All 2026 Finance Conference Sessions

Gartner Finance Symposium/Xpo 2026 dives deep into key topics for finance leaders around cost optimization, growth, AI and more to help you address your organization’s mission-critical challenges.

2026 Conference Theme

Autonomous Finance: Building Resilient, AI-Driven and Value-Centric Enterprises

CFOs are under pressure to deliver a more autonomous finance function, but that future won’t arrive on its own. This year’s agenda focuses on what it really takes to build that kind of finance organization where insights lead to faster decisions, automation supports more of the close and forecast, and finance teams engage with the business without becoming a bottleneck.

Autonomous finance is not a destination. It is a discipline. And CFOs must lead the way. Explore our sessions below, all developed with this theme in mind. 

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There are hundreds of sessions happening each day. Filter to see sessions that align with your role and interests. After registering for the conference, craft your agenda and book priority sessions — all through Conference Navigator.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM EDT

CFO Circle Roundtable: Managing Successful M&A

Rob Habura, Executive Partner, Bus Services, Gartner
This CFO peer-to-peer discussion will be lightly facilitated by a Gartner executive partner who is a former CFO. Join this session to learn how to effectively navigate mergers and acquisitions. ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

CFO Risk Watch: Bridging Awareness and Action on Top Emerging Risks

Janel Everly, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
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) ... Show More Show Less

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT

Four Steps for CFOs to Safely Deploy AI in Financial Planning Software

Regina Crowder, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
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) ... Show More Show Less

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM EDT

Anaplan: The CFO-COO Power Couple Dynamic

Neil Thomas, Svp Finance Applications, Anaplan
Sri Ayyeppen, CEO, Argano
Priya krishnnan, Chief Operations Officer, Argano
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. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:15 PM EDT

CFO Circle Ask the Analyst: Liquidity Under Pressure: Rethinking Working Capital Management for Strategic Advantage

Paul Quinn, Sr Director Analyst, Gartner
This interactive Q&A session examines how in today’s volatile environment, CFOs are challenged to unlock liquidity, but the most forward-thinking leaders are moving beyond blanket cash conversion cycle (CCC) reduction. This session explores how selective optimization or even extension of CCC components can drive agility, supplier resilience and customer loyalty, while enhancing return on capital. ... Show More Show Less

02:30 PM - 03:15 PM EDT

CFO Circle Roundtable: Best Practices With Managing Cybersecurity Risks

Jackie Lyons, VP, Executive Partner, Gartner
Join this CFO peer-to-peer discussion, lightly facilitated by a Gartner executive partner who is a former CFO, on how to effectively navigate cybersecurity risks. Show Less

03:15 PM - 04:00 PM EDT

Roundtable: How CFOs Break the Growth vs. Efficiency Tradeoff, moderated by TP

Brad Rhoderick, Vice President Gbs Solutions, Teleperformance
CFOs are often forced to choose between cost efficiency and growth investment, and a small group of finance leaders consistently deliver both. During this roundtable, CFOs will discuss how high‑performing organizations reallocate savings from automation and legacy simplification into growth initiatives. We will explore practical approaches to capital discipline, investment prioritization, and sustaining efficiency without constraining innovation ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:45 PM EDT

CFO Circle Ask the Analyst: Smarter Strategies for Funding AI Investments

Michelle Carlsen, Director Analyst, Gartner
AI is reshaping enterprise strategy but funding it effectively remains a challenge. From experimental pilots to enterprise-scale deployments, CFOs must navigate high uncertainty, unclear ROI timelines and rapidly evolving technologies. This interactive Q&A session explores how finance leaders can build smarter funding models for AI initiatives that balance risk, agility and strategic value. ... Show More Show Less

04:00 PM - 04:30 PM EDT

Emerging Technologies and the Future of Strategic Planning: What CFOs Need to Know

Ethan Budgar, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner
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) ... Show More Show Less

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“This conference is a great opportunity to gain insights into the industry trends that will be key to your finance organization’s health and success in the near and long term.”

Matt Mozdziez
Senior Finance Director, Chemours

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