Practical Charts for Finance Teams to Turn Data Visuals Into Strategic Tools with Nick Desbarats

Why It Matters

Effective visual communication accelerates decision‑making for finance leaders, directly impacting performance and risk management. Mastering chart purpose and design gives teams a competitive edge in a data‑driven market.

Key Takeaways

• Chart's purpose outweighs data quantity
• Empathy drives effective finance visualizations
• Avoid default charts without context
• Master storytelling, design, and audience focus
• Leverage AI tools, but prioritize message

Pulse Analysis

Finance professionals are drowning in data, yet many still rely on static tables or generic graphs that obscure insight. Modern data visualisation demands a shift from tool‑centric thinking to purpose‑centric storytelling. By defining the "job" of each chart—whether it’s highlighting trends, comparing performance, or flagging anomalies—teams can craft visuals that cut through noise and drive actionable decisions.

The skill set for creating impactful finance charts extends beyond mastering software. It includes understanding audience needs, applying design fundamentals, and translating complex financial concepts into clear narratives. Common mistakes, such as overusing pie charts or default templates without context, dilute the message and erode credibility. Empathy for the viewer ensures that visual choices align with the decision‑maker’s priorities, fostering quicker comprehension and stronger buy‑in.

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful ally, automating data preparation and suggesting optimal chart types. However, AI should augment—not replace—human judgment. Professionals must still evaluate whether a suggested visual truly serves the chart’s intended job. Balancing AI efficiency with strategic intent enables finance teams to produce dashboards that are both insightful and trustworthy, positioning them as strategic partners within their organizations.

Original Description

In this episode, host Paul Barnhurst is joined by Nick Desbarats, a data visualisation expert, bestselling author, and independent educator, to discuss data visualisation. Nick talks about the skills needed to create effective charts, how to avoid common mistakes, and the importance of understanding the "job" of a chart. He shares his journey from software executive to becoming an authority in the field and explains why the true skill of visualising data goes beyond knowing the software.

Nick is the author of Practical Charts (Amazon #1 New Release) and the upcoming Practical Dashboards. He has taught thousands of professionals globally, including teams at NASA, Bloomberg, Visa, The United Nations, Shopify, and more. He is also the first educator authorised by Stephen Few to teach his foundational data visualisation workshops.

Expect to Learn:

Why understanding the "job" of a chart is more important than the data itself

The key skills needed for creating effective charts

Common mistakes in data visualisation and how to avoid them

Why empathy for your audience is crucial when designing visuals

How to decide when to use default charts vs. creating custom visuals

Here are a few relevant quotes from the episode:

“The real job of a chart is to serve people, not the software.” – Nick Desbarats

“Data visualisation is not about the tool, it’s about the message you want to convey.” – Nick Desbarats

Nick Desbarats shared valuable insights on creating effective data visualisations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the purpose behind each chart. He highlighted key skills, common mistakes, and the need for empathy with your audience.

Campfire: AI-First ERP:

Campfire is the AI-first ERP that powers next-gen finance and accounting teams. With integrated solutions for the general ledger, revenue automation,

close management, and more, all in one unified platform.

Explore Campfire today: https://campfire.ai/?utm_source=fpaguy_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=100225_fpaguy

Follow Nick:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickdesbarats/

Company: https://www.practicalreporting.com/

Earn Your CPE Credit

For CPE credit please go to earmarkcpe.com, listen to the episode, download the app, and answer a few questions and earn your CPE certification. To earn education credits for FPAC Certificate, take the quiz on earmark and contact Paul Barnhurst for further details.

In Today’s Episode

[00:00] – Trailer

[03:33] – Nick’s Background

[05:32] – Key Skills for Data Visualisation Experts

[09:50] – Executive to Data Viz Educator

[12:35] – Book Recommendations

[19:35] – Moving Beyond “It Depends”

[26:08] – Common Finance Chart Mistakes

[34:13] – The Pie Chart Dilemma

[37:54] – AI in Data Visualisation

[45:56] – Chart Type Selection Skills

[58:30] – Final Wrap-up