Future Finance How AI Could Have Saved Macy's $150M and Prevented Financial Disasters – Ahikam Kaufman
In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst (aka The FP&A Guy) and Glenn Hopper welcome Ahikam Kaufman, Co-Founder and CEO of Safebooks AI. They dig into what it really takes to run finance at a fast-growing global company. From building systems that can handle international payroll to staying on top of ever-changing rules and regulations, Ahikam shares a behind-the-scenes look at how finance can be a key driver of growth, not just a support function.
Ahikam Kaufman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Safebooks AI, a platform focused on ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial data for organizations. With a strong track record in leadership roles across finance and technology, Ahikam brings deep insight into the challenges companies face in managing financial data at scale. Prior to Safebooks AI, he held key positions in companies like Buildup and ScanModul, giving him a well-rounded view of both startup growth and enterprise needs.
In this episode, you will discover:
- Why paying people in different countries is way more complicated than it sounds
- How finance teams can shape a company’s strategy-not just track expenses
- What makes Papaya Global stand out in the crowded HR and payroll space
- How to deal with the endless maze of international tax and labor laws
- Advice for finance pros who want to grow their careers in a changing world
Ahikam Kaufman shared practical insights on how messy and unreliable financial data can hinder companies and what it really takes to fix that. Drawing from his experience as Co-Founder and CEO of Safebooks AI, he offered a grounded view on why visibility, structure, and accountability in financial operations are crucial for any organization. He emphasized that success starts with clean data and clear systems, not just better dashboards. At the heart of it all: discipline, attention to detail, and building tools that make finance teams stronger.
Follow Ahikam:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahikam-kaufman-688310/
Website - https://safebooks.ai/
Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance:
Follow Glenn:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii
Follow Paul:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy
Follow QFlow.AI:
Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg
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:
[01:53] - Welcome to the episode
[02:19] - SXSW and Startup Energy
[02:53] - Transitioning from Corporate to Startup
[03:46] - The Importance of a Strong Foundation
[05:40] - Replacing Manual Financial Controls
[08:03] - AI-Powered Financial Graphs at SafeBooks
[17:10] - Ensuring Compliance with SafeBooks
[22:49] - AI’s Impact on CFOs
[26:57] - AI-Powered Priority Alerting
[32:26] - Fintech’s Biggest Problem