In this eye-opening episode of "Asking Good Questions," host Edward Roske sits down with Valentino Hafalia, Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis at Western Alliance Bank Corp. With a distinguished career spanning JP Morgan and eFunds, Valentino shares his transformative philosophy on modern finance leadership.

Discover how Valentino's personal motto—"Listen, Analyze, Plan, Execute"—has guided his approach to financial planning across different institutional cultures. He offers profound insights on the evolving role of FP&A from mere number crunching to strategic storytelling, emphasizing that "whether the story is good or bad, it has to get told."

The conversation explores how AI is reshaping finance teams and why emotional intelligence (EQ) will ultimately triumph over technical skills (IQ) in tomorrow's financial landscape. Valentino's compelling "bass relief" analogy illustrates how humans and AI must work together, with technology handling computations while humans provide the creative insights that truly differentiate organizations.
Don't miss Valentino's surprising advice for aspiring finance professionals—including why acting classes might be the most valuable elective for future financial leaders. This conversation offers essential guidance for anyone looking to future-proof their finance career in an age of rapid technological transformation.

Takeaways

• AI integration will take time and requires hands-on experience.
• Finance professionals must learn to tell the story behind the numbers.
• Emotional intelligence is crucial for finance teams to thrive.
• Recruiting for soft skills is essential in the evolving finance landscape.
• Predictive planning tools can significantly enhance forecasting accuracy.
• CFOs are becoming more strategic and are often the face of the company.
• Technology should be embraced to improve efficiency in finance processes.
• The future of finance will require a blend of IQ and EQ.
• Acting and improv skills can enhance communication in business.
• Finance is about making history, not just recording it.

Sound Bites
"We’re really storytellers in finance."
"Listen, analyze, plan, execute."
"The CFO will be the face of the company."

Chapters
00:00 Preparing Finance Teams for AI Integration
03:04 The Evolution of Financial Planning and Analysis
06:05 The Role of AI in Finance
09:04 Emotional Intelligence in Finance
12:11 Recruiting for Soft Skills in Finance
15:12 Navigating Data Management Challenges
18:04 Modernizing Finance Processes
21:03 Technology Implementation in Finance
24:08 Vision vs. Efficacy in Decision Making
26:50 Navigating Financial Insights
31:18 The Role of Technology in Finance
32:13 The Importance of Soft Skills
36:46 The Future of Finance and AI
41:08 Preparing for AI Integration
42:30 Lightning Round: Quickfire Insights
This episode of Asking Good Questions is brought to you by Caprus.Ai.
Check how we empower the office of the CFO to harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and revolutionize their operations.