How to Build an AI-Ready Finance Team for 2026: Frameworks, Use Cases & Live Demos

In 2026, finance leaders face a pivotal moment: transform into AI-enabled value creators or risk being sidelined by faster, data-driven competitors. Building an AI-ready finance team goes beyond tools—it requires clear frameworks, responsible data governance, and workflows that embed AI into forecasting, scenario planning, and decision support. This session outlines a pragmatic blueprint to modernize finance capabilities, elevate business partnering, and accelerate cycle times while maintaining control, auditability, and trust. Featuring Kirk Kappelhoff, Senior Director of Strategic Finance at Drivetrain, and Kevin Appleby, COO and Podcast Host at GrowCFO, the discussion bridges strategy and execution. Attendees will learn how to identify high-ROI use cases, map skills to roles, and implement operating rhythms that compound AI benefits over time. With live demos and real examples, the session equips teams to move from experimentation to measurable impact across budgeting, variance analysis, and board reporting. Highlights: Practical frameworks to prioritize finance AI use cases by value, feasibility, and risk Live demos of AI-assisted forecasting, variance narratives, and scenario analysis Role design and upskilling paths for analysts, FP&A leaders, and finance business partners Data governance essentials: controls, lineage, privacy, and audit-ready documentation Operating models to embed AI into monthly/quarterly cadences and board reporting Change management playbook to drive adoption, quality, and cross-functional trust Speakers Kirk Kappelhoff — Senior Director of Strategic Finance, Drivetrain LinkedIn:   / kirkkappelhoff   Kevin Appleby — COO & Podcast Host, GrowCFO LinkedIn:   / kevin-appleby-295417a