Set Expectations for External and Internal Auditors 📋

Seven Boardroom Moves CFOs Should Make Now

Author

Vanessa Carter
September 18, 2025

In partnership with

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Hey there, CFOs! 💼

Former PCAOB chair Erica Williams shared seven lessons for finance leaders at a New York event, reminding the room that even in a supposed deregulatory climate, scrutiny can sharpen rather than fade.

We look at why shareholder lawsuits never slow down, how to keep controls current as fraudsters turn to email spoofing and voice deepfakes, why AI is both a tool and a trap that demands real oversight, and how a strong speak-up culture can stop trouble before it spreads.

Let’s get started.

📰 Upcoming in this issue

  • 🧭 7 CFO Lessons From Former PCAOB Chair Erica Williams

  • 📊 Top FP&A Software for 2025: What Actually Stands Out

  • 🤖 The Death of the Number-Cruncher CFO

🧭 7 CFO Lessons From Former PCAOB Chair Erica Williams

Her guidance zeros in on audit quality, controls, and culture. Expect practical moves to cut restatement risk and stay ahead of tighter oversight.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🔍 Audit Quality First: Raise professional skepticism, probe estimates and fair-value models, and prepare for deeper testing on high-risk accounts.

  • 🧱 ICFR Discipline: Sharpen documentation, strengthen segregation of duties, and show clear evidence of review to close gaps before they grow into weaknesses.

  • 🤖 AI and Data Controls: Manage models and data lineage, validate outputs, and monitor third-party tools so errors don’t seep into the financials.

  • 🧑‍⚖️ Board Partnership: Keep audit committees informed with candid risk views, remediation timelines, and whistleblower updates to prevent regulatory shocks.

📊 Top FP&A Software for 2025: What Actually Stands Out

Small Business Trends ranks the top ten FP&A platforms and when to use each. From Excel-friendly Datarails to the modeling depth of Anaplan, here’s the quick guide.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🧩 Right Tool, Right Fit: Workday suits large enterprises, Datarails upgrades Excel workflows, Anaplan tackles complex modeling, and Centage helps midsize budgets.

  • ☁️ Cloud and Integrations: Most solutions are cloud-based, linking into SAP and Salesforce to improve collaboration and data flow in real time.

  • 📈 Market Momentum: The FP&A software market is expected to reach $24.4 billion by 2026, reflecting steady investment and vendor innovation.

  • 📊 Features That Matter: Continuous forecasting, what-if scenarios, and dashboards drive better decisions, while AI and automation trim manual work.

🤖 The Death of the Number-Cruncher CFO

The modern CFO is moving beyond spreadsheets and into strategy. AI, storytelling, and cross-functional leadership are reshaping what the finance seat looks like.

Key Takeaways:

  • 🧭 From Guardian To Catalyst: CFOs now drive growth, shaping product, pricing, and go-to-market strategy alongside CEOs and boards.

  • 🧠 AI as Force Multiplier: Automation takes care of closing and reporting, while finance teams shift to scenario planning and decision intelligence.

  • 📊 Narrative With Numbers: The best CFOs turn data into clear, trusted stories, connecting metrics to strategy, risks, and capital choices.

  • 🧩 Talent and Operating Model: Finance teams reskill for analytics, build stronger data foundations, and embed partners in business units for faster decisions.

Why It Matters

These priorities save both time and money by avoiding rework, fines, and last-minute fixes. Treating AI and external audits with the same discipline as internal controls cuts operational risk and strengthens credibility with boards, investors, and regulators.

In a tight market, trimming compliance is a false economy. Litigation and fraud risk outlast political winds, and reputational damage can linger long after the quarter closes.

Wishing you continued success,

Vanessa Carter
Editor-in-Chief
CFO Executive Insights

P.S. Interested in sponsoring a future issue? Just reply to this email and I’ll send packages!

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