First Water Finance

Event Update: Join us on January 30th for "Agentic AI in Finance & Accounting: Reshaping How Teams Work"    Due to weather conditions this week, we've rescheduled our Houston finance community gathering to Thursday, January 30th, 5:00-7:00 PM at Capone's Oven & Bar.    Good news - this means more finance leaders can join Benjamin Lehrer, the First Water Finance team, Kurt Srivastava, and the Hyperbots Inc. team for an evening focused on implementing Agentic AI effectively across your team, processes, and technology.    We're maintaining our commitment to delivering real value through our small-group format that ensures meaningful dialogue. You'll walk away with actionable implementation strategies and clear frameworks for measuring success. Plus, you'll build valuable connections with fellow finance leaders over great food and drinks. 🍷    Additional seats are now available. Register here to secure yours: https://lnkd.in/gJqnStPR #FinanceLeadership #Houston #AIinFinance 

Agentic AI is reshaping how finance and accounting teams work in 2025. But beyond the high-level discussions, finance leaders need clarity on what's driving real results and HOW to implement it effectively. We've partnered with industry experts Niyati Chhaya and Hyperbots Inc. to give Houston's finance community actionable strategies for implementing Agentic AI in ways that deliver measurable value for your team, processes, and technology. Agentic AI in Finance & Accounting: Reshaping How Teams Work  Tuesday, January 21st | 5:00 - 7:00 PM  Capone’s Oven & Bar, Houston Hosted by: Benjamin Lehrer from First Water Finance & Niyati Chhaya from Hyperbots Inc. We're keeping this gathering small to ensure every participant walks away with specific answers. Join your peers for actionable takeaways and honest dialogue – with great food and drinks to fuel the conversation! 🍷 Get the answers you need - Register here: https://lnkd.in/gJqnStPR #FinanceLeadership #Houston #AIinFinance 

On the 8th day of Snoopmas... 🎄 After a whirlwind of forecasts, analyses, and strategic insights, Snoop finally found a moment of calm beneath the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. While First Water's commitment to excellence never wavers, even the most dedicated FP&A elf knows when it's time to celebrate a successful year! 'On the the day of Snoopmas, as year-end drew near,   Snoop wrapped up the forecasts with holiday cheer.   With models balanced and variances explained just right,   It's time to celebrate a year of insights bright!'   From all of us at First Water (and Snoop!), thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to a future filled with clarity, growth, and success. Wishing you a bright holiday season and a prosperous new year! 🎄✨ #HappyHolidays #MerrySnoopmas 

On the 7th day of Snoopmas... 🎄 Snoop’s been hard at work all season, but tonight it’s all about spreading holiday joy! As Santa preps the sleigh and the elves wrap up their shifts, Snoop’s got one final task: ensuring everything balances out for the big night.  'The ledgers are closed, the cookies are near,  The forecasts all show a profitable year.  On Christmas Eve, with the stars shining bright,  Snoop whispered, ‘To all, a fiscally sound night!’ From crunching numbers to crunching cookies, Snoop’s ready to kick back and enjoy the magic of the season. Merry Christmas Eve from the North Pole’s sharpest FP&A elf! 🎅✨ #Snoopmas #FiscallySoundNight #ChristmasEve

On the 6th day of Snoopmas... 🎄    Spotted Snoop "model building" quite literally today! 🏚️ While most see gingerbread houses, Snoop sees the perfect metaphor for financial modeling - strong foundation, structural integrity, and attention to detail. Though we're pretty sure "gumdrop depreciation" isn't a standard accounting term... 'On the 6th day of Snoopmas, with blueprints in hand,   Snoop built models, both sweet and grand.   From gingerbread forecasts to cookie P&Ls,   These structures are sound, or so Snoop tells!' Because whether you're building financial models or gingerbread houses, it's all about having the right foundation (and maybe sneaking a few taste tests along the way 😉). #FPAndA #ModelBuilding #GingerbreadROI

On the 5th day of Snoopmas… 🎄 Snoop’s been busy spreading finance wisdom! Today, we caught him wrapping up a copy of Relational Finance by Benjamin Lehrer with a personal touch: To: Martha S.  Note: "For baking up success in and out of the kitchen!" 🍪📚  Snoop knows a thing or two about staying on the right side of those financial statements. A little light reading for Martha, because even the craftiest homemaker could use some tips on making finance work for her (legally, of course). 😉 'On the 5th day of Snoopmas, the gift was divine,  A book on finance to keep things in line.  For Martha, a nod: 'Mix your talent and flair,  With numbers in check, you’ll go anywhere!' #GiftingSeason #RelationalFinance #Snoopmas

On the 4th day of Snoopmas...🎄   We caught Snoop taking an... interesting approach to margin improvement! 💻 SPOTTED: Snoop frantically ChatGPTing 'how to increase gross margin by 310%' while flipping through 'Corporate Finance for Dummies.' We appreciate the enthusiasm, but maybe we should start with some more realistic targets? 😅 Pro tip: When your margin improvement goals start looking like North Pole coordinates, it might be time to revisit those assumptions! 'On the 4th day of Snoopmas, the search was on,   "Boost gross margins!" was Snoop's new song.   With ChatGPT tips and a finance guide near,   Snoop's corporate wisdom is bound to appear.' #FPAndA #AimedHigh #WayTooHigh 

On the 3rd day of Snoopmas... 🎄   We caught our favorite FP&A elf deep in forecasting challenges!  Breaking news from the North Pole Planning Team: Snoop's trying to explain some interesting holiday forecast variances to the business partners: 🎄 Holiday Decor: 300% over forecast ("It's an investment in team morale!")  🍪 Holiday Snacks: Budget has mysteriously vanished  🎉 Holiday Party: Let's just say the variance explanation is "pending review" 'On the 3rd day of Snoopmas, the budget was blown,   Snoop's holiday party plans had truly outgrown.   With lights, snacks, and gifts stacked sky-high,   Snoop said, "Go big or go home—don't ask why!' #Snoopmas #OverBudget #FPandA

On the 2nd day of Snoopmas...🎄   Caught our resident FP&A expert, Snoop, in full analysis mode today! 📈🔍  Breaking news from the North Pole: Santa's Workshop is wrapping up its Q4 forecast, and Snoop is leaving no variance unchecked. Those 'Revisit assumptions!' and 'Explain this variance!' comments hit a little too close to home for anyone in the FP&A world...    On the 2nd day of Snoopmas, the workshop took stock,  With red ink flying, Snoop’s notes hit like a shock.  'Revisit assumptions!' and 'Explain this gap!' No variance survives when Snoop's on the map.” #FPandA #Snoopmas #RelationalFinance

On the 1st day of Snoopmas... 🎄   We found Snoop deep in study mode with Benjamin Lehrer’s book on Relational Finance. Rumor has it they're preparing for a big presentation to Santa on transforming the workshop's finance operations from a cost center to a strategic partner.    "’Twas the quarter’s end, and the forecasts were tight,  Snoop flipped through the models, ensuring all was right.  The budget was balanced, the variances were clear,  'Cause Snoop’s got the book to keep your finances in gear." #RelationalFinance #Snoopmas #StrategicFinance