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For decades, finance earned its authority by being right. Precision, control, and historical accuracy defined excellence, and leadership decisions followed carefully constructed cycles. But that certainty has quietly eroded. Markets now move faster than reporting timelines, value is created and lost between forecast updates, and some of the most consequential decisions are made long before the books are closed. In this environment, accuracy remains essential, but it is no longer the differentiator. The real test for finance leadership has shifted from explaining the past to confidently navigating what comes next.
This shift is playing out in how finance teams themselves are evolving. As data volumes and decision complexity rise, many organisations are already leaning on intelligent systems to close the gap, more than half1 of global finance functions now use AI in areas such as forecasting, risk analysis, or decision support. Yet adoption alone does not equal advantage. Static budgets and backward-looking reports still dominate many finance processes, even as expectations for real-time insight grow sharper. Now the questions arise: What does leadership look like when intelligence is embedded into every financial decision? How must the role of the finance leader evolve when insight, not information, becomes the scarce resource? And are today’s finance leaders equipped to lead in a world where judgment must be amplified by machines, not replaced by them?
The expanding mandate of the modern finance leader
The expectations placed on finance leaders have expanded decisively over the past few years. Once centred on stewardship, compliance, and cost discipline, the finance function is now expected to play a defining role in shaping enterprise strategy. According to global CEO surveys2, a majority of chief executives now rely on their CFOs as primary strategic advisors, particularly when navigating uncertainty, capital allocation, and long-term value creation. This shift reflects a broader reality: as volatility increases and margins for error shrink, finance is increasingly viewed as the organisational anchor for decision credibility.
This expanded mandate is also reflected in how finance teams are being structured and empowered. Research3 indicates that a growing proportion of CFOs now oversee digital transformation and advanced analytics initiatives, with AI-driven forecasting and scenario modelling becoming central to planning discussions. Organisations using advanced analytics in finance report materially higher forecast accuracy and faster decision cycles than those relying on traditional methods. Yet despite this momentum, a gap persists. The challenge is no longer access to intelligence, it is leadership readiness to interpret, question, and apply it effectively.
This is precisely where targeted executive upskilling becomes critical. The Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management is designed for experienced finance leaders navigating this transition. The programme focuses on building strategic fluency at the intersection of finance and AI, equipping leaders to apply predictive analytics, risk intelligence, and AI-enabled decision models to real business contexts through case-based learning, hands-on projects, and live sessions with global faculty. In doing so, it addresses the core leadership challenge of the moment: not just managing financial complexity, but leading with insight in an AI-powered decision environment.
Finance Leadership With AI: Building strategic fluency for the next era
As finance leadership evolves from stewardship to strategic foresight, the need for deliberate, executive-level upskilling becomes clear. The Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management is designed to help senior finance professionals make this transition with confidence, by equipping them to lead, question, and apply AI-driven intelligence in real business contexts.
The programme is built around the realities finance leaders face today. Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a technical discipline, it is embedded into core finance decision-making, enabling participants to understand how AI reshapes forecasting, risk modelling, capital allocation, and enterprise strategy. Through this approach, leaders develop the ability to move beyond surface-level adoption and engage with AI as a strategic leadership tool.
Participants in the programme gain:
Who will fit this programme best?
The future of finance leadership will belong to those who can turn intelligence into insight, and insight into decisive action. As AI becomes an integral part of forecasting, risk management, and strategic planning, leaders who can interpret, challenge, and apply these tools will shape not just the performance of their finance function, but the trajectory of the entire organisation. Precision alone is no longer enough; what matters is the ability to anticipate, adapt, and drive value in real time.
For finance leaders, the path forward is clear: embrace AI not as a technical novelty, but as a strategic leadership lever. Developing the capability to navigate complexity, lead cross-functional teams, and translate intelligent insights into business impact is no longer optional—it is essential. Programmes like the Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management provide the structured learning, practical exposure, and strategic frameworks that equip leaders to not only keep pace with change, but to stay ahead of it. The question that remains is this: in a world where intelligence is abundant but insight is scarce, will you lead the transformation—or watch it unfold around you?
Reference:
This shift is playing out in how finance teams themselves are evolving. As data volumes and decision complexity rise, many organisations are already leaning on intelligent systems to close the gap, more than half1 of global finance functions now use AI in areas such as forecasting, risk analysis, or decision support. Yet adoption alone does not equal advantage. Static budgets and backward-looking reports still dominate many finance processes, even as expectations for real-time insight grow sharper. Now the questions arise: What does leadership look like when intelligence is embedded into every financial decision? How must the role of the finance leader evolve when insight, not information, becomes the scarce resource? And are today’s finance leaders equipped to lead in a world where judgment must be amplified by machines, not replaced by them?
The expanding mandate of the modern finance leader
The expectations placed on finance leaders have expanded decisively over the past few years. Once centred on stewardship, compliance, and cost discipline, the finance function is now expected to play a defining role in shaping enterprise strategy. According to global CEO surveys2, a majority of chief executives now rely on their CFOs as primary strategic advisors, particularly when navigating uncertainty, capital allocation, and long-term value creation. This shift reflects a broader reality: as volatility increases and margins for error shrink, finance is increasingly viewed as the organisational anchor for decision credibility.
This expanded mandate is also reflected in how finance teams are being structured and empowered. Research3 indicates that a growing proportion of CFOs now oversee digital transformation and advanced analytics initiatives, with AI-driven forecasting and scenario modelling becoming central to planning discussions. Organisations using advanced analytics in finance report materially higher forecast accuracy and faster decision cycles than those relying on traditional methods. Yet despite this momentum, a gap persists. The challenge is no longer access to intelligence, it is leadership readiness to interpret, question, and apply it effectively.
This is precisely where targeted executive upskilling becomes critical. The Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management is designed for experienced finance leaders navigating this transition. The programme focuses on building strategic fluency at the intersection of finance and AI, equipping leaders to apply predictive analytics, risk intelligence, and AI-enabled decision models to real business contexts through case-based learning, hands-on projects, and live sessions with global faculty. In doing so, it addresses the core leadership challenge of the moment: not just managing financial complexity, but leading with insight in an AI-powered decision environment.
Finance Leadership With AI: Building strategic fluency for the next era
As finance leadership evolves from stewardship to strategic foresight, the need for deliberate, executive-level upskilling becomes clear. The Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management is designed to help senior finance professionals make this transition with confidence, by equipping them to lead, question, and apply AI-driven intelligence in real business contexts.
The programme is built around the realities finance leaders face today. Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a technical discipline, it is embedded into core finance decision-making, enabling participants to understand how AI reshapes forecasting, risk modelling, capital allocation, and enterprise strategy. Through this approach, leaders develop the ability to move beyond surface-level adoption and engage with AI as a strategic leadership tool.
Participants in the programme gain:
- Strategic application of AI in finance decision-making: Learn how AI-driven models influence forecasting accuracy, scenario planning, and risk assessment, and how to integrate these insights into board-level decisions without losing strategic judgment or governance oversight.
- Hands-on exposure through real-world case studies and applied projects: Engage with global business cases that reflect real finance leadership challenges, supported by practical projects that translate AI concepts into actionable financial strategies.
- Advanced forecasting, risk, and investment frameworks: Build the capability to evaluate AI-enabled forecasts, stress-test assumptions, and make data-led capital and investment decisions in uncertain and fast-changing environments.
- Live learning with global SP Jain faculty and peer leaders: Participate in interactive, live online sessions led by international faculty, while learning alongside senior professionals from diverse industries—bringing multiple leadership perspectives into the classroom.
- Leadership confidence in driving AI-led transformation: Develop the fluency to collaborate effectively with data science, technology, and business teams, enabling finance leaders to steer AI initiatives rather than merely oversee them.
Who will fit this programme best?
- Designed for experienced finance professionals and leaders (CFOs, Finance VPs, Controllers, FP&A heads, Chartered Accountants, CFAs, and similar roles) seeking to elevate strategic impact in AI-driven finance environments
- Typically requires significant professional experience in finance or related strategic roles (exact eligibility criteria are confirmed during admissions)
- Programme commencement date: February 2026 (upcoming intake)
- Duration: 6 months, designed for working executives balancing professional commitments with learning
- Mode of delivery: Live, interactive online learning with real-time engagement alongside peers and faculty
- Programme fee: INR 2,95,000/- (all inclusive)
- Eligibility: The programme is designed for experienced professionals with a degree or 10+2+3 diploma from a recognised university, at least seven years of work experience in finance or related domains, and no prior coding experience is required for admission.
The future of finance leadership will belong to those who can turn intelligence into insight, and insight into decisive action. As AI becomes an integral part of forecasting, risk management, and strategic planning, leaders who can interpret, challenge, and apply these tools will shape not just the performance of their finance function, but the trajectory of the entire organisation. Precision alone is no longer enough; what matters is the ability to anticipate, adapt, and drive value in real time.
For finance leaders, the path forward is clear: embrace AI not as a technical novelty, but as a strategic leadership lever. Developing the capability to navigate complexity, lead cross-functional teams, and translate intelligent insights into business impact is no longer optional—it is essential. Programmes like the Executive Program in Advanced Finance Leadership with AI by SP Jain School of Global Management provide the structured learning, practical exposure, and strategic frameworks that equip leaders to not only keep pace with change, but to stay ahead of it. The question that remains is this: in a world where intelligence is abundant but insight is scarce, will you lead the transformation—or watch it unfold around you?
Reference:
- https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-09-11-gartner-survey-shows-58-percent-of-finance-functions-use-ai-in-2024
- https://www.pwc.com/us/en/executive-leadership-hub/cfo.html
- https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-ceo-as-chief-resilience-officer
( Originally published on Jan 16, 2026 )
(This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on etspotlight@timesinternet.in)
