Replit FP&A Analyst Clarisse Chan: Building Finance Tools with AI Agents
In this Replit for Business episode, Clarisse Chan, an FP&A analyst at Replit, discusses how she used Replit's AI agents to build a headcount portal and automate expense forecasting despite having no software background. She details the workflow of integrating HR, recruiting, and finance data into a single app and reports saving approximately 150 hours annually.
This episode features Clarisse Chan, an FP&A analyst at Replit, who joins hosts Manny and Raymmar to discuss her experience building internal finance tools using Replit's AI coding agents. Chan, who has no formal software engineering background, describes how she created a custom headcount portal that integrates data from HR systems, recruiting platforms, and financial forecasts into a single application.
The discussion covers the practical steps of using the Replit agent as a 'building partner' for non-technical users. Chan explains how the portal includes approval workflows and a Slack bot that connects recruiters with hiring managers. According to the episode description, she reports that this automation saves her team approximately 150 hours per year and has reduced the frequency of check-ins with department leads from twice a month to quarterly.
Chan also addresses challenges faced during development, such as UI design issues and Google Sheets rate limits, and shares advice for new graduates in finance. The episode provides a concrete example of how AI-assisted coding can enable domain experts in finance to create bespoke solutions for complex operational problems without waiting for traditional IT implementation.