How AI is Changing the Game for Finance Leaders

In 2026, AI will be more than just a buzzword for finance leaders. It will be a key player in how businesses operate, make decisions, and manage risks. The focus will shift from experimenting with AI to using it in real-world situations. This means AI will be used to plan, serve customers, and manage risks across entire companies. Finance teams will use AI to automate tasks like closing quarters, forecasting, and analyzing data. This will give them real-time insights and predictions they can act on. But for this to work, companies need to have good data, clear rules, and leaders who are ready to change how decisions are made. AI will also help finance teams think bigger. It can look at many different scenarios before big decisions are made. This way, finance teams can focus on shaping the future rather than just reporting what happened. The real value of AI is not just doing things faster, but doing things smarter.For AI to work well, finance leaders need to understand it. They need to know how to use it, how to invest in it, and how to lead their teams in using it. In the future, leaders who don't understand AI may struggle to keep up. Companies are already seeing the benefits of AI. For example, AI can help with tasks like processing payments, managing cash flow, and building better relationships with suppliers. But to make the most of AI, companies need to keep rethinking their processes, data, and how they work. In short, AI is not just a tool for finance leaders. It's a necessity. And those who embrace it will be the ones who succeed in the years to come.