Driving Finance Leadership in the Age of AI: Insights from the CIMA Annual Conference 2025 in Hong Kong – Supported by DFIN

The CIMA Annual Conference 2025 in Hong Kong on 24 November brought together nearly 300 influential finance leaders, including CGMA and AICPA members, to explore how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping enterprise finance. The event’s theme – Finance Leadership: Navigating Risks and Building Resilience – spotlighted the priority for organisations to embrace digital transformation as we enter the era of AI.

Why Finance Leadership Matters in the Age of AI 

This was a recurring message throughout the conference sessions: AI and advanced technologies are no longer optional for finance professionals, they are essential for driving strategic decisions, improving operational efficiency, and managing risk. As enterprises face increasing complexity, finance leaders must integrate technology into workflows to remain competitive. 

Connected Reporting: The Foundation for Resilience 

One of the focal points discussed was the need for connected reporting to build resilience. Panelists highlighted that fragmented reporting processes create risk and inefficiency, especially as organisations adopt AI-driven tools. 

At DFIN, we share this vision. Our ActiveDisclosure platform reflects the principles discussed at the conference—empowering finance, audit, legal, and ESG teams to collaborate seamlessly, ensuring accurate, timely, and transparent reporting across annual reports, internal reports, regulatory disclosures, ESG reports, and compliance processes. 

By streamlining reporting, organisations can eliminate inefficiencies in legacy workflows, improve collaboration across departments, and enhance transparency for stakeholders—all while enabling AI-driven modernisation of enterprise processes. 

Other Key Takeaways from the Conference 

• AI adoption is accelerating: Finance teams must develop digital skills to leverage AI for forecasting, risk management, and compliance. 

• Resilience requires integration: Connected reporting systems are critical for managing complexity and ensuring agility. 

• Collaboration is non-negotiable: Finance leaders must break silos between finance, audit, legal, and ESG functions. 

Looking Ahead 

This year’s conference made it clear: the ability to integrate technology into financial workflows will define success for modern enterprises. As AI continues to evolve, finance leaders must prioritise connected reporting and digital transformation to build resilient organisations. 

DFIN ActiveDisclosure is a secure, cloud-based platform purpose-built for modern finance, accounting, and legal teams across global markets. Whether you're preparing annual reports with iXBRL tagging, filing with the SEC, building ESG reports, or drafting IPO registration statements, ActiveDisclosure offers built-in tools to support your workflow and scale with your evolving reporting needs. Learn more about ActiveDisclosure or request a demo today.