In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper welcome Alex Curran, CEO of Aptitude Software, to discuss the future of finance systems, AI-native ERP, and how organizations can prepare their finance functions for a rapidly changing technology landscape. Alex shares how finance teams can move beyond outdated systems, improve data foundations, and use AI to enable faster, more informed decision-making.
Alex Curran is the CEO of Aptitude Software, a company that has spent over 40 years building finance solutions for complex organizations. After joining Aptitude over 12 years ago, Alex progressed through multiple leadership roles before becoming CEO in 2023. She now leads the company’s focus on AI-native finance technology and modern ERP solutions.
In this episode, you will discover:
- Why CFOs are expected to become strategic partners in business decisions.
- Why clean data and strong architecture are essential for successful AI adoption.
- How AI-native ERP systems differ from traditional finance platforms.
- Why real-time finance and continuous close are becoming possible.
- How AI will change finance roles and create new opportunities.
Alex explains why the future of finance is not just about adding AI tools, but about building the right systems, data foundations, and processes to make AI valuable and trustworthy.
Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii
Follow Paul:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy
Follow Alex:
Website: http://fynapse.app/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-curran-9aa593b/
Disclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.
Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.
Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.
In Today’s Episode:
[00:00] – Trailer
[05:22] – The Modern CFO Role
[11:36] – Building Flexible AI Systems
[15:16] – Evaluating ERP Solutions
[19:08] – Legacy ERP vs AI-Native ERP
[23:39] – Real-Time Finance & Continuous Close
[27:02] – AI’s Impact on Finance Teams
[30:24] – The Future of Accountants
[35:44] – AI Questions & Leadership Lessons
[36:53] – Finance System Implementation Challenges
[38:40] – Alex’s CEO Journey
[40:04] – Closing Thoughts on Finance’s Future
