The Rise of Finfluencers: Top Finance Influencers for CFOs

Finance influencers known as “finfluencers” are a new generation of voices shaping the way professionals, investors, and even executives engage with financial trends. Social media isn’t just for lifestyle brands and consumer products anymore.

While finance TikTok and financial influencer content have taken off in retail investing spaces, CFOs are discovering the value of following and learning from credible finance influencers who share strategic insights, market trends, and digital transformation expertise.

Why CFOs Should Pay Attention to Finance Influencers

Initially, finfluencer culture grew on platforms like financial TikTok, where creators broke down personal finance and investing for mass audiences. But the phenomenon has matured. Today, a new breed of finance industry influencers shares high-level insights on corporate finance, FP&A, AI in finance, and leadership strategies tailored to executives and CFOs.

Influence Beyond Social Media

These influencers aren’t just content creators — they’re shaping narratives across LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter (X), and industry podcasts. For CFOs, following the right voices can mean:

• Gaining early insights into emerging finance tech trends.

• Learning finance industry influencer strategies for engaging teams and stakeholders.

• Understanding how peers are navigating uncertainty, automation, and digital transformation.

1. Anders Liu-Lindberg

Anders Liu-Lindberg is one of the most prominent voices in the global finance community, particularly in the areas of FP&A, business partnering, and the evolving role of CFOs. As the co-founder and chief commercial officer of the Business Partnering Institute, he has dedicated his career to helping finance professionals shift from being back-office number crunchers to becoming true strategic partners within their organizations. His practical frameworks and thought leadership have positioned him as a go-to resource for finance leaders looking to elevate their impact.

On LinkedIn, Anders has built a powerful following of over 200,000 professionals, where he regularly shares insights on finance transformation, leadership, and the future of the CFO role. His content is not only educational but also actionable, making it especially valuable for CFOs who want to empower their finance teams while sharpening their strategic edge.

For CFOs navigating digital transformation and increasing demands for business insight, following Anders provides a steady stream of guidance rooted in real-world experience. He bridges the gap between finance theory and practice, showing leaders how to align financial planning with strategic decision-making in a rapidly changing business environment.

2. Christian Wattig

Christian Wattig is a finance educator and thought leader best known for making complex FP&A concepts simple and accessible. With over 15 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, he has worked at global organizations like Unilever, ConAgra, and Squarespace, where he honed his expertise in connecting financial data to strategic business outcomes. Today, Christian channels that knowledge into teaching and mentoring, helping finance professionals build the skills they need to thrive in modern organizations.

He is the founder of Inside FP&A, a training platform designed to help finance professionals advance their careers through practical, hands-on learning. His courses, workshops, and resources are specifically built for those seeking to grow in FP&A roles or move toward leadership positions. Beyond technical training, Inside FP&A emphasizes storytelling, influencing stakeholders, and bridging the gap between finance and strategy, skills that are crucial for modern CFOs.

With an active presence on LinkedIn, where he shares actionable advice, career tips, and finance strategies, Christian has become a trusted voice among finance influencers. For CFOs, following him means staying connected to fresh perspectives on decision-making, forecasting, and business partnering.

3. Glenn Hopper

Glenn Hopper is more than a finance executive — he’s a trailblazer at the intersection of technology, AI, and corporate strategy. A serial start-up CFO and U.S. Navy veteran, Hopper has spent over two decades guiding companies through transformation, moving them from start-up to scale-up by embedding technology into their core operations. With a master’s degree from Harvard, he has consistently leveraged automation and data-driven insights to modernize finance functions and enable sustainable growth.

When the conversation around ChatGPT hit its peak, Hopper was already ahead of the curve. He built a proof of concept for an FP&A-focused version of ChatGPT, showcasing how AI could revolutionize FP&A. His work gained significant traction in the finance community, especially after he shared 30 pages of detailed documentation on the project, titled “Application of ChatGPT to Build an FP&A Tool.”

As the Managing Director and Head of AI, Hopper continues to shape the dialogue around technology adoption in the CFO’s office. He is also the author of Deep Finance, a book that guides finance leaders from the basics of AI to practical strategies for digital transformation. For CFOs and finance professionals eager to navigate the new era of analytics and automation, Glenn Hopper stands out as both an innovator and a thought leader worth following.

4. Nicolas Boucher

With more than 15 years of experience in corporate finance across Europe, Asia, and North America, Nicolas Boucher has built a reputation as one of the most influential voices at the intersection of AI and finance.

In 2023, he launched the AI Finance Club, a fast-growing global community where finance professionals can learn how to integrate artificial intelligence into their workflows. As Boucher explains, the club is designed to be “the place where finance professionals can stay updated and learn about AI in Finance.”

Through the platform, he offers practical, career-boosting courses such as “ChatGPT for Finance,” “Become a High-Performing Finance Professional,” and “Financial Analysis for FP&A.” Beyond courses, the club also provides thought leadership through blog articles, YouTube content, and live events. Boucher has become one of the most-followed finance influencers on LinkedIn, with over 1 million followers who regularly engage with his posts on finance, AI, and career development.

5. Paul Barnhurst

Paul Barnhurst, widely known as The FP&A Guy, has become one of the most recognizable voices in the financial planning and analysis (FP&A) community. With a strong background in corporate finance, he has built his brand around making FP&A more accessible, practical, and impactful for finance professionals at every stage of their careers. His ability to translate complex financial concepts into actionable insights has made him a trusted resource for CFOs, FP&A leaders, and aspiring finance professionals alike.

Through his popular FP&A Guy platform and podcast, FP&A Tomorrow, Paul spotlights industry leaders and discusses emerging trends, challenges, and strategies shaping the finance function. His content bridges the gap between technical know-how and leadership skills, offering finance teams tools to elevate their roles beyond number-crunching into true business partnering.

With an active presence on LinkedIn and other platforms, Paul has become more than a content creator; he’s a thought leader shaping conversations on the future of FP&A and finance leadership. 

6. Linas Beliūnas

Linas Beliūnas is recognized as one of the world’s most influential voices in the intersection of finance and AI. With a strong academic foundation — a bachelor’s degree in Economics with a focus on Economics and Politics — he has spent his entire career within the financial services industry, building expertise in business development, sales, and fintech strategy. He played a leadership role at Flutterwave, a Lithuania-headquartered payments company that CB Insights and Fast Company have spotlighted as one of the fastest-growing fintechs on the path to unicorn status.

In addition to his work in fintech, Linas has recently become the Head of Content Strategy at Oscilar, a company that builds AI agents to transform fraud detection and compliance in the financial services industry. Oscilar’s technology makes over 30 billion risk decisions, achieves 99.99% identity accuracy, and processes results in under 100 milliseconds — helping banks and fintechs turn risk management into a competitive advantage. His involvement with Oscilar further positions him at the forefront of how AI is reshaping financial services, fraud prevention, and compliance.

Linas is also a powerful voice on LinkedIn, where he has grown an audience of more than 396,000 followers. He curates and authors the Weekly FinTech Digest, the largest fintech-focused newsletter on the platform with over 146,000 subscribers, providing timely insights on payments, AI, and fintech innovation. For CFOs and finance leaders, following Linas Beliūnas means gaining access to some of the sharpest perspectives on the evolving relationship between finance, technology, and strategy.

7. Adam Shilton

Adam Shilton has quickly made a name for himself as one of the most relatable and practical voices in the finance influencer space. With a background in FP&A and financial modeling, Adam brings a hands-on approach to teaching finance professionals how to work smarter, not harder. His content focuses on making complex concepts simple, whether it’s Excel hacks, modeling best practices, or leveraging new finance technologies to improve workflows.

Through his company and active LinkedIn presence, Adam has built a community where CFOs, FP&A leaders, and aspiring finance professionals can access actionable insights. He regularly posts tutorials, thought pieces, and tips that resonate with both seasoned executives and those just starting their finance careers. His ability to translate technical skills into real-world applications makes him a go-to resource for finance teams looking to elevate performance and efficiency.

His influence continues to grow, as he helps shape a generation of finance leaders who understand both the numbers and the tools needed to drive strategic value.

8. Chris Ortega

Chris Ortega is a well-recognized voice in modern finance and one of the leading finfluencers shaping how CFOs think about strategy, technology, and leadership. With more than 20 years of experience in finance, accounting, and FP&A, Chris has built his career around transforming finance functions into true strategic partners. As the CEO of Fresh FP&A, he advises companies on how to create agile, tech-enabled finance teams that drive growth instead of just tracking numbers. 

On LinkedIn, where he has built a large following, Ortega regularly shares practical insights on leadership, digital transformation, and the evolving role of the CFO. His content blends technical finance expertise with a people-first perspective, making his advice both actionable and relatable for today’s finance leaders. He often discusses topics like leveraging automation, embracing financial storytelling, and building finance teams that can thrive in an unpredictable business landscape.

For CFOs, Chris Ortega represents the next generation of finance leadership: one that embraces innovation, champions culture, and positions finance as a driver of business strategy. Following him gives executives not only insights into financial best practices but also inspiration for how to lead with authenticity in an era of rapid change.

9. Jack McCullough

Jack McCullough is one of the most respected voices in the CFO community and a leading advocate for elevating the role of finance executives. As the founder and president of the CFO Leadership Council, McCullough has built one of the largest and most engaged peer networks for CFOs across the globe. His work centers on creating spaces where finance leaders can exchange insights, navigate challenges, and share best practices for both professional and organizational growth.

With a background spanning roles as a CFO, entrepreneur, and consultant, McCullough brings a unique perspective that blends hands-on experience with strategic leadership. He is also the author of Secrets of Rockstar CFOs, a widely regarded book that distills lessons from interviews with over 40 of the world’s most successful finance leaders. His writing and speaking engagements often highlight the evolving expectations of CFOs—from managing financial stewardship to becoming key strategic partners to the CEO and board.

On LinkedIn and beyond, McCullough has become a trusted finance influencer for executives who want to sharpen their leadership skills, keep pace with industry shifts, and connect with like-minded peers. His mix of thought leadership, practical advice, and executive-level storytelling makes him an essential figure for any CFO looking to expand both their influence and their impact.

10. Gary Cokins

Gary Cokins is a globally recognized thought leader in enterprise performance management (EPM), advanced analytics, and cost management. Currently serving as the CEO and Founder of Analytics-Based Performance Management LLC, Cokins has dedicated his career to helping organizations leverage data and technology to improve financial performance and strategic decision-making. With decades of experience as an author, consultant, and speaker, he has become one of the most trusted voices for CFOs and finance leaders navigating the complexities of modern finance.

What sets Cokins apart as a finance influencer is his ability to bridge technical expertise with practical business application. He has written extensively on performance management, predictive analytics, and how finance leaders can use AI-driven tools to enhance decision-making and shareholder value. Through his speaking engagements, publications, and advisory work, he continues to shape how executives approach financial transformation, efficiency, and value creation.

For CFOs looking to stay ahead in the era of finance process automation and AI, Gary Cokins offers actionable insights grounded in both theory and practice. His work underscores the importance of adopting cutting-edge tools while maintaining financial discipline, a balance every finance leader needs in today’s volatile environment.

What CFOs Can Learn from Finfluencers

Building Your Finance Industry Influencer Strategy

For CFOs, following finance influencers isn’t just about staying informed—it’s about embedding these insights into leadership. Adopting a finance industry influencer strategy could include:

• Leveraging influencer insights in board reports.

• Sharing credible influencer content internally to align finance teams.

• Engaging in conversations on LinkedIn to elevate your personal brand as a CFO.

B2B Influence > Consumer Trends

Unlike retail investors on financial TikTok, CFOs should focus on B2B voices offering guidance on digital finance, risk management, and leadership. This positions finfluencer content as an executive development tool, not just social media noise.

The Future of Finance Influencers in the C-Suite

The role of finfluencers will only grow as more executives turn to digital platforms for thought leadership. For CFOs, the right influencers can serve as trusted advisors, helping them anticipate trends, navigate uncertainty, and lead their organizations with agility.

So, which finance influencers will you follow to future-proof your leadership?