CFO Forum Explores Finance Leaders’ Expanding Role

FTV Capital’s second annual CFO Forum in New York City in late October brought together finance leaders, industry experts and advisory partners to explore how data and AI can better inform CFO decisions and drive stronger business results. Sessions spanned AI in finance, ERP disruption, exit readiness, capital markets and the CFO-board partnership.

Across the discussions, one theme connected the event’s topics: the CFO role is expanding, and finance leaders have an opportunity to shape how their companies grow.

Financial controls, liquidity management and business discipline remain core responsibilities. But CFOs must also help CEOs weigh strategic decisions, direct capital toward promising opportunities and hold the organization accountable for results. They need to explain what the numbers mean relative to the business, the choices they support and which trade-offs deserve attention.

How to strengthen the CFO-board relationship

CFOs are essential interpreters between management and the board. Mike Vostrizansky, partner at FTV, and I addressed strengthening that partnership. The takeaway: finance leaders need a point of view grounded in data, helping boards make decisions while bringing clarity to performance and priorities.

Better data supports better decisions

Instead of simply reporting on the past, CFOs should play a bigger part in influencing what happens next. AI plays a big part in accelerating this shift. More frequent closes and live KPIs give leaders a clearer view of performance, and AI increases their analytical horsepower. Scenario analysis can help teams examine more possibilities, informing decisions about pricing, customer retention, product investment and geographic expansion.

All of this financial analysis depends on reliable data. Faster processes have limited value if the underlying information is incomplete or inconsistent. CFOs need to own the data foundation and ensure that people remain responsible for validating outputs and acting on them.

Building readiness and lasting connections

At the forum, KPMG’s exit-readiness session focused on how CFOs should prepare for an exit and where to concentrate first. Additional sessions addressed the broader economic outlook, savings opportunities and AI costs.

The forum builds on and extends the work of FTV Propel®, our team of in-house operational experts who assist portfolio leaders as they navigate operational challenges and key decisions.

Thanks so much to all who joined and to our speakers for providing thoughtful perspectives. We’re also grateful to Blackstone for its ongoing partnership and to FinQore, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, Rillet and Stifel Bank for their support.