In this episode Host Paul Barnhurst (aka The FP&A Guy) sits down with Elias Apel, the CEO of Lucanet, to explore the evolving landscape of financial planning and analysis. From transforming the Office of the CFO with AI to driving strategic acquisitions, Elias shares how he’s leading Lucanet through hypergrowth and innovation while staying grounded in customer-centric leadership.

Elias Apel is the CEO of Lucanet, a global provider of “Office of the CFO” software solutions for enterprises and SMEs. Founded in 1999, Lucanet offers tools for financial planning, consolidation, ESG reporting, tax compliance, and treasury management. The company supports nearly 6,000 customers in over 50 countries, with offices across Germany, Europe, the UK, Asia, and North America. Elias previously served as Lucanet’s CFO and VP of International Go-to-Market. He is also the co-founder of Argonas Corporate Finance Advisors, specializing in complex M&A and financing transactions.

Expect to Learn:

What makes FP&A truly impactful and strategic
How to build trust across finance functions
Leveraging AI to boost financial operations
Transitioning from advisor to successful CEO
Integrating data analytics under finance leadership
Strategy behind Lucanet’s acquisition of Causal

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

"Communication is the most important soft skill for any finance business partner."
"Data analytics is the number one technical skill FP&A professionals should master today."
"A modern CFO needs to be commercially minded, not just financially accurate."

Elias Apel shares valuable knowledge on leading through transformation, leveraging AI, and redefining the role of the CFO. He emphasizes the importance of trust, data-driven decision-making, and staying customer-focused. Whether you're in FP&A or executive leadership, his journey offers inspiration for building an agile, future-ready finance team.

Operators Guild:

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

Website - https://www.lucanet.com/en/solutions/extended-planning-and-analysis/

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Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com

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Scaling An Office of CFO SaaS Software Powerhouse with AI, Acquisitions & Finance Innovation - Elias Apel

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