Excel Automations to Save Hours with Microsoft Copilot & Python the easy way with David Fortin

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with David Fortin, CPA, YouTuber, and 2024 Microsoft MVP, to explore the real-world evolution of Excel, Microsoft Copilot, and how AI is changing the finance landscape. With his signature humor and down-to-earth style, David shares how he transitioned from SaaS finance to teaching Excel online, and why he believes learning should be both practical and fun.

David is the creator behind Piggybank Accountant, a fast-growing YouTube channel that teaches Excel and Copilot to accountants and finance professionals. Before diving into content creation full-time, David helped raise $30 million for a SaaS startup and supported its successful exit. Today, he’s known for making even the most technical topics feel approachable. Whether he’s talking about conditional formatting or Python in Excel, David’s mission is simple: help people learn skills that matter in the most engaging way possible.

In this episode, you will discover:

• What it means to be a Microsoft MVP and how it’s opened doors in David’s career.
• Why Copilot is ideal for Excel beginners and how it’s starting to serve power users too.
• How finance professionals can actually use Copilot today to save time and improve workflows.
• Where Copilot shines, where it falls short, and what to expect next.
• Why David walked away from a corporate role to pursue content full time. 

David brings fresh energy to conversations around Excel, Copilot, and how technology is changing the way finance professionals work. This episode is perfect for anyone curious about Copilot, looking to up their Excel game, or wondering how to bring creativity into finance. David proves that learning can be entertaining, and still incredibly useful.

Follow David:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fortin-cpa-816b20b5/

Website - https://courses.davidpba.com/

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:

[01:07] - Welcome & Introduction

[02:04] - Meet David: From CPA to Microsoft MVP

[05:00] - What the MVP Journey Has Been Like

[08:08] - Copilot in Excel: Where It Is Now

[12:33] - New Features and Real Use Cases

[17:33] - Sorting Through the AI Hype

[21:03] - Using Copilot as a Finance Pro

[25:40] - Time-Saving Examples from the Field

[29:06] - Thoughts on Prompting and Productivity

[36:06] - Excel Meets World of Warcraft

[43:12] - Leaving the 9-5 for YouTube

[49:00] - Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts