Tuesday, May 26, 2026 / 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
Cherry Blossom Ballroom
Registration and Information hours for the day.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 6:15 PM EDT
Chesapeake Pre
Discover cutting-edge tools, diagnostics and actionable resources at the Gartner Showcase. Visit our demo space for a personalized walkthrough of our business and technology insights platform and learn how Gartner's leading tools like AskGartner, Accelerators, and Finance Budget & Efficiency Benchmark can help you make faster, smarter decisions on your mission-critical priorities.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Welcome to the conference! Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions. Attendees can choose to network with industry peers on specific tables to get the conversation started. Tables will be arranged by industry - Public Sector, Manufacturing, Services, Banking & Insurance, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation & Logistics, Tech and Telecom and Multi-Industry. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM EDT
Cherry Blossom Ballroom
Registration and Information hours for the day.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM EDT
Maryland B
Welcome to the conference! Start making new connections right away with your CFO Circle peers at this informal networking breakfast. Tables will be arranged by industry - Public Sector, Manufacturing, Services, Banking & Insurance, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation & Logistics, Tech and Telecom and Multi-Industry. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM EDT
Potomac Ballroom
As organizations adapt to AI, many early efforts fall short. Yet, some companies unlock extraordinary value from their AI investments. In this keynote at Gartner’s 2026 Finance Symposium, discover the strategies and mindsets that set such leaders apart. Learn how CFOs become architects of AI-driven transformation, driving innovation, efficiency and competitive advantage in an AI-first enterprise. Join us to explore actionable insights and the pivotal role finance will play in shaping the future of business. (CPE Credit: 0.8; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Ballroom Foyer
Join us for refreshments in a brief break between sessions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:15 AM - 5:15 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall Foyer
Master your finance approach with Workday. Join our interactive putting challenge to network with experts and explore our PGA TOUR customer story. Discover how precision leads to peak performance while testing your aim. Take a break, connect with peers, and win exclusive executive swag—see you on the green!
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:15 AM - 7:30 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall B
Visit the Finance Xpo to evaluate industry offerings that can move your business forward. Engage with your peers, Gartner analysts, and exhibitors. Attend a stage session to see technology in action.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
By 2026, boards aren't asking if you use AI—they're asking why it hasn't moved the needle on margins. Finance teams stuck in pilot mode are falling behind those acting as true decision engines. This session moves beyond agentic hype to Autonomous Finance: how to eliminate "Slow Finance," reclaim capacity, and measure AI success through Capacity, Clarity, and Confidence—turning experimentation into real margin expansion.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Stuck in your AI journey because you still rely on manual processes and legacy systems—even as ERP and finance platforms roll out embedded, AI‑native capabilities that enable faster, safer automation than custom builds? If you’re ready to modernize but unsure where to start, this session offers a practical, execution‑focused approach to evaluating vendors, choosing the right architecture and implementing AI that delivers real productivity gains.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Maryland A
CFOs face pressure to lead through extreme change at a time when norms are being shattered. In this session, CFOs will discover a set of leadership tactics shaping executive success in 2025. These targeted actions will help CFOs adapt their leadership approach, helping them lead better up to the CEO and board, across the C-suite, outside and down into their organization, and, most crucially, help them lead better from within. Ideal for CFOs aiming to stay ahead, this session offers practical tools to elevate your leadership game. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Maryland D
As emerging risks have increased and intensified, most enterprises today have at best, only moderate operational readiness to respond. This disconnect is largely attributable to fragmented risk management practices, characterized by dispersed ownership and unclear accountability. This session clarifies how CFOs should respond to critical emerging risks requiring action today and the most effective influential actions to close the operational readiness gap. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Maryland C
CFOs face pressure to adopt AI, but overreliance on offline spreadsheets creates financial risk and fuels the system underutilization trap that blocks planning‑platform value. This session provides an executive playbook for deploying explainable AI within your Financial Planning System (FPS). Learn the strategic governance, data disciplines, and lineage requirements needed to turn AI outputs into defensible decisions in executive decision forums. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Potomac D
ERP transformation is accelerating, but without a clear strategy, finance leaders risk funding tech that doesn’t deliver. This session highlights what CFOs must understand to ensure their ERP strategy is future-proof and aligned with business outcomes. Explore key trends, AI readiness, and the principles needed to guide smarter, value-driven ERP decisions. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Potomac C
What technologies should finance be focusing on in 2026? Separate hype from reality in this session and learn about the technology investments other finance organizations make. Join the session to gain a research-based understanding of various technologies’ current usage and perceived value, as well as where finance leaders intend to invest in the near future. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Potomac B
By 2030, CFOs at the frontier firms will lead a workforce of digital talent that will regularly build new technology capabilities and accomplish core finance tasks by leveraging AI and tools. As a result, finance will scale and accelerate decision support and help overcome growth anchors. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
Potomac A
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it— AI is no exception. Yet, CFOs should not focus solely on immediate, hard financial ROI (typically in the form of cost savings) from AI, given longer time horizons and nonfinancial impacts. This session will explore a framework for how CFOs can navigate the costs of investments and confidently determine the value of AI initiatives to shape enterprise strategy and impact.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
The financial close and consolidation solutions support automation, compliance and collaboration within an organization’s group close, consolidation and reporting processes. CFOs will use this research to assess vendors best suited to support transformation within accounting processes. Join the session to learn more. (CPE Credit: 0.4; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Potomac A
Hear how IBM has reimagined its own Finance function with an AI-first approach through a multi-year journey which has delivered significant savings (~40% overall spend reduction) and end-to-end workflow optimization with automation and AI at scale (~1 million tasks). The learnings from IBM’s intelligent finance journey will be shared, including how AI-augmented financial operations and the use of digital labor are catalysts for faster decisions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Potomac B
For fast-moving organizations like Argano, traditional silos are a liability. The CFO-COO alliance is essential for sustainable growth. Join us to discover strategies for managing a rapid pace of acquisition and organizational change, while maintaining agility and achieving operational transparency. Hear how to build trust through shared data and decision-making, supported by a flexible technology solution that enables scale without breaking.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Potomac C
CFOs face rising expectations to deliver enterprise outcomes and AI success. This session shares best practices to scale AI with control, speed, and ROI, drawing on SAP’s finance transformation. SAP achieved 62% automated contract validation (O2I), 70% billing automation, a GenAI commercial policy saving 80k hours, and a 20% faster close. Go from pilots to a scalable operating model—prioritize use cases, quantify impact, safeguard controls, and mobilize your teams.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Potomac D
Discover how EBSCO unified FP&A and financial consolidation across 12+ diversified businesses on one platform to enable continuous planning, improve transparency, and increase forecast accuracy. Learn how AI-driven insights and real-time external market intelligence are helping CFOs and finance leaders navigate volatility and accelerate confident, data-driven decisions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Maryland B
Join Workday for a candid talk with Megan Zee, SVP, Finance and Controller of PGA TOUR, on their finance transformation. Discover how moving from legacy systems to Workday has helped her team stay on course with real-time data and granular visibility. Megan will share how the TOUR manages risk, streamlines complex reporting, and uses live analytics to drive decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Maryland C
Join Cox Enterprises for an engaging session on how they are advancing their Forward Finance vision by deploying financially intelligent AI agents to democratize analysis, accelerate variance and insight generation, and mitigate enterprise risk. Cox will share how agentic AI embedded in finance workflows streamlines daily work, enables natural data interaction, speeds questions to insights, and frees teams to focus on strategic decision-making.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Maryland D
As AI evolves from providing insight to driving execution, finance and accounting teams face the challenge of embracing its power without compromising on trust. Discover how Agentic Financial Operations transform your team into a center of strategic impact, built on accuracy and control. Finance leaders at PenFed Credit Union will share how they are unifying their financial operations on an agentic-ready foundation with BlackLine.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
Maryland A
The future of finance belongs to CFO's who use "Algo Quotient" (AQ) to lead hybrid teams of humans and AI Colleagues. By automating implementation to a single day, the human role shifts from technical setup to high-level judgment, ensuring AI agents deliver real results or face being "fired" for underperformance.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT
National Harbor 2
A study of 500 finance leaders reveals ERPs aren’t broken, but 74% lack the automation AR teams need. Learn key ERP gaps and how leaders are improving forecasting, accelerating payments by 25%, and gaining cash flow visibility without replacing their ERP. Walk away with practical strategies to simplify and strengthen your cash flow.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Maryland C
Taking on a CFO role is an exciting and rewarding career milestone, but the skills that help you succeed as a CFO aren't always the same ones that helped you achieve the role. This session will look at success factors that accelerate a new CFO's time to impact and best practices in ensuring a successful first few years as a CFO. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Maryland D
Mark G. Peterson, Executive Vice President of Advocacy at the AICPA, will provide a focused briefing on the political, legislative and regulatory developments shaping financial strategy and compliance. He will outline the current policy landscape, highlight emerging risks and opportunities for finance leaders, and share forward looking insights to help organizations anticipate and prepare for potential shifts globally and in Washington. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Maryland A
Long-term value realization has become increasingly challenging, and most CFOs have already executed multiple rounds of cost reductions. A repeat of a successful 2025 session, this will explore how the top finance teams use the unique selling points of their companies to develop a differentiated cost structure strategy, and how to prioritize spending on areas that will produce the best long-term returns. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Potomac A
This session will explore the eight forces that will reshape finance functions between now and 2030. It will be part of a series of Finance 2030 presentations. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Potomac C
Technology is now a strategic growth engine, not just an operational tool. Forward-thinking CFOs are moving beyond outdated metrics and embracing outcome-driven metrics (ODMs) to measure technology’s true business impact. This session presents a framework for CFOs to quantify the real value of tech investments. Learn how ODMs reveal financial returns and key intangible benefits like brand reputation, employee engagement and innovation that drive competitive advantage. Equip yourself with the insights and tools to ensure every dollar delivers measurable outcomes aligned with your organization’s most important priorities. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Potomac D
Implementing D&A governance can feel burdensome, requiring shifts in attitudes, behaviors and data practices. CFOs can ease this by partnering with functional leaders to employ change management strategies, ensuring teams are well-prepared to embrace the changes and benefits. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Potomac B
AI is already changing how finance work gets done, but many teams are still organized around role composition designed for a pre‑AI world. As AI reshapes how work flows through finance, roles at the entry, middle, and leadership layers need to be rethought so expectations are clear, skills stay relevant, and teams can actually deliver impact. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Join other attendees for lunch and take advantage of the opportunity to network and catch up on the day's activities.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM EDT
Maryland B
Have you ever noticed that what is exciting on Monday tends to become boring on Friday? Even passionate relationships, stimulating jobs, and breathtaking works of art lose their sparkle after a while. As easy as it is to stop noticing what is most wonderful in our lives, it’s also possible to stop noticing what is terrible. People get used to dirty air. They become unconcerned by their own misconduct, blind to inequality, and are more liable to believe misinformation than ever before. Based on her new book Look Again, Sharot shares what psychology and biology tell us about why we stop noticing both the great and not-so-great things around us and how to regain sensitivity – seeing, feeling and noticing – in the office, at home, online, and at the store, so we can enjoy what is good and change what’s not. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM EDT
National Harbor 2
A view of how AI in finance has rapidly evolved over the past six months including the direct impact on Finance professionals. This session will be grounded in real AI use cases and will highlight what is materially different today, where organizations are seeing real impact, and how leading finance teams are applying AI in practice.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Theater 1, Prince George's Hall
AI is making it easier than ever to build AP automation. But what works in a proof of concept doesn’t always hold up in production. This session explores where AI delivers value, where it falls short, and what organizations often overlook when building internally, from integration and control to long-term ownership and cost.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:05 PM - 2:25 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
The world is planning for AI. Learn how Workday Adaptive Planning’s agentic skills are delivering limitless decision intelligence to leaders across the organization. See a live demonstration of how the Planning Agent automates analysis, delivers actionable variance insights, and explores data—all in one seamless workflow.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:05 PM - 2:25 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
CFOs face an overwhelming number of AI promises but few proven outcomes. In this session, discover how leading finance teams have implemented accurate, governed AI-enabled automation solutions to improve efficiency, cycle time, and business insights. Hear directly from a customer, KPMG, about their agentic process automation journey from pilot to ROI.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Potomac C
In today’s VUCA finance landscape, managing team emotions is increasingly challenging amid constant, unpredictable change. While operational change management is well-established, addressing the emotional impact of volatility and uncertainty is often overlooked—yet vital for successful transformation. This session shares practical strategies to integrate emotional intelligence into change management, helping teams remain engaged and resilient through complexity and ambiguity. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Maryland D
This session explores how government finance departments can reorganize to function effectively with fewer employees by prioritizing mission-critical work. As agencies face workforce reductions, leaders must identify essential functions that directly support organizational goals, ensuring limited staff focus on high-impact activities. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Maryland A
Scaling AI is more than expanding technology — it’s a strategic shift that redefines value, risk and resource allocation for CFOs. This session reveals the critical actions CFOs must take to turn to achieve enterprise-wide transformation, ensuring AI investments deliver measurable, lasting business impact. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Potomac D
CFOs are being challenged to show tangible results on AI initiatives with limited capital and finite capabilities. They can’t afford to waste scarce resources on low-impact AI initiatives. This session shows how to select, evaluate and prioritize AI use cases to build a focused portfolio that can maximize AI ROI while managing technology and organizational risk. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Maryland C
Join Jason Pikoos, Director of Modern Finance, for a session exploring hands-on experiences in AI adoption and the deployment of effective governance frameworks that actually accelerate—rather than hinder—enterprise deployment. Jason will also explore new AI portfolio and risk paradigms facing finance leaders, offering a strategic look at how these shifts fundamentally change how organizations evaluate, prioritize, and invest in AI initiatives. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None).
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Potomac B
Controllership is the largest and most underappreciated finance subfunction. Digital innovations are usurping controllership teams’ legacy responsibilities, calling into question the function’s traditional jobs and value proposition. This session will discuss how the Controllership function continues to evolve roles and workflow to capitalize on digital acceleration in accounting. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Potomac A
A fundamental obstacle to better forecasting is the entrenched accounting perspective we apply to data. Join the session to learn how FP&A leaders can unlock the full potential of data by shifting to a paradigm centered on business drivers and their relationship to a forecast model. This will enable the framing of data required to provision driver-based machine learning models. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Potomac A
CFOs need to show ROI from their investments in AI. However, AI’s value won’t scale at the speed of technology—it scales at the speed of people. Finance must change how work gets done, how teams are organized, and how people add value. In this session, we’ll share research backed thinking that Finance leaders can use to evolve the work, workforce and organization and drive value for Finance and the enterprise.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Potomac B
Macroeconomic uncertainty, regulatory complexity, and AI are reshaping the CFO agenda, yet many finance teams still rely on fragmented compliance processes. In this executive roundtable, leaders will explore how AI is transforming forecasts, tax, controls, and global compliance, while sharing strategies to scale adoption, maintain trust, and embed resilience into finance operations.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Potomac C
In this session, discover how Microsoft is building a Frontier Finance organization, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI. See real-world applications in action, draw inspiration from innovative projects, and learn how intelligent agents are unlocking value for finance teams.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Potomac D
AI is no longer an experiment; it’s rapidly transforming finance performance across planning, close, and reporting. CFOs who act decisively can unlock measurable ROI, faster insights, and competitive advantage, while others risk falling behind. This session provides real examples where AI delivers the greatest impact, how to scale from pilots to production, and how to prepare your finance organization for the emerging era of Agentic AI.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Maryland B
85% of finance leaders consider AI central to their strategy. 92% worry they can’t execute on it. Join Coupa to learn how agentic AI is the key to realizing ROI and workforce transformation. Specialized agents autonomously complete routine tasks, moving your best people out of the system and positioning them above it. In this session, we’ll provide the playbook for executing on agentic AI and share real world outcomes achieved by our customers.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Maryland C
Every CFO wants autonomous finance. Most are stuck in pilot purgatory. In this session, a finance executive who has moved beyond the hype shares the counterintuitive moves that unlocked real scale — from restructuring data ownership to killing low-ROI automation projects early. Learn what the case studies don't tell you: the decisions, missteps, and inflection points that separate finance leaders who transform from those who just modernize.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Maryland A
In a fast-paced, acquisition-driven environment, QXO, the largest publicly traded distributor of roofing, waterproofing, and complementary building products in North America, transformed its manual accounts payable process with an AI-driven solution from Medius to support rapid growth. Learn about their transformation and what’s next as they target $50 billion in annual revenues within the next decade through acquisitions and organic growth.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
National Harbor 2
CFOs are steering enterprises through volatility in the age of AI. Yet 88% struggle to achieve AI ROI due to fragmented ERP and system landscapes. Real RoAI comes from a holistic understanding of operations that helps you pinpoint value-driving AI opportunities. Hear from Celonis customer W. R. Grace & Co. on how they uncovered millions in value with Finance Transformation and the Process Intelligence platform.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Maryland C
CFOs are increasingly collaborating with CIOs, but the relationship has not always been as productive as possible. We will discuss tactics and strategies for a more productive relationship with your CIO that drives cost-efficient digitization. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Maryland A
Although CEOs, boards, and investors expect simultaneous top-line growth, bottom-line expansion, and capital efficiency (i.e., efficient growth), no more than 5% of companies are able to achieve it. This session teaches replicable lessons from efficient growth company CFOs on how to manage costs, capital, cash, and AI investments for delivering long-term value. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Maryland D
Employee productivity is not enough. If you want value from AI, you need to reengineer processes, change team structures, renegotiate contracts with providers or change insource/outsource labor mixes. But these pathways to value can vary greatly in effort. Join this session where you'll learn about a practical framework, cases and actions you can take to get to the value from AI. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Potomac D
Emerging technologies such as generative AI, agentic forecasting, and simulation are poised to transform strategic planning—not only improving the quality, speed, and timeliness of strategy, but expanding who can participate. This session provides an overview of these nascent capabilities and what CFOs should do now to prepare. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Potomac A
Finance’s traditional organizational structure is proving insufficient to meet evolving needs. This session highlights three innovations in finance organization structure for CFOs seeking greater enterprise impact. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Potomac C
Elevate your FCCS business case by highlighting intangible benefits like enhanced decision-making via AI enabled capabilities and agility to adapt to market changing conditions. Address risks from poor data quality, low process maturity, and talent gaps. This holistic strategy ensures CFOs realize the full strategic benefit of a financial close and consolidation solution. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Potomac B
Despite years of in-person decision support, a tangible return on expensive investments in finance business partnering teams still eludes FP&A leaders. A Gartner expert explains why teaching-focused business partnering far outperforms the traditional consulting-style approach at injecting greater FP&A acumen into decisions. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM EDT
Ballroom Foyer
Join us for refreshments in a brief break between sessions.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:45 PM - 5:05 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
AI is delivering measurable returns in finance—but only for organizations that scale execution not just pilots. Debuting results of a global survey of 1,025 finance professionals, we share where AI generates the fastest value, what differentiates modest gains from sustained return, and why operating model maturity matters more than technology choice. Hear insights into the practical moves that turn AI into a durable repeatable finance capability.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 4:45 PM - 5:05 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
This talk explores how organizations turn cost transparency into decision‑ready insight as complexity grows. Sander den Hartog and Tim Cooke share how a Regions Bank case applies unit costing and cost modeling in ways that also translate across industries to improve profitability insight, support planning, and deliver a clear, defensible performance view, showing what it takes to move from good decisions to great ones.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM EDT
Potomac Ballroom
“What if there is a better way?” As the innovator of an audacious new category of public speaking that brought poetry to industry in unprecedented ways, Sekou has mastered the art of audacity. His 20-year career helping global brands humanize messaging, began with two words: “What If?” “What if we could define business our own way?” “What if our way could set the standard for our industry?” This inspiring and interactive speech will help you ignite that same audacity needed for you to defy convention, deny limitations, and define yourselves for yourselves. It focuses on re-defining the word “touch” as a metaphor for how leaders and brands can impact communities in increasingly purposeful ways. Prepare to engage your imagination and learn new strategies to help your business get in TOUCH with its humanity. (CPE Credit: 0.8; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 / 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall B
Join us for a networking reception on the Finance Xpo where you can engage with your peers, Gartner analysts, and exhibitors while enjoying delicious food and beverages. Evaluate industry offerings that can move your business forward. Attend a stage session to see technology in action.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 5:15 PM EDT
Chesapeake Pre
Discover cutting-edge tools, diagnostics and actionable resources at the Gartner Showcase. Visit our demo space for a personalized walkthrough of our business and technology insights platform and learn how Gartner's leading tools like AskGartner, Accelerators, and Finance Budget & Efficiency Benchmark can help you make faster, smarter decisions on your mission-critical priorities.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions. Attendees can choose topics of interests on specific tables to get the conversation started. Tables will be arranged by topics - AI in Finance, Change Management, Accounting & Transactional Processes & Technologies, Cost Optimization, Finance Data & Analytics, Finance Technology & Transformation Strategy, Finance Talent Strategy & Management, ERP Finance, Leadership Effectiveness, Metrics, Reporting & Storytelling and more(Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM EDT
Cherry Blossom Ballroom
Registration and Information hours for the day.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM EDT
Maryland B
Start making new connections right away and join other CFO peers for breakfast before the day’s sessions. Attendees can choose topics of interests on specific tables to get the conversation started. Tables will be arranged by topics - AI in Finance, Board, Investor & Stakeholder Comms, Change Management, Cost Optimization, Finance Data & Analytics, Finance Talent Strategy & Management, ERP Finance, Leadership Effectiveness, Growth Planning & Capital Budgeting, Metrics, Reporting & Storytelling and more. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM EDT
National Harbor 2
Grow your network and make impactful connections with fellow Public Sector attendees during this networking breakfast. Tables will be arranged by organizational groups: Federal Government, State Agencies, Local Government, Canada Government, Higher Education, Tribal Nations and Utilities.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM EDT
Potomac Ballroom
Commanding a spaceship takes superb leadership. The vehicle is complex, the team is international, the crew is on their own, and the stakes are at their highest — huge financial consequences and perpetual life or death situations. Only one Canadian has ever held that command — Colonel Chris Hadfield. Through his 25 years spent in the Royal Canadian Air Force and 21 years with the Canadian Space Agency and NASA, he has developed and honed leadership theories and practices that have taken him to the very top. A uniquely experienced leader, Hadfield will help your team lead more effectively. He combines fundamental leadership theories and original insights with examples from his own experiences as a US Navy top test pilot, NASA’s Director of Operations in Russia, NASA Astronaut Chief of Space Station Operations, and as a Commander of the International Space Station. (CPE Credit: 0.8; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None) This session is made available for replay for 30 days.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
Ballroom Foyer
Join us for refreshments in a brief break between sessions.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 9:45 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall Foyer
Master your finance approach with Workday. Join our interactive putting challenge to network with experts and explore our PGA TOUR customer story. Discover how precision leads to peak performance while testing your aim. Take a break, connect with peers, and win exclusive executive swag—see you on the green!
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 9:45 AM - 6:30 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall B
Visit the Finance Xpo to evaluate industry offerings that can move your business forward. Engage with your peers, Gartner analysts, and exhibitors. Attend a stage session to see technology in action.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
AI agents are reshaping EPM software now, unlocking real opportunities for teams ready to fully embrace them. But what can they realistically do, and what are the risks of handing modeling decisions to an agent? This session delivers an honest view of agentic EPM across near, medium, and long-term adoption. Walk away with a practical framework for using modeler agents and clarity on where human judgment remains essential with AI-first planning.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM EDT
Theater 2, Prince George's Hall
By 2030, ~90% of transactional finance work will be handled by AI agents capable of reasoning, deciding, and acting autonomously. As finance teams still spend most time on execution, the role will shift. This session explores next-gen finance: the changing role of finance (governance and HITL), design principles for agentic-led finance (roadmap), and best ROI agentic AI use cases focusing on value creation and automation at scale.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac B
CEOs are enacting new postcrisis strategies to deal with geopolitical risks and talent challenges; leveraging AI and sustainability. Our annual global CEO survey will shine a light on the agenda shifts that CFOs should anticipate next. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac D
Seventy-four percent of CFOs are personally leading change management as organizations struggle to achieve successful and sustainable transformation. In today's highly complex, uncertain environment, traditional static approaches no longer work. This session explores how adaptive, always-on change management — focused on continuous iteration and responsiveness to stakeholder needs — can accelerate outcomes and help navigate volatility more effectively. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland A
As organizations accelerate their investments in data and analytics, the expectations for CFOs are rapidly evolving. This session will explore how CFOs can transcend traditional finance roles to become enterprise data visionaries, enablers, and business partners — unlocking the full value of D&A investments and driving measurable business outcomes. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland C
The speed of Cloud ERP development has outpaced traditional Finance Change Management approaches. Finance teams must therefore reframe how change is absorbed and measured, focussing activities to ensure real operational impact. This session discusses a rhythm for governing change that allows finance to retain control, absorb releases predictably and operate at the cadence of the cloud. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland D
Economic pressure and rising costs are driving demand for enterprise-wide savings. This session explores how to partner with CIOs to align technology investments with operational strategy — unlocking measurable cost reductions, improving efficiency and sustaining long-term optimization. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac C
Despite AI success stories and advancing AI technology, finance leaders are approaching AI with renewed caution. While data show a deceleration in the pace of AI adoption in finance, those organizations that can quickly pilot and implement AI are are seeing greater efficiency and effectiveness. Join this session to benchmark your organization’s AI adoption, impact and speed of implementation against your peers — and refine your strategy to build momentum for AI adoption. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac A
Finance organizations are increasingly relying on data science to deliver sharper insights and drive strategic outcomes. In this session, we break down the five core data science skills that every CFO and finance leader must cultivate across their teams, including examples of each skill in action, along with prioritization and learning guidance and a structured timeline to guide upskilling efforts. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Discover how financial planning software, Magic Quadrants and Critical Capabilities can transform your vendor evaluation process. This session provides insights into comprehensive market overviews, vendor quadrant comparisons and evaluation guidance. Join this session and learn to leverage MQs and CCs to make informed decisions that align with your business objectives and support digital FP&A transformation efforts. (CPE Credit: 0.4; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac A
AI is only as effective as the foundation behind it. Fragmented revenue processes slow cash flow and weaken forecast reliability. Learn how CFOs are building connected revenue operations—aligning pricing, sales compensation, billing, and collections—to improve forecast accuracy, strengthen auditability, and enable AI to deliver more reliable, decision-ready insights.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac B
The CFO's edge is no longer in tabulating data — it's in directing intelligence. In this session, Ryan Steck, Partner at Ignite Spot Accounting, shares a practical playbook for moving past the common objections to AI and building a finance organization where generative and agentic AI work together to drive decisions, not just dashboards.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac C
As companies operationalize AI, boards are already eyeing what’s next, from quantum computing to agentic AI. Listen in as Steve Soter of Workiva asks Jonathan Johnson, former Chairman and CEO at Overstock.com and current board member of The J.M. Smucker Co., about how boards balance innovation, governance, and management of emerging risks. Leave with a practical framework for establishing trust as the foundation for value creation and return on tech investment.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac D
Discover the blueprint for a global finance transformation across 80+ countries. Learn how ECU Worldwide, a logistics leader, leveraged a centralized, AI-powered model to cut manual work by 60% and unify fragmented operations. Hear directly from senior leaders at ECU Worldwide and Datamatics on the strategies that drove unprecedented efficiency and governance. Insert Abstract
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland B
Finance leaders are no longer debating AI adoption. They are being asked to scale operations, strengthen controls, and deliver measurable outcomes in increasingly complex environments. As traditional automation reaches its limits, a new model is emerging where AI augments decision making, not just processing. This session explores how organizations are evolving workflows and redefining success through decision velocity, compliance, and capacity.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland C
The CFO’s role in AI has shifted from oversight to ownership. In this session, CrossCountry Consulting’s leadership team brings expertise in AI transformation, governance, and data & analytics to show how leading CFOs turn AI ambition into measurable outcomes. Through a live demo, see how integrating these disciplines drives greater value than siloed efforts, and leave with a clear framework to validate ROI and accelerate impact.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland D
AI is raising the bar for finance, but most organizations are skipping the fundamentals and wondering why results aren't coming. This session skips the hype and gets practical – a roadmap for getting AI-ready: strengthening your foundation, identifying the right starting points, and building capabilities that actually scale. Because AI in finance isn't a leap, it's a progression. And the teams getting results are the ones who know where to begin.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland A
As complexity rises, CFOs must lead with speed, precision, and strategic insight. This session features a real-world perspective from Carta as a Pigment customer, alongside expert insights on how AI-driven planning enables agile, real-time decision-making through advanced analytics and automation. Learn practical ways to overcome challenges and how AI helps finance teams boost accuracy, resilience, and long-term value.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
National Harbor 2
AI is transforming finance — but what does that actually require? Brex CAO Erik Zhou and Diligent CAO Adam Ginsberg cut through the noise in a candid fireside conversation. Diligent shares their firsthand journey: automating spend operations, improving financial visibility, and building the change management framework that drove real adoption. Walk away with a clear-eyed view of what transformation actually takes — and what's worth doing first.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland A
Effective delegation is essential for CFOs to maximize impact and develop future finance leaders. Discover what sets successful CFOs apart in delegation and how you can adopt these proven practices to delegate more effectively and achieve better results. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland D
In most business contexts, risk management remains a predominantly qualitative enterprise. Advances in technology and other factors have made risk quantification possible for more teams, but “possible” and “worthwhile” are separate matters. This presentation presents risk quantification use cases and best practices for implementation. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac B
Leading finance teams ensure that technology planning begins with a clear definition of desired business outcomes and finance capabilities, guiding the selection of technologies to best enable these goals. CFOs should adopt this top-down approach to maximize value realization and strategic impact. Join this session to know more. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac D
The latest Gartner C-Suite Dynamics Survey reveals the relationships, skill sets and best practices that top CFOs use to lead their C-suite through continued volatility. This session will cover these findings and provide CFOs with actions to build their executive endurance and drive the C-suite forward. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac A
Organizational design is a key lever to achieve CFOs’ efficiency targets and digital ambitions for accounting. To achieve both goals, CFOs must accelerate accounting centralization, establish dedicated data and technology roles, and reevaluate outsourcing strategies. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland C
How does a finance organization scale to support $200B+ in gross bookings across 80+ countries and multiple lines of business? Join us for an engaging conversation with Tiho Nedkov, Head of Finance Technology at Uber, on building a finance technology function designed for hyper-growth. Tiho will share how his team moved beyond experimentation to drive AI adoption, deploying agentic AI and LLM-powered workflows to reach high levels of automation in critical areas. The session will explore how Uber balances rapid innovation with governance, providing a roadmap for modernizing financial operations, improving agility, and ensuring compliance in a complex global environment. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None).
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac C
Despite AI’s potential, its current impact in finance remains limited, partly because finance employees fear it may diminish their value and replace their jobs. CFOs must transform AI avoiders into AI champions by designing finance job roles to emphasize the work humans uniquely perform, phasing AI development to meet employees where they are and by sharing and improving AI’s behind-the-scenes infrastructure. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:20 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Cloud ERP finance applications are rapidly evolving as automation, AI, and composable architectures reshape the market amid rising regulatory and economic pressures. CFOs can use this session to identify vendors that deliver data-driven insights and future-ready finance solutions. (CPE Credit: 0.4; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Join other attendees for lunch and take advantage of the opportunity to network and catch up on the day's activities.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM EDT
Maryland B
Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 30-year Pixar story veteran, will share his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar, and provides practical strategies that will teach and inspire you to connect more effectively with others on an emotional level. Matthew uses the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM EDT
National Harbor 2
2026 is the year when AI becomes part of the operating rhythm and “high-velocity” finance is a reality. The normalization of agentic finance marks a new era for FP&A teams and organizations. This session dives into how the AI capabilities of Workday Adaptive Planning can significantly transform planning and analytics without losing the "human-in-the-loop" oversight.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Discover how Acushnet conquered major AR obstacles with Quadient’s AI driven automation and delivered a 4 day DSO reduction in Europe and a full day improvement in N. America. In this dynamic session, Sarah Jayne Martin (Quadient) and Brad Wardenburg (Acushnet) reveal how Quadient transformed AR pain points into measurable wins.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM EDT
Theater 1, Prince George's Hall
Change management best practices paired with Jedox EPM delivers planning and performance management that is future-ready and enjoys end-to-end data governance. Their approach, built on an historical technology and data foundation, unifies numerous data sources, engages stakeholders in planning, and puts them on a path to AI-first finance. Attend to understand how they aligned people and technology to exceed expectations.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM EDT
Theater 1, Prince George's Hall
Beyond AP Automation:?Why the next finance transformation opportunity is payment servicing CFOs are being asked to do more with less—yet AP automation stops short at the most complex, risky step: payments. Discover why “last-mile” payment servicing is the next finance transformation opportunity, and how leading organizations are scaling operations, reducing fraud, and unlocking value by rethinking how suppliers get paid.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Finance teams face pressure to close faster, reduce manual work, and adopt AI—without added complexity or risk. How can you deploy AI you trust and keep it flexible as needs evolve? This session explores how leading organizations approach AI in the financial close, with a focus on trust, adaptability, and real-world results, including key considerations and practical use cases delivering value today.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac D
Your company's AI strategy is now a key part of your investor narrative. Based on an analysis of recent earnings calls from leading global enterprises, this session deciphers how your peers are articulating the financial impact of AI to analysts and investors. We will break down whether the focus is on margin expansion or revenue acceleration, and provide a playbook for crafting a credible, data-backed narrative that builds investor confidence and supports your company’s valuation. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland D
Moderated by Fortune’s Sheryl Estrada, this panel brings together top CFOs to discuss how they’re managing economic uncertainty, leading digital transformation, and tackling talent and risk challenges. Hear firsthand how the CFO role is evolving and what strategies finance leaders are using to drive enterprise value in a rapidly changing world. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None).
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac B
Standard reporting hides the real story behind margin performance. This session covers three powerful profitability analysis techniques — customer, channel and profit-volume-mix — that help CFOs uncover hidden margin erosion and make smarter decisions. Learn how to start simple, iterate fast and embed these insights into planning and performance management — even with imperfect data. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland A
CFOs face growing pressure to strategically plan and fund AI investments across organizations for growth and innovation. Traditional project-based funding models can starve technology investments and limit their impact, leaving organizations at a disadvantage. This session explores AI-suitable funding models — product, block, and value-stream-based — for smarter investments and stronger enterprise planning. Learn how AI-specific funding provides the speed, flexibility and governance needed to maximize the value of AI investments, ensuring they are directly aligned with your organization’s strategic priorities and business outcomes.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac C
Fragmented data and siloed technology often hinder next-gen FP&A decision support. This session delivers a strategic blueprint for aligning data flows, architectures and advanced technologies — like data virtualization, autoML and GenAI — across forecasting, scenario planning and integrated outputs. Learn to design supportive data architecture, reduce inefficiencies and optimize costs, transforming FP&A into a scalable, technology-driven decision support powerhouse. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland C
Join a candid Q&A with Robert McKee, Chief Financial Officer at PVAMU as we explore how finance leaders can foster an innovative and adaptable culture while maintaining compliance and sound practices. Discover how trust and transparency empower employees to solve challenges and drive process, system, and technology innovation at every level of the organization. Learn practical strategies for shifting the administrative mindset, equipping both employees and managers for empowered engagement, and measuring success through both traditional outcomes and cultural transformation.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac A
Finance needs specific roles to advance its digital initiatives and improve processes. Join this session where we'll demystify the differences between process ownership and product ownership, helping you decide when, why and if global process owners and product owners are needed. Learn where both roles deliver value and how to get started in driving process outcomes and success in digital and AI initiatives with process and product ownership.(CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac A
OpenText and United Rentals will discuss how they are transforming Order-to-Cash performance with Sidetrade’s O2C Apps and AI-native platform. Learn how AI-driven prioritization, dynamic workflows, autonomous execution, and agentic AI help finance teams scale collections, improve liquidity, increase portfolio coverage, accelerate dispute resolution, and focus human effort on the actions with the greatest financial impact at enterprise scale.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac B
In this session, leaders from DataServ and Vertiv share a real-world global finance transformation. Discover how Vertiv standardized and streamlined Accounts Payable across North America, EMEA, and APAC with DataServ’s partnership. More than an automation story, this is a blueprint for using AI-driven AP, e-invoicing compliance, and real-time analytics to boost efficiency, cut manual work, and stay ahead of regulatory change.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac C
For CFOs managing global operations, fragmented AP is a governance and visibility problem — not just an efficiency one. Hear how NOV used invoice lifecycle management to cut manual touches by 25%, enforce compliance across 50 countries, and create a single source of truth across Oracle EBS and Fusion. A candid conversation on what it takes to turn AP into a strategic asset at enterprise scale.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac D
AI agents are transforming finance, turning manual work into insight-driven processes. Join FloQast’s CFO for a practical framework on adopting AI the right way. Learn how finance leaders can harness AI while keeping governance and ROI front and center. Plus, hear a real customer story on automating workflows with AI to drive measurable results.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland B
Finance leaders are accelerating AI investment, yet many struggle to deliver measurable results. The constraint is not the models, but the data. The technology is not the problem. The data is. This session shows how fragmented, inconsistent data limits AI impact across close, audit, and compliance. Learn how leading teams prioritize data readiness to reduce risk and unlock measurable ROI.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland C
Every vendor claims AI-powered finance, but which capabilities are truly innovative versus repackaged automation? This session cuts through noise with real use cases showing what intelligent EPM delivers today: autonomous reconciliations in minutes, real-time conversations with planning data, and self-service reporting with insights. Get practical guidance to evaluate AI capabilities and build a CFO-ready business case.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland D
Innovative finance leaders are embracing AI to transform the way they work. Jen Schultz and Fernando Cortez from Turo share their story of strengthening financial oversight with MindBridge AI. You'll learn how AI-generated insights provide early warning signals into financial health, allowing them to proactively fix issues before they materialize. By discovering the unknown unknowns, Turo is scaling AI faster without sacrificing accuracy.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland A
T&E policy violations are more than a nuisance–they’re a financial risk. Research we’ll share shows employees who don’t follow policy spend up to 20% more than those who do. Yet over 60% of CFOs say the policies are frequently ignored. What’s going wrong? Employees prioritize ease over enforcement, and policies buried in PDFs don’t cut it. We’ll rethink how policies are written, delivered & enforced to modernize your approach and reduce friction.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
National Harbor 2
Many CFOs are investing in AI but struggle to scale beyond pilots due to fragmented, unreliable data. In this session, learn how finance teams build trusted data foundations through integration, governance, and quality best practices—enabling more accurate forecasting, faster close cycles, and scalable AI, based on real-world finance transformations.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM EDT
Ballroom Foyer
Join us for refreshments in a brief break between sessions.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Every finance department has workflows that should have been automated by now. The disconnect between automation ambitions and the manual work teams still handle is where many organizations stall. You’ll learn how three Fortune 500 companies streamlined AML, AP, and mortgage workflows, including a proven adoption framework based on real-world deployments and a free tool to analyze your own shared inboxes and identify where to start.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:20 PM - 3:40 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
CFOs are increasing AI investment, yet most initiatives fail to deliver measurable ROI. The missing link is continuous risk intelligence. This session shows how leading finance teams monitor 100% of transactions, reduce manual audit work, and turn AI into measurable financial outcomes—bridging the gap between experimentation and enterprise value.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Maryland A
Despite executing multiple rounds of cost reduction in recent years, many CFOs are still struggling to position their organizations for realizing long-term value. This session explores how the top finance teams develop a differentiated cost structure based on their organization’s unique capabilities and selling points to deliver sustained capital-efficient profitable growth. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Maryland C
Government CFOs face a recurring challenge: budget holders overrequest funds, underspend throughout the year and rush to spend remaining budgets on low-priority items before year-end. This session explores how public sector finance leaders can use AI-enabled insights and governance tactics to break that cycle and reallocate funds toward reducing the deficit and higher-impact initiatives. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Potomac C
As AI investments increase, many CFOs run into an old enemy — data. Disparate systems, no standardization, and stubborn humans all conspire to make it feel impossible to build the kind of modern data environment that can support AI. This session will provide actionable explanations of how to build an AI-ready data architecture, what investments matter, and AI can accelerate data management. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Maryland D
The finance function is at an inflection point. AI, talent disruption, regulatory complexity, and exponential technological change are redefining the role of the CFO and CAO faster than ever before. Grounded in futurist Daniel Burrus’s anticipatory leadership framework, Rise2040 identifies hard trends, future certainties, and translate them into actionable strategies for finance leaders. This session will showcase the future of finance, helping CFOs and CAOs move from reactive agility to anticipatory leadership, turning disruption into a strategic advantage while redefining the finance function as a driver of enterprise value. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None).
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Potomac A
While the adoption of AI has had a minimal impact on accounting headcount to date, 29% of accounting executives anticipate headcount will decrease between 6% and 15% in the next three years. To take advantage of the dominant areas of AI-driven transformation in accounting, Corporate Controllers need to change the jobs to be done in the department. This session will discuss how Controllers can shift accountants’ focus from compliance and maintenance tasks to proactive analysis and business partnering. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Potomac B
By 2030, finance will use natural language tools, AI agents for automation, and easy model-building by staff. This session covers six tech themes for frontier teams: conversational interfaces, easy-to-build tools, accessible models, task agents, codified business knowledge and agents monitoring agents — showing their impact and relevance for CFOs. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM EDT
Potomac D
Despite rising pressure for CFOs to demonstrate returns on decision support investments, most stakeholders consider finance’s support suboptimal. CFOs should anchor finance decision support to the five hallmarks of high quality: frame, input, options, trade-offs and action. Join this session to receive a sequential framework for effectively applying these hallmarks to your team’s operational decision support. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Potomac C
Headlines are filled with AI-driven layoffs, pressuring CFOs to consider similar moves. This session moves beyond the hype, and draws on an extensive analysis of hundreds of thousands of layoffs to reframe the executive conversation. Join this session to deconstruct complex talent shifts into a clear framework, guiding a strategy that reconciles the layoff trends in the headlines with your own commercial imperatives. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Potomac D
Discover how leading enterprises are using scenario planning to navigate uncertainty and drive resilience in turbulent times. This session reveals practical frameworks, real-world examples and cutting-edge technologies that transform how CFOs can anticipate and respond to change with an adaptive strategy. Join us to gain actionable strategies that will empower your financial leadership and future-proof your organization. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Maryland D
This session will include how CFOs and finance leaders can use a negotiation cheat sheet with 10 innovative and powerful negotiation tips and techniques as an integral part of the negotiation planning process. This sheet can serve as your at-a-glance negotiation playbook for all significant technology negotiations for cost optimization and risk mitigation. Attendees will receive this cheat sheet as a take-away from this session. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Potomac A
Generative AI is elevating the finance organization, from running manual processes to providing insight-driven leadership. In this session, learn the GenAI skills every finance professional must have to enable faster decisions, speed up close cycles, improve forecasts and craft compelling narratives. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Maryland C
Government CFOs are under growing pressure to modernize outdated legacy systems while meeting new policy mandates and driving efficiency. Success requires more than technical upgrades; it demands a mission-centric approach that links every technology decision to measurable outcomes. This session will equip CFOs with a clear four-step framework to evaluate, prioritize and modernize finance technologies using a mission-first lens. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
Maryland A
Cloud ERP deployments are on the rise but often underdeliver due to low finance engagement and a lack of rigor within the post-go-live process. This session will outline the actions finance transformation leaders can take post implementation to accelerate and generate continuous value from cloud ERP. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall B
Join us for a networking reception on the Finance Xpo where you can engage with your peers, Gartner analysts, and exhibitors while enjoying delicious food and beverages. Evaluate industry offerings that can move your business forward. Attend a stage session to see technology in action.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
A fast-paced session highlighting practical AI Finance use cases and enabling tools/solutions, focused on tangible outcomes and execution. The session will showcase how teams are applying AI to solve real problems, with an emphasis on what works, what delivers value, and what attendees can take back and apply immediately.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 5:10 PM - 5:30 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Most AP operating models were built for a world where labor was the only option. BPO contracts, offshore shared services, and captive AP teams solve the same problem: more people, lower cost per seat, same structural ceiling.That ceiling has broken. A small number of F500 finance leaders have quietly replaced their AP models entirely — not optimized them. This session covers what breaks, what compounds, and what the P&L shows at month twelve.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 5:35 PM - 5:55 PM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
AI budgets are growing, but confidence in returns is not. This session shows how CFOs can move beyond pilots, tool adoption, and productivity claims to build judgment infrastructure for better investment decisions, faster governance, stronger risk visibility, and measurable outcomes. We will outline practical steps CFOs use to decide what to fund, stop, scale, and measure.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 5:35 PM - 5:55 PM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Caught between fragmented systems and massive IT mega-projects? This session explores a strategic, cost-effective blueprint for the new frontier of modern finance for Midmarket companies. Rather than disruptive IT overhauls, we will discuss how a unified, managed operational model de-risks transformation and lowers total costs, empowering your team to shift from reactive, manual reporting to driving proactive, strategic business growth.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 / 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Lower Atrium
You’re invited to an after-hours mixer following the Networking Reception. Enjoy deeper peer connections over live jazz, elevated hors d’oeuvres, desserts, refreshing drinks, and thought-sparking moments.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 3:15 PM EDT
Chesapeake Pre
Discover cutting-edge tools, diagnostics and actionable resources at the Gartner Showcase. Visit our demo space for a personalized walkthrough of our business and technology insights platform and learn how Gartner's leading tools like AskGartner, Accelerators, and Finance Budget & Efficiency Benchmark can help you make faster, smarter decisions on your mission-critical priorities.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Start making new connections right away and join other attendees for breakfast before the day’s sessions. Attendees can choose to network with industry peers on specific tables to get the conversation started. Tables will be arranged by industry - Public Sector, Manufacturing, Services, Banking & Insurance, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation & Logistics, Tech and Telecom and Multi-Industry. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 7:30 AM - 3:15 PM EDT
Cherry Blossom Ballroom
Registration and Information hours for the day.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM EDT
Maryland B
Start making new connections right away with your CFO Circle peers at this informal networking breakfast. Tables will be arranged by industry - Public Sector, Manufacturing, Services, Banking & Insurance, Energy & Utilities, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation & Logistics, Tech and Telecom and Multi-Industry. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM EDT
Potomac Ballroom
We’re at a crossroads. Certainly since the COVID-19 crisis but even before that, we have been evolving into a world with many new types of disruptions. There’s this potent cocktail of global platforms, information, intelligence, and automation that is accelerating the pace of change. But technology is no longer the biggest driver of disruption. What’s coming at us is ecological, biological, societal and geopolitical in nature and this is just the beginning. These many disruptions are going to evolve into seismic shocks that will completely overturn how we live and work. Think about the rising sea levels we might experience in coming decades. Or pandemics like COVID-19. Or the cold (trade) war between the US and China. (CPE Credit: 0.8; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
Ballroom Foyer
Join us for refreshments in a brief break between sessions.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 9:45 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall B
Visit the Finance Xpo to evaluate industry offerings that can move your business forward. Engage with your peers, Gartner analysts, and exhibitors. Attend a stage session to see technology in action.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
AI adoption is not without risk. From data quality issues to resource constraints, many teams struggle to maintain control during transformation. Join FlexTecs and an AP leader from Whole Foods Market to learn how leading organizations protect process integrity, monitor AI performance, and drive continuous improvement in real-world environments.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM EDT
Stage 2, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Most finance automation targets simple, rule-based processes—but the costliest work still requires headcount: reconciliations, AP/AR, payroll, inventory, and more. This session explores where AI agents create the most value—not inside a single tool, but in high-volume workflows that span systems. Learn why this work is the biggest untapped automation opportunity in enterprise finance and how leading teams are saving hundreds of hours each month.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland A
Discover how AI can help CFOs and finance leaders move beyond traditional reporting to build agile, driver-based models that anticipate change and drive business performance. Learn practical steps for identifying material drivers, making your model transparent, and empowering your team for decision-centric forecasting. Walk away with a blueprint for transforming finance into a proactive, value-adding partner. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland D
The conventional approach to raising capital is undergoing significant transformation due to broader and more flexible funding sources, increased financial innovation with creative deal-structuring, and technology-driven capital markets. CFOs who intentionally develop business stage-specific capital-raising skills can demonstrate enhanced effectiveness. Explore practical techniques to adapt your fundraising cycles from a reactive response to a continuous capability that elevates your impact. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Maryland C
CFOs underestimate how much organizational realities and each cloud ERP implementation phase’s goals drive the need for tailored finance resources. CFOs must balance the right mix of internal and external resources across each phase of an ERP implementation to drive stronger returns on investment. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac D
An AI-enabled autonomous finance function won't happen on its own; it must be planned and designed. In this session, CFOs will learn how to create a structured finance AI roadmap that turns ambition into action. Develop the foundational building blocks, align initiatives with strategic goals and sequence activities and workstreams in a clear, step-by-step plan that will guide your journey and maximize impact. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac C
G&A transformation starts with visibility. CFOs often lack insight beyond line items, making cost optimization and scaling difficult. This session shows how to manage G&A spending to enable transparency, automation, shared services, and outcome-based decisions to eliminate redundancies and align spend with enterprise priorities. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac B
Creating impactful dashboards involves understanding visual perception, providing context that influences behavior and coaching your team to develop good habits. CFOs often have strong opinions about dashboards but don't always know what they want until they see it. This session frames what good looks like, so that CFOs can proactively and productively assist their development teams. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
Potomac A
Agentic AI promises to transform finance, but its success starts with robust governance and strategic groundwork. This session equips CFOs to lead by establishing the right governance structures, addressing risk and compliance and laying the foundation for responsible AI adoption. Explore practical use cases and ideas that demonstrate agentic AI’s potential, gain tools to move from experimentation to execution. Leave with a clear framework to prepare your finance function for autonomous AI, with oversight and accountability at the core. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM EDT
Stage 1, Finance Xpo, Prince George's Hall B
Discover how market volatility and AI are reshaping the finance transformation consulting market. This session offers an overview of services, analyzes the latest trends, and compares leading consulting firms —equipping you with the insights to select the right partner. (CPE Credit: 0.4; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac A
Join Ernst & Young LLP (EY) for a fireside chat featuring finance leaders who reimagined their operating model to build a future‑ready finance function. Through a real‑world transformation case, hear how a design for zero philosophy, embedded AI, and a data‑centric foundation reduced complexity, accelerated value realization, and turned finance transformation from vision into measurable business outcomes.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac B
AI‑enabled payments infrastructure is reshaping order‑to‑cash. In this session, see how leading Fortune 500 companies are achieving guaranteed DSO and explore a case study where ML models used AR data to predict buyer churn with over 70% accuracy and AI-driven action recommendations drove 14% YoY revenue growth.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac C
Most finance transformations assume foundation must come first—leading to multi‑year programs that change the platform, not the work. This session challenges this model. Introducing “thin finance,” it shows how teams start with a specific business problem, scope data, & deliver AI‑enabled value in weeks. Using a real client example, we show how AI changes transformation sequencing—& why the fastest leaders stop waiting for perfect foundations.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Potomac D
Many organizations have accelerated their planning with AI, yet still face uncertainty in achieving intended results. 59% of CFOs and Senior Finance Leaders plan to increase by 10% or more their AI-related spend in 2026. In this session, discover how orchestrated planning and performance management bridges the gap between alignment and execution by integrating governed data, insights, and agentic AI into decision-making processes. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to implement a governed system for enterprise finance that delivers measurable improvements in execution speed and reliability.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland B
The hardest part of a digital finance transformation isn't building the tools. It's getting people across dozens of markets to actually change how they make decisions. Coca-Cola leadership and Bain walk through the operating choices that made AI stick: structuring product teams inside the business, redesigning workflows and decision routines around AI, designing for adoption from day one, and partnering effectively with the CDO/CIO.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland C
Traditional Finance Transformation has problems: it's slow and one-time. In the era of AI, annual, episodic transformations just can't keep up. Hear how Klarity and Forvis Mazars are working together to build context graphs and help make finance transformation faster, easier, and more effective.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland D
87% of CFOs say AI is critical. Only 21% have delivered measurable results. Hear directly from early AI adopters in enterprise finance who are already compounding that advantage and learn what's actually working: 1. The decisions that separated early movers from the rest of the pack 2. Hiring, org design, and trust frameworks that make AI adoption stick 3. What to start building now to stay on the right side of the divide
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
Maryland A
Finance teams don’t get rewarded for innovation; they get rewarded for being right. Terzo delivers 99% accurate contract & spend data, enabling CFOs to trust AI for forecasting, budgeting and risk management. Learn how leading enterprises are transforming unstructured agreements into a system of financial truth, powering faster decisions, reducing leakage, and unlocking millions in working capital.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
National Harbor 2
The CFO’s ambition is surging—real-time intelligence, AI analytics, autonomous compliance. Global tax mandates are reshaping enterprise data and accelerating IT and finance transformation. In this session, Vertex Chief Strategy Officer Chirag Patel shows why designing indirect tax upstream is the most critical—and overlooked—finance transformation decision, turning regulated tax data into an AI‑ready foundation for real-time CFO operations.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac A
CFOs and finance leaders have a unique opportunity to motivate their people by leveraging a combination of art and science. The art taps into the emotional side of motivation. The science relies on data and evidence. Both combined allow CFOs to create a holistic approach to motivation, fostering a highly motivated and engaged workforce. This session shows you how. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland A
AI-first is more than a technology trend — it is a fundamental shift in how organizations create value, manage risk and drive growth. For CFOs, leading an AI-first enterprise means more than approving investments; rethinking financial strategy, governance and talent to prioritize AI in every major business decision. This session defines AI-first, explains why CFOs are central to this shift and offers practical steps for finance leaders to unlock sustainable value in an AI-driven future. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland C
SG&A cost optimization is no longer just a finance initiative — it’s a cross-functional leadership challenge. In this session, we’ll explore how CFOs can lead enterprisewide cost transformation by activating governance structures, setting targets that inspire, aligning executive stakeholders and embedding accountability across the C-suite. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac D
This session will provide clients with a summary of the key attributes of frontier finance teams in 2030. This is a core part of the Finance 2030 workstream, and it provides an overview of "what the function will look like" in the future. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac C
More CFOs find themselves having to lead through challenging, large-scale events, such as strategy shifts, reductions in force, restructuring, or executive transitions. Finance's ability to move forward after these instances depends on how well CFOs communicate and engage with their workforce. Any missteps can compromise productivity and increase attrition potential. This session will provide CFOs with strategies from high-performing executives that will help keep the organization on track. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Potomac B
As the finance function evolves, CFOs must champion the shift toward autonomous accounting to unlock real-time visibility and actionable insights. The journey begins with the strategic adoption of AI-powered automation and innovative operating models, facilitating seamless and continuous financial processes. This shift not only accelerates reporting and analytics but also fosters a culture of agility and ongoing improvement. Forward-thinking CFOs investing autonomous journey will best support growth and respond proactively to disruptions. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EDT
Maryland D
As CFOs accelerate AI, many initiatives stall due to data, governance and ownership decisions. This session shows how to avoid three common AI traps:- waiting for perfect data, over‑trusting AI, and setting it live without ownership—so AI scales safely and delivers value. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Prince George's Hall E
Join other attendees for lunch and take advantage of the opportunity to network and catch up on the day's activities.
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM EDT
Maryland B
Join us for this exclusive networking opportunity. Make new connections with your industry peers at this informal networking lunch. Tables will be arranged by industry -- select yours and join the conversation! Quiet tables will also be available if you prefer to use this time to check emails and catch up on some work. (Please note that space is limited, and participation will be first come, first served.)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland A
Crafting effective presentations for the board of directors feels like more art than science. However, CFOs who consistently meet the board's expectations and get what they need in this setting realize they can take the guesswork out of board interactions by following a few simple rules. Learn how to apply these practices in your own presentations to drive predictable, strategic discussions with the board. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland C
In an environment defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), CFOs must move beyond episodic cost cutting and reactive margin defense. This session introduces a precision finance framework that integrates margin expansion, capital productivity and cost optimization into a unified strategy for enterprise resilience and scalable growth. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Maryland D
Robust risk appetite framework and decision rules can be a powerful tool in ensuring your organization pursues its strategic objectives in an aligned and efficient way — but risk appetite is a complex concept that is often underdeveloped and thus not useful for driving decision making. Learn insights from Gartner's research on ways, you as CFO, can ensure risk appetite actually gets used, by aligning it to the most important decisions you and your peers need to make. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac A
Most finance organizations report that their AI projects succeed only half the time. Yet, a select group of finance organizations consistently achieves stronger success rates. Join this data-backed session to learn how to boost the success of your finance AI initiatives by diversifying your AI portfolio, better leveraging data science expertise, and adapting your organizational structures. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac B
CFOs may be tempted to delegate the responsibility of planning finance transformation, but bowing out of this work all but guarantees the transformation will fail. This session will highlight four critical aspects of designing and using the finance transformation roadmap that CFOs need to get involved in, as well as easy-to-use frameworks to guide their teams through each step of the roadmapping process. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Potomac D
FP&A teams have a dirty secret: many spend over 70% of their time accessing, cleaning and transforming data before analysis even begins. With AI, FP&A leaders can now automate their data supply chain, unlocking transformative opportunities for Finance. This session will detail how to implement agentic retrieval augmented generation (RAG), adopt product thinking in Finance, and prepare CFOs for how to transform their FP&A teams. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac A
With risk management, you can do everything right and still get it all wrong. Your risk analyses, strategies and recommendations could be perfect, but you will not change the organization’s risk exposure without influencing stakeholders. This session provides guidance on building a risk culture that helps organizations stay within their risk appetites. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland A
This is a conceptual strategy session for leaders whose organisations are already comfortable with the AI ROI conversation and are ready to go beyond it. It goes deeper into the thinking behind the keynote, examining the emerging logic of advanced organisations as they shift from one-off gains to broader questions of workforce redesign, changing functional boundaries, and the operating philosophy choices that define the AI-shaped organisation. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland C
This session explores how CFOs can achieve more accurate and effective government budgeting by setting clear accountability standards and adopting priority-based budgeting. By allocating resources to the most important services and community needs, governments can improve transparency, optimize resources, and make informed decisions, even during fiscal constraints. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Maryland D
Join us for a Q&A session, where we’ll explore the real-world journey of moving AI from pilot projects to core Finance operations. This session will unpack why the success of AI in Finance hinges not on technology, but on structure, ownership, and leadership. Discover how, clear mandates, and shared accountability transformed innovation from isolated experiments into a sustainable operating model. Learn actionable strategies for building trust, driving adoption, and leading your teams through organizational change, so you can turn AI from an optional tool into a source of lasting competitive advantage. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Business Management and Organization; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None).
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac B
CFOs face pressure to adopt AI, but general‑purpose tools cannot solve the specific forecasting challenges inside Finance. This session explains the operational reality of predictive, generative, and agentic AI built directly into financial planning software (FPS). Learn how to use a three‑tier maturity model to compare nine FPS AI use cases and select a targeted, high‑value option that delivers auditable FP&A results. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)
Friday, May 29, 2026 / 2:45 PM - 3:15 PM EDT
Potomac C
Progressive CFOs and their FP&A teams are overcoming business support deficiencies by embracing digital tool-based methods of decision and planning support. Join this session to learn how this transformation can also benefit core FP&A processes like long-range planning, budgeting and forecasting. (CPE Credit: 0.6; Field of Study: Finance; Delivery Method: Group Live; Program Knowledge Level: Basic; Prerequisites: None; Advanced Preparation: None)