Is the Economy Ln Better Shape than CFOs Think?
Fifth Third Bank chief economist Jeffrey Korzenik told CFO Brew that, despite headlines of high oil prices and rising inflation, the U.S. economy is more resilient than many CFOs assume. He highlighted that consumer debt relative to disposable income sits at multi‑generational lows, giving households capacity to absorb shocks. Retail sales are growing modestly at about 3.5% year‑over‑year, with higher‑income spending outpacing lower‑income, suggesting a return to a pre‑COVID consumption pattern rather than a deepening K‑shaped split. Korzenik cautioned that lingering inflation from geopolitical tensions will keep price pressures sticky, but overall economic fundamentals remain solid.
The CFO Charged with Courting Investors in a Nascent Asset Class
Terawatt Infrastructure, led by CFO Sujoy Haldar, is raising $3‑5 billion to build a nationwide network of charging hubs for autonomous rideshare fleets. The company views charging stations as a nascent, trillion‑dollar asset class comparable to early data‑center investments. Haldar’s strategy...
Cash Flow Crunch Avoidance Strategies
Cash flow crunches remain a top concern for CFOs, prompting firms to embed disciplined processes that tie financial controls to operating standards. Experts stress early accountability and daily cash visibility to prevent liquidity gaps before they materialize. Leveraging AI for...
How AI Is Reshaping the Audit
AI is rapidly reshaping audit methodology as large firms pour resources into generative models that now read PDFs and handle dozens of data formats. The technology speeds data gathering, enables full‑population testing and reduces sample sizes, but auditors must still...
How to Avoid Falling Victim to Cascading Risks
Risk management is shifting from siloed, single‑event approaches to a portfolio view that accounts for cascading, nonlinear impacts. Experts at the Riskworld conference warned that product liability, regulatory penalties, or a single facility outage can trigger multiple insurance lines and...
Chapter 11 Filings Increase 42% YoY in April
Commercial Chapter 11 filings jumped 42% YoY in April, reaching 644, while total commercial bankruptcies rose 21% to 3,060. Subchapter V cases, the streamlined route for small‑business restructurings, increased to 301, a 46% gain from a year earlier. The American Bankruptcy...
Cannabis Execs Anticipate Tax Benefits From Rescheduling
The DOJ and DEA reclassified medical cannabis as a Schedule III drug on April 23, ending its Schedule I status. This change eliminates the IRS 280E restriction for medical cannabis businesses, potentially cutting tax burdens by up to half. Industry leaders Curaleaf and Green...
PCAOB Chair Addresses the Board’s Credibility Problem
The SEC has dramatically reshaped the PCAOB, replacing most board members, cutting its budget and staff salaries, and even posting job openings that hint at a functional takeover. New chair Demetrios “Jim” Logothetis used an April 29 Investor Advisory Group...
IPO Planning: CFOs Must Learn the Power of a Thoughtful Pause
The 2026 IPO market is emerging with the strongest pipeline since the 2021 boom, driven by a backlog of companies delayed by the 2025 SEC shutdown and geopolitical volatility. While the overall benefits of going public remain attractive, the concentration...
What They’ll Be Talking About at Riskworld
Riskworld, the RIMS‑organized mega‑conference in Philadelphia, is expected to host more than 10,000 risk professionals. Speakers highlighted a "polycrisis" environment where multiple, interlinked threats—from Middle‑East conflicts to AI‑driven disruptions—are reshaping enterprise risk. CFOs will grapple with budget uncertainty as geopolitical...
Where Does the K-Shaped Economy Stand in 2026?
The K‑shaped economy, first spotlighted in 2020, remains the dominant narrative in 2026 as wage growth splits between high‑ and low‑income households. CFOs report a bifurcated consumer: the top 20% enjoy accelerating earnings while the bottom 80% tread water, with...
Accounting Enters Its Private Equity ‘Flip’ Era
Private equity (PE) entered public accounting five years ago and now controls roughly 24 of the top 100 U.S. CPA firms, including 10 of the top 30. The first wave of PE ownership drove rapid consolidation and growth, and a...
The Finance Roles Most at Risk From AI
Bain & Company’s survey of 102 senior finance executives shows AI is poised to trim headcount in transactional finance functions such as accounting, procure‑to‑pay, and invoice‑to‑cash, while tax, treasury and investor‑relations roles are expected to stay steady over the next...
Tech Budgets: CFOs Battle the Bulge
CFOs are grappling with swelling tech budgets as cybersecurity and AI investments surge, making cost discipline a delicate balancing act. A language gap between finance and IT often leads to duplicated spreadsheets and misaligned spending, according to TBM Council’s Powell...
Health Benefit Costs Among Top Opex Worries, CFOs Say
CFOs are flagging health‑benefit expenses as a top operating‑cost pressure, with three‑quarters ranking them among the five biggest concerns. Mercer’s February 2026 survey of 161 firms shows the average health‑benefit cost per employee topped $17,000 in 2025 and is projected to...