How SaaS FP&A Teams Leverage AI to Manage Cloud Costs & Transform Decision-Making with Raheli Sasson

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Raheli Sasson, the Director of FP&A at JFrog. Raheli shares her expertise on the evolving role of FP&A professionals, discussing the importance of being proactive, clear, collaborative, and continuously learning. She also dives into the challenges of managing cloud hosting costs in a hypergrowth environment and how AI is transforming the finance industry. Raheli discusses the use of AI tools for productivity, forecasting, and machine learning, and provides insights on data storytelling and its impact on decision-making.

Raheli Sasson is the Director of FP&A at JFrog, where she partners with executive leadership to deliver financial and operational results. With deep expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and process automation, Raheli is passionate about leveraging technology and AI to drive efficiency in finance. She has managed budgets exceeding $1 billion and spearheaded global initiatives to integrate AI in finance.

Expect to Learn:

• How finance can act as a strategic partner to drive company growth, especially in the early stages.
• The importance of balancing growth with sustainability in high-growth SaaS companies.
• Key metrics and strategies for scaling operations and go-to-market efforts in early-stage startups.
• Insights into how AI is changing the landscape of finance and operations.
• Tips on building trust and accountability within teams to ensure collaborative success.

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• "The ability to present financial data clearly and compellingly is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your FP&A toolbox." - Raheli Sasson
• "AI is transforming finance, and for me, it's not just about automation. It's about leveraging it to forecast better and make smarter, data-driven decisions." - Raheli Sasson
• "A great FP&A professional is not just reactive but proactive, anticipating needs before they arise and simplifying complex financial data for everyone." - Raheli Sasson

Raheli shared key insights on what makes a great FP&A professional, the importance of collaboration in high-growth environments, and how AI is transforming finance. Her practical advice on managing costs, forecasting, and data storytelling provides valuable takeaways for aspiring finance leaders.

Corporate Finance Institute:

You know the numbers. Now it’s time to own the story.

The new FP&A Professional (FPAP) Certification from CFI is built for finance professionals who want to lead with insight-not just report the data.

Learn more at: https://corporatefinancialinstitute.pxf.io/c/6003589/3067930/23723

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Follow Raheli:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahelisasson/?originalSubdomain=il

Company - https://www.linkedin.com/company/jfrog-ltd/

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Website - https://www.theFP&Aguy.com

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

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

[03:49] - What’s Great FP&A?

[07:15] - Transitioning from Auditing to FP&A

[10:35] - Managing Cloud Hosting Costs in Hypergrowth

[15:48] - Passion for AI and Becoming an Advocate

[22:57] - Impact of AI Workshops on Team Productivity

[27:44] - Introduction to Deep Research

[33:36] - Best Use Cases for AI in FP&A

[37:15] - Implementing AI Training in Finance

[43:04] - Favorite Gen AI Tool

[44:55] - Soft FP&A Skill