As finance leaders prepare for 2026, CFOs are taking a measured but forward-looking approach, balancing performance goals with market uncertainty. Key findings from DFIN’s latest CFO survey highlight how organizations are investing in AI, cybersecurity, and risk management to drive productivity and long-term growth.
What you’ll learn:
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how work gets done across industries. In regulated environments, however, the bar is higher. Accuracy matters more than speed. Transparency matters more than novelty. Trust is earned through better outcomes, not new features.
Private equity (PE) continues to be a cornerstone of global M&A and capital markets, shaping how businesses operate, grow, and transform.
As companies prepare for the 2026 proxy season, investor expectations continue to rise amid regulatory change, evolving governance standards, and an increasingly complex engagement environment. Today’s proxy is no longer just a compliance document, it is a strategic communications tool that must clearly explain business strategy, board oversight, executive compensation, and sustainability priorities to a diverse shareholder base, including large, indexed investors.
As we begin 2026, capital markets are reopening, but they are doing so selectively. IPO and M&A activity is returning, not in broad waves, but through narrower execution windows. Companies with predictable revenue models, disciplined cost structures, and credible governance frameworks are well positioned in this environment. Simply put, the companies that win are the ones that have already invested in ongoing compliance readiness as well as transaction readiness.
In December 2025, legislation was signed directing the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to extend Section 16(a) reporting obligations to Foreign Private Issuers (FPIs). The law requires directors and officers of FPIs with equity securities registered with the SEC to file ownership reports under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with compliance set to begin on March 18, 2026.
DFIN’s 2026 CFO Guide highlights key findings from DFIN’s annual survey of over 180 finance leaders, from VPs to CFOs, offering an in-depth forecast of the macrotrends, operational challenges, and strategic priorities shaping the future of financial leadership.
This year’s report highlights a pivotal year for finance leaders—one defined by accelerating innovation, heightened regulatory pressures, and a renewed push for operational resilience.
Companies need funds to operate, and there are points where revenue generation simply will not meet the mark. Businesses that want to fund organic growth into new markets, products or facilities often require more funding than they can get through normal business operations.
Virtually every business gets materials and goods from other organizations, typically referred to as suppliers. These suppliers vary in the types of goods they provide, from raw materials to finished products ready for sale or use. In recent years, due to pandemic supply chain issues and concerns about sustainability, supplier visibility has become a reporting concern.
An IPO can be a long, demanding and complicated process that will have long term implications for your company. Start your journey to a successful IPO with our handbook full of insights and strategies from experts. Prepare for your company’s future with our IPO Handbook, featuring: