Welcome to the first issue of the Finance Leaders Unfiltered newsletter. You’ll hear from me and my team on what we’re learning as we navigate an era of constant change, and start real conversations about where finance is headed.
Every other week we’ll explore how we all can drive transformation responsibly and turn innovation into real impact while keeping control where it counts.
2025 was full of AI pilots and experimentation. But 2026 is the year CFOs have to show what actually worked. Boards are asking tougher questions: Which tools are generating real ROI? Which investments should we double down on, and which should we retire? Did we gain productivity we can redirect into higher-value work?
Across the CFO community, I’m hearing the same theme. AI now has to deliver tangible outcomes: faster closes, cleaner forecasts, time reclaimed, and real efficiencies that show up in the P&L. Hype is no longer enough. This is the year finance shifts from experimentation to proof.
AI only creates value when finance defines what “good” looks like. The mindset is shifting from testing tools to understanding where they fit in the operating model, how they reshape workflows, and how they contribute to the bottom line. The best leaders are pairing experimentation with discipline, and setting clear criteria for what earns continued investment.
Here are a few ways my team is moving from experimentation to real impact:
Start by defining the outcomes that matter most to your business, then build your AI roadmap around those priorities. Don’t measure pilots. Measure impact. And make sure someone owns the accountability. That’s how experimentation turns into value.
With proof comes new risk. As AI systems take on forecasting, pricing, and revenue recognition, the potential for small errors to scale quickly grows. A single unmonitored assumption could ripple across earnings, guidance, or valuation.
The best teams in 2026 won’t just measure AI’s success, they’ll monitor its behavior. They’ll treat AI decisions like financial transactions: logged, tested, and auditable. Governance, explainability, and human oversight will become as essential as automation itself.
CFOs today must balance two imperatives: innovation and control. Those who can do both will turn AI into a true growth engine that’s profitable, compliant, and trusted.
In 2026, the future of finance will belong to those who can make that happen, and keep it honest.
I’d love to hear how your teams are driving real results with AI. Let’s continue the conversation: respond to the newsletter, find me on LinkedIn or at the OTTO-MATES AI Strategy Summit for Finance Executives in February.
Every transformation in finance should start with accountability. AI is no different. The more we can measure, question, and understand its impact, the stronger our decisions become.
– Todd