Entries by Sarah Schlott

The 5 Most Common Mistakes I See in Financial Models—and How to Fix Them

Financial modeling, when it’s good, is like jazz—dynamic, structured, and intentional. When it’s bad, it’s a car crash on the freeway: you can’t look away, and everyone’s pretending it’s still moving forward. I’ve reviewed hundreds of models in my career, from scrappy startup decks to nine-figure buyout scenarios. Some were elegant. Many were… not. The […]

Implementing Zero-Based Budgeting in FP&A: A 10-Step Guide

Zero-based budgeting (ZBB) sounds like one of those things consultants throw into the air like a glitter bomb: shiny, disruptive, and mostly theoretical. But trust me—when done right, it’s not just buzzword bingo. It’s a radical clarity tool. And if you’re in FP&A like me, you know the annual budget ritual has devolved into a […]

Mastering AI in Finance: Building Expertise for a Data-Driven Future

Somewhere between the endless waves of hedge fund quants and Silicon Valley’s dopamine engineers, finance quietly fell in love with artificial intelligence. Not the kind that makes TikToks or generates emails. I’m talking about AI in finance—technology that can out-predict, out-price, and outmaneuver legacy systems that once defined Wall Street. I’ve watched it happen. At […]