Why AI Makes Financial Modeling Best Practices More Important with Marli van Staden-Basson

Financial modeling best practices center on creating transparent, robust, and consistent frameworks that mitigate risk and support informed decision-making. Marli van Staden-Basson, founder of Near Future Limited, emphasizes that while AI tools offer significant speed, they lack the inherent rigor required for complex project finance, necessitating constant human oversight to prevent errors like unverified plug-in numbers or hidden circular references. Effective model design—prioritizing clear scoping and modularity—remains the most critical defense against the need for costly, time-consuming rebuilds. By utilizing purposeful styles and breaking calculations into bite-sized, logical steps, modelers ensure their work remains maintainable and auditable. Ultimately, the human modeler serves as the final line of defense, ensuring that models remain reliable tools for navigating the complexities of infrastructure and renewable energy transactions.