Good morning. This yr has proven that AI isn’t only a buzzword anymore—it’s redefining finance.
In protecting AI, I’ve spoken with CFOs throughout industries who’re centered on worth creation and creating real-world use circumstances for AI to reshape every part from forecasting and monetary planning to strategic decision-making. As knowledge strikes sooner than ever, finance leaders are asking a brand new query: not what AI might do, however the way it can really rework the enterprise. I’ve additionally talked with trade specialists and researchers about subjects starting from the ROI of AI to “prompt-a-thons” and debates over whether or not AI will flip CFOs into chief capital officers.
Finance chiefs are signaling the subsequent massive evolution—2026 would be the yr of enterprise-scale AI. Pilot applications and proofs of idea are giving technique to avenues for full-scale deployment as CFOs count on AI to ship measurable worth: sooner selections, leaner operations, and predictive insights that may present a aggressive edge. Nevertheless, that stage of transformation comes with new calls for—governance, knowledge integrity, and human oversight matter greater than ever.
I not too long ago requested finance chiefs from main corporations how they count on AI to redefine what it means to guide in finance. For example, Zane Rowe, CFO at Workday, instructed me: “There has never been a more exciting time to be a CFO with AI unlocking new opportunities for value creation through unprecedented data and insights. Most of the focus has been on experimentation and discovering the art of the possible, but this year, leaders will shift from ‘What can AI do?’ to ‘How do we build the foundation for scale?’ They will manage a more nuanced AI portfolio that balances launching pilots with rolling out proven solutions, and they will prioritize the unglamorous but critical work of data governance, process redesign, and maintenance of new technologies. Success in 2026 will be defined by how we mature our AI strategy to ensure it is both agile, durable, and enterprise-grade.”
Shifting from the angle of a significant tech firm to a magnificence and cosmetics chief, Mandy Fields, CFO at e.l.f. Magnificence provided this prediction: “From where a CFO sits, AI simultaneously helps broaden our view to get a better macro picture and can help put a sharper focus on very specific points of interest. e.l.f. Beauty is growing globally, and AI has visibility across it all. Going into next year, we’ll continue to explore how we best leverage AI in finance to lean into its strengths. It’s a pretty similar approach to our high-performance teamwork culture in which we encourage the team to pursue and thrive in the areas where they have expertise, learn continuously and move at e.l.f. speed.”
That is the ultimate CFO Day by day of 2025. The subsequent situation will land in your inbox on Jan. 5. Thanks in your readership—and wishing you an exquisite vacation season. See you in 2026!
Leaderboard
Greg Giometti was appointed interim CFO of Alight, Inc. (NYSE: ALIT), a cloud-based human capital and technology-enabled providers supplier, efficient Jan. 9, 2026. Giometti, Alight’s SVP, head of economic planning and evaluation, will succeed Jeremy Heaton, who will depart Alight to pursue a possibility outdoors of the advantages administration trade. Giometti joined Alight in 2020 and has held positions of accelerating accountability throughout the firm’s finance group.
Shelley Thunen, CFO of ophthalmic medical machine firm RxSight, Inc., is transitioning out of her position. She is going to stay with the corporate till the sooner of her successor’s appointment or Jan. 31, 2026, and can proceed to help RxSight as a guide following the transition.
Large Deal
Financial institution of America CEO Brian Moynihan shared his outlook on the financial system and AI for 2026, saying he expects continued energy forward. Throughout an interview with Bloomberg TV on Monday, Moynihan famous that BofA’s analysis workforce tasks a robust U.S. financial system subsequent yr—not solely in absolute phrases, with progress trending above 2%, but in addition relative to different main economies, a lot of that are anticipated to stay flat or decline. “That is because, frankly, the great American engine is driving,” he mentioned. “Markets are valuing the future growth rate, and that’s why they’ve been very constructive this year.”
On AI, Moynihan mentioned funding has accelerated all year long and can seemingly develop into a good greater contributor in 2026 and past. He pointed to knowledge middle growth as one key driver, together with elevated company spending on AI—together with Financial institution of America’s personal investments. Spending on AI is greater than final yr, he mentioned, and whereas general spending ranges aren’t rising at a mid-single-digit fee, capital is clearly shifting towards AI.
Moynihan added that this development helps the financial institution’s optimistic outlook for subsequent yr. “We think AI spending continues,” he mentioned. There are advantages to the American taxpayer from tax rebates and decrease taxes as the brand new tax invoice takes impact, and the incentives for companies are optimistic, he defined. Altogether, Moynihan mentioned, these components underpin BofA’s forecast for GDP progress rising from about 2% this yr to roughly 2.4% in 2026—with AI enjoying an more and more vital, if nonetheless marginal, position in driving that energy.
Going deeper
In an episode of Fortune’s Management Subsequent podcast, cohosts Diane Brady, government editorial director, and Kristin Stoller, editorial director of Fortune Dwell Media, speak with Dani Richa. Richa is the chairman and group CEO of Impression BBDO Worldwide. The three focus on how the advert company impressed the hit present Mad Males; how one can use AI to deliver out one of the best of you; and optimism within the quickly creating EMEA area.
Overheard
“This year, we watched teams use AI to tackle work that had long felt out of reach. What struck me most was how different each story was. Different industries. Different constraints. Same ambition.”
—Sarah Friar, CFO at OpenAI, wrote in a LinkedIn submit on Monday.
