Devon Coombs · CPA, MBA
Put AI to work in finance, without losing control of the numbers.
I advise senior finance leaders on AI adoption, complex transactions, and building the teams that execute.
Teaching Professor of Finance at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business. Ex-Google Cloud. Big 4. Advisor to finance leaders at multi-billion-dollar public and private companies.
Trusted By
Experience & Prior Engagements
Frameworks
The Deals Desk and the AI Adoption Method.
Two of the frameworks structure the day-to-day work: one protects revenue on the deal, one puts AI to work without losing control of the numbers. The rest are in the full library.
Protecting revenue at inception
A front-line technical accounting function that shapes deals before signature, not after. Vet, Draft, Document, Forecast, Compound.
Read the research The AI Adoption MethodPutting AI to work, safely
Five moves for using AI in finance without losing control of the numbers. Map it, Split it, Fuel it, Guard it, Review it.
See the methodWhy Work With Me
I spent five years at Google Cloud supporting $100B+ in deals, leading accounting on multi-billion dollar AI acquisitions, and building training programs that reached thousands of stakeholders. Before that, Big 4 audit at Deloitte and management consulting at Riveron, advising senior leaders through IPOs, M&A, and complex transactions.
Today I work with executives across tech, fintech, and healthcare to define strategy, guide monetization, and build high-performing teams. I also teach as a Professor at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business (30+ university courses over eight years) because I believe the best way to learn something is to make it clear enough to teach.
Experience
Google Cloud
5 years • Revenue & Marketplace Controller
- $100B+ in deal negotiations as Technical Accounting SME
- Led AI Deals Desk monetization strategy for AI companies
- Built Cloud.EDU, trained 2,000+ internal stakeholders
Advisory & Consulting
Deloitte • Riveron • Devon Coombs LLC
- Advisor to senior leaders at multi-billion dollar companies
- ASC 606 implementations and IPO readiness
- $1M+ annual revenue sourced and delivered
Teaching & Publishing
Professor, Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business
- 30+ university courses over 8 years; previously at SJSU and Ohlone College
- Author of Scholarships: Quick and Easy
- Built the free Devon Coombs Academy
- Rated 4.8/5 for teaching effectiveness in official university evaluations
Official University Evaluations
Teaching Evaluation Results
From a sample academic year of official, anonymized Student Opinion of Teaching Effectiveness evaluations, across every section taught. Within that sample, each faculty benchmark was beaten or matched, and nearly all were beaten outright.
4.8/5
Average overall teaching effectiveness across five sections and 120 student responses
96th percentile
Highest-rated section versus all business college faculty
191 of 195
Faculty benchmarks beaten outright, across every question and section; the remaining four matched exactly
I Built a Free Finance Academy
Four complete university-grade courses in finance and applied AI, 1,400+ practice questions, 70+ interactive calculators, and timed exam simulators. Free, no sign-up. It is the clearest picture of how I think and teach.
Explore the AcademyServices
How I Work With Clients
AI Center of Excellence
Your team's dedicated AI strategy partner. Live training, hands-on coaching, and measurable ROI.
Management Consulting
Define strategy, go-to-market, monetization, and org design for high-stakes transactions and transformations.
Speaking & Workshops
Keynotes, executive workshops, and hands-on sessions on AI adoption, finance transformation, and leadership.
From the Lecture Hall
Teaching AI & Finance
Watch me break down AI strategy and finance concepts in front of a live audience. It is the same depth and clarity I bring to client engagements.
What People Say
Client & Colleague Testimonials
Working with Devon as a strategic advisor has been an absolute game-changer for us. His insight into adding a human layer to TAbot, blending AI automation with expert oversight, was both sharp and incredibly timely. It pushed us to rethink how we position our product, and it is already adding immense value to our business. Devon brings a rare mix of clarity, creativity, and strategic depth that makes him an invaluable thought partner.
Harton Wong
CEO & Founder, TAbot • AI & Tax Automation
Published Work
Videos & Featured Articles
I Asked 150 Finance Students What They Want From AI. They Rejected All of It.
A look at what the next generation of finance leaders actually thinks about AI adoption, and why their skepticism should shape your strategy.
Watch AI build a finance app from scratch (ASC 606 demo)
The Hidden Accounting Risks Shaping the AI Economy
ASC 606 Overview - Revenue Recognition
AI Tokens, Usage Pricing, and the Future of Revenue Accounting
Revenue vs. AI Reality
Also Published & Featured In
Stay Connected
Follow the Journey
Get weekly insights on AI adoption, finance leadership, and building a career with purpose.
LinkedIn Newsletter
1,800+ subscribers
Ambition Aligned
Weekly insights on AI strategy, finance leadership, and navigating the intersection of technology and business.
YouTube
20K+ subscribers
Ambition Aligned
Tutorials, demos, and deep dives on AI tools for finance professionals. See the tech in action.
Impact
Selected Client Engagements
$100B+ Deal Portfolio: Accounting Review & Risk Mitigation
Led accounting review for large-scale cloud, AI, and SaaS transactions across Fortune 500 companies. Provided real-time deal structuring guidance intended to catch revenue recognition issues before they reached the P&L.
Multi-Billion Dollar Acquisitions: Strategy & Integration
Supporting strategy for AI, finance, and tech acquisitions including org design, accounting integration, and cross-functional coordination across legal, tax, and operations. Worked toward seamless Day 1 readiness and post-close compliance.
Enterprise AI Training: Reaching Thousands of Stakeholders
Built and launched AI training programs reaching thousands of stakeholders across enterprise organizations. Designed hands-on workshops translating complex AI capabilities into daily finance workflows.
How ready is your team for AI?
Score your own AI readiness in a short self-assessment. It takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, your answers stay in your own browser, and nothing is submitted.
Let's Talk
Whether you're building an AI strategy for your finance org, navigating a complex transaction, or exploring what's possible, I'd love to hear from you.