In this episode of FP&A Unlocked, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes back Jordan Goldmeier, Excel expert, author, and longtime friend of the show, for a wide-ranging and honest conversation about careers, technology, and growth. Jordan reflects on his unconventional career path, from auditing and operations research to becoming a Microsoft MVP, author, and entrepreneur. The discussion covers Excel’s evolution, why many finance professionals underuse powerful tools, and Jordan’s latest projects aimed at modernizing how power users work with spreadsheets.

Jordan is an entrepreneur, event producer, author, and Microsoft Excel MVP based in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. He is widely known for his work helping professionals master Excel, data analysis, and modern spreadsheet practices. Jordan has authored several well-known books, including Advanced Excel Essentials, Dashboards for Excel, and Becoming a Data Head. In addition to his work in Excel education, he produces global events that bring together leaders across finance, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Expect to Learn:

• How Jordan’s career twists shaped his approach to Excel, data, and problem-solving
• Why most professionals only scratch the surface of Excel’s capabilities
• Jordan’s perspective on why VBA is outdated and what could replace it
• Why vertical learning beats beginner–intermediate–advanced training paths

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Excel isn’t dead, but the way we develop in it needs to change.” – Jordan Goldmeier
• “You don’t become great by learning everything. You become great by going deep where it matters.” – Jordan Goldmeier

Jordan also shares the story behind his latest project: a developer-style environment designed to help Excel power users work faster, cleaner, and more confidently, without relying on outdated tools like VBA. He explains why Excel should be treated as part of a broader finance tech stack and how modern coding concepts could dramatically improve spreadsheet workflows.

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation,

close management, and more, all in one unified platform.

Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy

Follow Jordan

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

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:

[02:15] – Jordan’s Career Journey

[08:30] – Setbacks, Resets, and Growth

[15:00] – Writing Books on Excel

[25:59] – How Excel Is Really Used

[29:12] – Why VBA Is Outdated

[33:54] – Building Better Tools for Excel

[42:25] – Advice for FP&A Professionals

[47:16] – Creating Your Own Network

[52:12] – Rapid-Fire & Final Thoughts