian Bennett highlights, trust and deep foundational knowledge remain critical. The future of financial modeling isn’t about AI replacing human modelers; it’s about how professionals can use AI to work smarter, faster, and more accurately.

Follow Ian:

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

Follow Giles:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/giles-male-30643b15/

Follow Ian Bennett:

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

Website - https://www.pwc.com.au/deals/modelling.html

In today’s episode:

[02:10] – Introducing Ian Bennett

[07:00] – Testing Claude in Excel

[10:10] – Focusing Beyond the Build Phase

[14:00] – How AI is Enhancing Modeling Phases

[17:30] – The Importance of Reviewing AI-Generated Models

[19:45] – Trusting AI: Augmentation vs. Replacement

[25:00] – Rethinking the Role of Financial Modelers

[30:00] – The Future of Excel and AI Agent Mode

[33:00] – Reinventing the Financial Modeling Profession

[36:00] – The Future of Excel in the AI Era

[39:30] – Final Thoughts