Paul Barnhurst speaks with Ilyas Anis, CFO and Chartered Financial Modeler, about using financial models to build stakeholder confidence, drive operational decisions, and tell a clear business story. Ilyas shares insights on integrating AI, avoiding common modeling pitfalls, and the importance of scenario analysis and three-statement models.

Ilyas Anis is Finance Lead at Turning Point Brands Canada and Founder of IMnS Associates. He has 15+ years of experience in financial modeling, valuation, and governance across multiple industries. An FCA, CPA, AFM, and FMVA®, he is also a board advisor and AI enthusiast.

Expect to Learn

• Models build trust, not just numbers
• Connect finance with operations for better decisions
• AI is a helpful junior analyst, but human judgment matters
• Scenario analysis and storytelling are essential in models

Here are a few quotes from the episode:

• “Stakeholders don’t pay you for getting the right thing. They pay for the confidence.” – Ilyas Anis
• “Financial models should open every Monday morning, they shouldn’t die after fundraising.” – Ilyas Anis

Ilyas Anis highlights how financial models go beyond numbers to build trust, enable strategic decisions, and communicate a clear business story. He emphasizes the role of AI as a supportive tool, the importance of connecting finance with operations, and practical strategies for building models that deliver actionable insights for stakeholders.

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Website: https://imnsassociates.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilyasanis/

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In today’s episode:

[00:00] – Trailer

[02:35] – Early Career Horror Stories

[04:28] – Storytelling in Models

[09:52] – Fundraising vs Operational Models

[12:39] – Connecting Finance & Operations

[18:36] – Revenue Models as Foundation

[25:29] – AI in Modeling

[27:38] – Automating Dashboards

[34:30] – Rapid-Fire Modeling Best Practices

[42:03] – Final Advice