AI’s Evolving Role in Finance
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, chief financial officers (CFOs) are envisioning a future where AI is more than just a tool for efficiency. In 2026, finance leaders foresee AI as a transformative force, fundamentally altering how financial operations are conducted and how businesses make strategic decisions.
Throughout 2025, AI has remained a hot topic in boardrooms, with finance teams exploring its potential beyond automation. A dozen CFOs from leading companies weighed in on how they expect AI to influence finance in the coming year. Their consensus: AI will shift from pilot projects to enterprise-wide integration, driving not just productivity but strategic innovation.
From Efficiency to Strategic Impact
Gina Mastantuono, President and CFO of ServiceNow, emphasized that AI in 2026 will be measured by outcomes, not promises. “The shift is toward embedding AI in capital planning, risk management, and customer service,” she said. Success will depend on clean data, accountable leadership, and redesigned decision frameworks.
Marie Myers, EVP and CFO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, noted that AI is no longer on the horizon—it’s already central to operations. HPE is using intelligent agents to automate forecasting and analysis, which offers real-time insights. “CFOs must evolve into strategic architects who guide the business using AI-enabled intelligence,” she stated.
Building Scalable AI Foundations
Zane Rowe, CFO of Workday, sees 2026 as a year for scaling AI. “We’ll move from asking what AI can do to building the infrastructure to support it at scale,” he explained. This includes refining governance, redesigning processes, and maintaining new technologies for long-term enterprise value.
Mandy Fields, CFO of e.l.f. Beauty, highlighted AI’s dual ability to offer both macro and micro insights. The company uses AI to monitor global operations while focusing on specific performance areas, aligning with its high-speed, high-learning culture.
Real-Time Decision Making and Insight
For Scott Grossman, CFO of Ensono, 2026 will be a turning point where generative AI enables real-time insights and predictive modeling. “Finance will evolve from number crunching to insight generation,” he said, enabling better capital allocation and risk anticipation.
Joy Mbanugo, CFO of CXApp, believes AI’s full potential lies in scenario modeling and strategic foresight. “If AI is only used for efficiency, its value is underutilized. The goal is to transform finance into a proactive driver of outcomes,” she asserted.
Mike Weiner, CFO at Genpact, echoed this sentiment. His team is already seeing results from agentic AI systems in areas like accounts payable. “AI will become a necessity, not a novelty. Leaders must rethink processes, talent, and data strategies,” he added.
Adapting to Economic and Industry Shifts
Michael Bourque, CFO of Convera, emphasized AI’s role in navigating economic volatility. With tighter margins and currency fluctuations expected, AI models will help CFOs adapt in real-time, especially in sectors increasingly driven by public spending.
Evan Goldstein, CFO at Seismic, said CFOs will demand clearer ROI from AI investments. “We’re past the phase of adopting AI for novelty. It must tie directly to business outcomes like sales improvement or cost reduction,” he noted.
Jason Godley, CFO at Xactly, predicted that AI will blur the lines between traditional business systems. “Finance platforms will integrate across departments, enabling full visibility and cross-functional planning,” he said.
Governance, Literacy, and Strategic Integration
John Schwab, CFO at Vertex, sees AI shifting finance from retrospective reporting to decision-making in real time. Embedded in ERP systems, AI will streamline compliance, forecasting, and cash visibility. “Governed data and measurable outcomes will be the differentiator,” he explained.
Kevin Rhodes, CFO at Extreme Networks, stressed the importance of AI literacy. “Leaders must understand AI use cases and guide their teams in adoption. In the future, leaders lacking AI awareness will be left behind,” he warned.
Conor Tierney, CFO at AEye, cautioned against premature adoption. “The market is flooded with overlapping tools. Before scaling AI, foundational systems must be fixed,” he said. He envisions AI disrupting low-value tasks and enabling predictive analytics for competitive advantage.
The Road Ahead
As we enter 2026, CFOs agree: AI is no longer optional. It’s becoming a core component of financial strategy, requiring not only technical integration but also cultural and operational shifts. From data governance to cross-departmental collaboration, the finance function is poised for a fundamental transformation.
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