Chicago CFO to depart after city OKs $16.6B budget for 2026

Jill Jaworski, the city’s finance chief since May 2023, is taking a similar job at Chicago’s Navy Pier tourist attraction starting in early February.

SMBs still fret about the economy but see good times ahead for themselves

After surviving a topsy-turvy 2025, companies are ramping up their growth plans.

How Uncle Nearest’s finance debacle is becoming a lesson in controls

A lawsuit against the whiskey brand’s former CFO combines misconduct allegations, a nine-figure lender dispute and a court-appointed receivership into a governance case study.

What control violations reveal about cyber risk: Metric of the Month

New APQC research shows how financial control violations fit into the enterprise risk picture. 

A CFO action plan for 2026

From optimizing costs to effectively embracing technology, these are the actions finance chiefs should be prioritizing this year. 

PwC expands crypto services as stablecoins move into corporate finance

Paul Griggs, chief executive of the firm's U.S. operations, said clearer regulation is increasing conviction around stablecoins.

FloQast CFO on why the demand for accountants is ‘skyrocketing’

Even as companies explore new forms of automation, they’re still on the hunt for accounting talent, says Razzak Jallow.

M&A professionals predict a continued market upswing in 2026

Large majorities of dealmakers say they’re anticipating a second straight year of gains in both deal volume and deal quality.

Venezuela and the CFO risk picture: Trial Balance

U.S. intervention in the South American nation is raising risk considerations across credit markets, banking exposure and commodity-linked assets.

Companies continue to ratchet up business travel activity

Third-quarter data shows a 20% gain in travel and expense volume and spending compared to Q3 2024.

10 buzzwords defining trends finance teams faced in 2025

From workslop and microshifting to conscious unbossing, the language of work this year reflected complicated operational and talent risks for CFOs.

How Bevi’s CFO turned the tap on $100M of annual revenue

Wajeeha Ahmed, the water dispenser maker’s first finance chief, says that sharing financial performance with employees helps drive impact.

The forces shaping M&A in 2026

Firms that combine strategic agility with intelligent operations will redefine how value is captured in the next era of M&A.

How data and discipline defined the mid-market CFO in 2025

Alignment challenges and capital scrutiny pushed CFOs in the post-startup, pre-IPO realm beyond reporting and into decision support and process recalibration.

So far, few CFOs see substantial ROI from AI spending

But in an apparent contradiction, most finance chiefs expect the AI value equation to change quickly.

CFOs On the Move: Week ending Dec. 19

S&P Global names a Booz Allen exec as CFO of its planned mobility spinoff, Marathon Petroleum hires a new finance chief and Cardlytics will bring back its former CFO. 

8 CFO strategies to promote healthy work-life balance

December can be a stressful time, but also an opportunity to reflect on work-life balance — both our own and our team's.

The 6 a.m. CFO: How Riveron’s Tony Ciotti starts his day

Ciotti discusses the importance of pivoting when plans change unexpectedly, how he leaves time in his day for critical thinking and the personal mementos that fill his workspace. 

Employers peg pay hike budgets at 3.5% for 2026

With labor market pressure easing “considerably,” companies are taking a more conservative approach to compensation.

CFOs targeting both business growth and cost reductions in 2026

A new survey by Gartner shows the “very explicit tension” finance chiefs expect to face in the year ahead.

CFOs expect pricing pressures to continue in 2026: Duke-Fed survey

In their most recent quarterly survey, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the Federal Reserve Banks of Richmond and Atlanta find CFOs expect pricing pressure to persist due to tariffs.

Bridging the GAAP: Why every CFO needs an EBITDA bridge schedule

In a landscape where stakeholders demand clarity and credibility, mapping out a clear EBITDA to cash flow bridge has become a strategic imperative.

How CPA licensure became a CFO issue in 2025

What started as a professional standards debate became a CFO concern tied to audit quality and hiring.

Mid-market investment in AI averaged $600K this year

A survey by Baker Tilly reveals concerns and spending priorities for leaders of midsize businesses heading into 2026.

What M&A’s $4.8 trillion comeback means for CFOs

Rising valuations, larger deals and AI’s role in due diligence are expected to impact how many finance teams prepare for 2026.