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Register for TakeControl 2026

2026 Agenda

Day One

Wednesday, September 16

8:00 am PT

Keynote

From Principles to Practical Application: How Accountants Lead the AI Era

Session Details

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From Principles to Practical Application: How Accountants Lead the AI Era

AI is here, and accountants are in a great position to become dramatically more efficient because of it — this was never a story about replacement, it's about opportunity. But there's a real gap: how do you get started, prove accuracy to auditors, and move as fast as your board wants? Most companies haven't been through a substantive AI audit yet, and the risk isn't the technology itself — it's the space between fast adoption and real governance. COSO just handed accountants the most important job of the AI era: governing, evidencing, and auditing AI so financial reporting can be trusted. Walk away with a practical 3-crtierion rubric and a 5-level maturity model you can start applying to your team immediately.

Session Speakers:

Mike Whitmire

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

Chris Sluty

Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

Mike Whitmire

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Mike leads FloQast's corporate vision, strategy, and execution. Prior to founding FloQast, he managed the accounting team at Cornerstone OnDemand, a SaaS company in Los Angeles. He began his career at Ernst & Young in Los Angeles where he performed public company audits, opening balance sheet audits, cash to GAAP restatements, compilation reviews, international reporting, merger and acquisition audits and SOX compliance testing. Mike is also the author of Controller's Code: The Secret Formula to a Successful Career in Finance, an Amazon Best Seller providing career guidance for finance professionals. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Syracuse University.

Chris Sluty

Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

As Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at FloQast, Chris oversees customer setup and support, product strategy and go-to-market planning. He works hands on with new and existing clients to ensure their success in creating a faster, more accurate close process. Prior to joining FloQast, Chris was an Audit Manager at Rothstein Kass (acquired by KPMG), where he managed their largest client. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Syracuse University.

9:00 am PT

Thought Leadership

CPE Eligible

Accounting's AI Inflection Point: What Comes Next

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Accounting's AI Inflection Point: What Comes Next

AI adoption in accounting is accelerating, but the profession is still defining what successful implementation looks like at scale.

Join Shivang Patel, VP of Product Marketing at FloQast; Karim Anani, Global IPO Leader at EY; and Garrett Astler, founder of ClearlyKept, for a candid discussion about what widespread AI adoption means for the future of accounting.

Drawing on findings from FloQast's 2026 State of Accounting AI research, the panel will examine how organizations are moving from experimentation to execution, where momentum is building in the close, and what separates teams scaling AI from those still finding their footing. Attendees will leave with a clear-eyed view of where the profession is heading — and a practical framework for getting there.

Join this session to:

  • Recognize the current state of AI adoption in accounting and learn the trends shaping the profession's next phase of maturity.
  • Identify the strategic decisions and operating characteristics that distinguish organizations successfully scaling AI from those still experimenting.
  • Evaluate how accounting leaders can prepare their teams, processes, and governance models for an AI-enabled future.

Session Speakers:

Shivang Patel

VP, Product Marketing

FloQast

Garrett Astler

Co-Founder

ClearlyKept

Shivang Patel

VP, Product Marketing

FloQast

Shivang started his career in public accounting as an auditor for several years, focused on SEC/Technology & Compliance audits. He then transitioned to the industry, where he played a key role in the Ruckus Wireless' IPO and global SAP implementation across their subsidiaries. Over the past 10 years at FloQast, Shivang has held a variety of GTM roles -- including being a founding member of the sales team, establishing and scaling our Solutions Consulting function, strategic alliances with ERP providers, competitive intelligence, launching and scaling a new product line and most recently, leading the Product Marketing function driving the launch of AI Agents at FloQast.

Garrett Astler

Co-Founder

ClearlyKept

Garrett Astler is the Co-Founder of ClearlyKept, a fractional CFO and managed accounting services firm that helps high-growth companies run a modern, always-on finance function. Before co-founding ClearlyKept with his wife, Garrett was a Research Director at Gartner where he advised finance software vendors on product strategy, AI, and the future of work in the era of autonomous business. He now focuses on practical AI applications while building the agent harness for autonomous accounting in the family business.

10:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

A Masterclass in Building & Deploying Custom AI Agents

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A Masterclass in Building & Deploying Custom AI Agents

Roll up your sleeves for a technical masterclass led by FloQast's Forward Deployed Accountants (FDAs), our front-line technical and accounting experts. This session moves past the slides and into the software, featuring a live build of a custom AI Agent from scratch. Our FDAs will walk you through the architectural logic of "Agentic Accounting," demonstrate how to define parameters, set human-in-the-loop triggers, and connect your GL data safely. Whether you are a Senior Accountant or a CAO, you will walk away with the practical, technical skills needed to start building and deploying agents immediately.

Join this session to:

  • Architect Audit-Ready Agent Logic: Master the inputs you provide and the questions you answer during the build, so the agent produces outputs you can confidently put in front of an auditor.
  • Establish Human-in-the-Loop Governance: Design and implement review checkpoints within your automated workflows, ensuring that AI agents never execute actions without proper oversight and control.
  • Operationalize the Build as a Playbook: Capture the agent as a living, executable process document — your single source of truth — and maintain it close after close, so every build remains a durable asset.

Session Speakers:

John Woodward

Product Manager

FloQast

Billy Klein

Solutions Architect

FloQast

Meredith McCanse

Sr. Forward Deployed Accountant

FloQast

John Woodward

Product Manager

FloQast

John Woodward is a Product Manager on the AI Platform team at FloQast. Specialized in the intersection of corporate growth, product execution, and fintech innovation, John focuses on deploying adoptable AI solutions that automate complex workflows for corporate accounting departments. He previously served as FloQast's Growth & Strategy Manager and holds his degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Billy Klein

Solutions Architect

FloQast

Billy Klein is an AI Solutions Architect II at FloQast. Drawing on his foundational roots as an EY auditor, Billy bridges the gap between strict financial compliance and cutting-edge fintech innovation. He specializes in designing and implementing FloQast Transform AI Agent workflows, helping enterprise accounting teams automate their month-end close operations while maintaining absolute auditability and control. He is an alumnus of the Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business.

Meredith McCanse

Sr. Forward Deployed Accountant

FloQast

Meredith is a Senior Forward Deployed Accountant with FloQast, she works with team to implement, train, strategize, and partner with all things Transform. She holds a CPA license and an MBA degree. She has 10 years of experience as an accountant including 3 years in Audit with EY (NYC office), and 7 years of experience in operational accounting on GL OpEx teams across 3 different publicly traded companies (Red Lion Hotels, Twilio, Udemy). She had a prior career as a professional modern dancer in NYC, she loves cats, and is passionate about accounting automation.

11:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

FloQast Innovation Spotlight: Automation Meets Accountability

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FloQast Innovation Spotlight: Automation Meets Accountability

AI-powered accounting is no longer a future concept. It’s here, and it’s running on FloQast. In this session, get a first look at the next generation of FloQast capabilities built for accounting and compliance teams. See how AI is being embedded across the platform to reduce manual work and cycle times, how teams can scale AI agent adoption without introducing new risk, and how we’re building the governance infrastructure to keep every AI workflow controlled and audit-ready. You’ll leave with a clear view of what’s ahead and how to put it to work for your organization.

Join this session to:

  • Put AI to Work for Your Teams: Identify how FloQast AI supports accounting and compliance teams day to day, reviewing and flagging journal entry issues, surfacing transaction anomalies ahead of audit, and streamlining operational audits.
  • Scale Agent Deployments Without Compromising Control: Discover how FloQast is making it faster and easier to build and deploy AI agents, while keeping your underlying business logic, approval workflows, and internal controls fully intact.
  • Govern AI Across Every Workflow: Layer COSO-compliant governance onto every AI Agent build to ensure auditability across your AI-driven processes.

Session Speakers:

Dan Carr

Principal Solutions Consultant

FloQast

Megan Gallagher

Director, Solutions Consulting

FloQast

Dan Carr

Principal Solutions Consultant

FloQast

Dan is a Principal Solutions Consultant at FloQast with over four years of experience bridging the worlds of accounting, audit, and enterprise software. In his role, he serves as a trusted technical resource and part-time comedian for customers, prospects, and partners. Prior to FloQast, Dan was at Protiviti, where he built a strong foundation in internal audit and consulting across a wide variety of engagements and industries. His work has led to a borderline concerning love for IPE, fintech, internal controls, and Microsoft Excel, which shines through in his discussions with his favorite groups of people, accountants, and auditors.

Megan Gallagher

Director, Solutions Consulting

FloQast

As Director of Solutions Consulting at FloQast, Megan leads the team that bridges the gap between accountants and sales. Over her seven years at FloQast, she has evolved from a consultative accountant and demoer into an organizational leader and internal advocate for products that will change the way accountants work. Megan approaches her role at FloQast as a former practitioner with extensive experience at PwC, Proofpoint, and Okta, where she was exposed to FloQast as a user and brings those experiences into conversations with prospects, customers, teammates, and the FloQast product team.

11:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

The Automation Blueprint: Building an Agentic Office of the CFO

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The Automation Blueprint: Building an Agentic Office of the CFO

The Office of the CFO has the opportunity to move from manual execution toward agentic automation, but getting there requires more than enthusiasm for AI. Enterprise teams need automation that holds up under scrutiny: consistent, governed, and audit-ready.

Through in-depth demos of FloQast, you'll see how to transition your processes into automated workflows your team can rely on. Learn to deploy agents across accounting and finance workflows, moving your department toward a real-time, continuous environment.

Join this session to:

  • Bridge the Automation Gap: Transition from manual checklists to automated control frameworks, creating a scalable foundation for AI.
  • Deploy Practical AI Agents: Execute high-frequency tasks using specialized AI agents to replace manual execution.
  • Govern What's Automated: Prioritize appropriate governance for AI, including a new class of control design and true reliance.

Session Speakers:

Michael Olshove

Director, Enterprise Sales

FloQast

Vicky LeVay

VP, InfoSec & Compliance

FloQast

Ghada Mahmassani

Chief Accounting Officer

Newmark

Seth Woods

Senior Vice President of Accounting

SANDOW

Michael Olshove

Director, Enterprise Sales

FloQast

Michael Olshove is the Director of Enterprise Sales at FloQast. With a tenured nine-year track record at the company, Michael partners with enterprise finance and accounting departments to deploy robust, platform-wide workflow automation. He is an expert in helping companies scale their operations through modern financial technology, focusing heavily on the safe adoption of Agentic AI solutions that satisfy rigorous corporate governance and audit standards. Michael holds a degree from Franklin University.

Vicky LeVay

VP, InfoSec & Compliance

FloQast

Vicky brings 20 years in finance and accounting to her role as VP, Information Security and Compliance at FloQast. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.S. in business leadership magna cum laude from Vanguard University. LeVay's career includes project management roles at Sungard, Breitburn Management and Slalom, focusing on compliance and risk. Joining FloQast in 2020 during the pandemic, she built the compliance department from scratch, achieving significant certifications like SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 42001, and ISO 27001. She created an agile international privacy program, supporting FloQast's global expansion. LeVay also champions women in the workplace, designing leadership programs and speaking at industry events like IAPP. She initiated a veteran mentorship program at a previous firm through Hiring Our Heroes.

Ghada Mahmassani

Chief Accounting Officer

Newmark

Ghada Mahmassani is the Chief Accounting Officer at Newmark and leads the global accounting organization, overseeing financial reporting, controllership, technical accounting, internal controls, integrations, and finance transformation initiatives that support the company's growth. She brings more than 20 years of experience spanning corporate controllership, M&A integration, IPO readiness, global finance operations, and technical accounting. Before Newmark, she held leadership roles at Compass, Avenues: The World School, Cushman & Wakefield, and PwC. Ghada is a CPA, CGMA, and holds certifications in COSO Internal Controls and IFRS.

Seth Woods

Senior Vice President of Accounting

SANDOW

Seth Woods is a finance transformation executive with more than 15 years of experience modernizing accounting operations, implementing enterprise technologies, and leading finance teams through change. As SVP of Accounting at SANDOW, he oversees accounting operations with a focus on scalability, controls, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, Seth has led successful implementations of FloQast, multiple ERP and EPM platforms, and other accounting technologies, streamlining close processes, accelerating reporting timelines, and driving automation that enables finance teams to focus on higher-value strategic work.

12:00 pm PT

Thought Leadership

CPE Eligible

Beyond Time Saved: The Real ROI of AI Maturity

Session Details

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Beyond Time Saved: The Real ROI of AI Maturity

Every team talks about saving time with automation, but the teams pulling ahead are the ones converting that time into business impact. Join FloQast customers and FloQast's Business Value Team for an unscripted conversation about the journey up the Accounting AI Maturity Index.

They'll share how they moved from managing the close in spreadsheets to deploying AI agents, and more importantly, what they did with the capacity they unlocked. Discover how these teams evolved beyond the month-end close to become strategic architects, leveraging unlocked capacity to drive deeper analysis and high-impact business partnerships.

Join this session to:

  • Chart Your Path Up the Maturity Curve: Diagnose your team's current position on the maturity index and build a roadmap to transition from manual processes to strategic operations.
  • Optimize the Time Gained for Growth: Master a resource-reinvestment framework to convert hours saved via AI into high-impact activities like advanced variance analysis and cross-functional business collaboration that drive value for your organization.
  • Operationalize Value-Driven AI Metrics: Shift your focus from task completion to business outcomes, ensuring every AI deployment is directly linked to top-level goals and improved financial performance.

Session Speakers:

Carl Kuschke

Director, Business Value Consulting

FloQast

Emily Childs

VP of Accounting

Equinox

Swami Natarajan

Business Development & GTM Leader

AWS

Dan Hollman

Head of AI Center of Excellence

Atrium Hospitality

Carl Kuschke

Director, Business Value Consulting

FloQast

Carl Kuschke is the Director of Business Value Consulting at FloQast, where he helps finance and accounting teams translate AI adoption into measurable business outcomes. A seasoned customer operations executive with 12+ years of B2B SaaS and advisory experience, including key roles at KPMG and Workiva, Carl specializes in building high-performing value management and professional services practices. His work sits at the intersection of ROI strategy, customer retention, and GTM execution, giving him a grounded perspective on driving corporate ARR expansion.

Emily Childs

VP of Accounting

Equinox

Emily Childs is Vice President of Accounting at Equinox Group, where she leads the global accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, and billing teams supporting Equinox and SoulCycle. Emily focuses on building high-performing teams, strengthening controls, and transforming the finance functions through automation, AI, and scalable processes. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College and a Masters of Accounting from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Swami Natarajan

Business Development & GTM Leader

AWS

Swami Natarajan, Business Development & GTM Leader at AWS is a seasoned technology and business transformation leader with more than 25 years of experience helping global organizations accelerate digital innovation. He specializes in AI, cloud, ERP, and finance transformation, partnering with executives to modernize operations and drive measurable business outcomes. Throughout his career spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Swami has advised enterprise leaders on leveraging emerging technologies to improve efficiency, resilience, and long-term growth.

Dan Hollman

Head of AI Center of Excellence

Atrium Hospitality

Dan Hollman is the Head of AI Center of Excellence at Atrium Hospitality. With nearly 25 years of experience in hospitality financial management, Dan specializes in property accounting, large-scale banking services, and operational system design. Over his tenured career at Atrium Hospitality, Interstate Hotels & Resorts, and HRI Lodging, he has established a reputation for building scalable, tech-forward accounting workflows tailored to complex asset portfolios. He brings a strong analytical foundation to finance, backed by engineering studies at the University of Washington and Arizona State University.

Day Two

Thursday, September 17

7:00 am PT

Thought Leadership

CPE Eligible

European Customer Panel: AI Won't Fix Finance - But It Will Change How You Work

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European Customer Panel: AI Won't Fix Finance - But It Will Change How You Work

AI won't fix finance—but it is changing how finance teams work. Across Europe, organisations are facing growing demands without additional resources, forcing teams to rethink how work gets done. In this customer panel, finance leaders share their real-world experiences with AI: where it fits, where it falls short, and how they balance innovation with accountability.

Expect a candid conversation on trust, transparency, and control - alongside practical insights on how to get started, build momentum, and make progress without chasing perfection.

Join this session to:

  • Evaluate Where AI Delivers Measurable Value in Finance: Assess practical use cases where European finance teams are successfully applying AI to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, and support decision-making.
  • Balance AI Adoption with Governance and Regulatory Requirements: Identify approaches for implementing AI while maintaining appropriate controls, transparency, accountability, and auditability within a European regulatory environment.
  • Develop a Practical Roadmap for AI Adoption in Finance: Apply lessons learned from peer organisations to overcome barriers such as trust, data readiness, and change management, and identify low-risk opportunities to begin or scale AI initiatives.

Session Speakers:

Hugh O'Neill

Principal Accountant in Residence

FloQast

Steve Bourne

Senior Director Global R2R, P2P, & GFS Hub

Page Group

Diane Naidoo

Head of Finance Systems & Change

Tesco Mobile

Nicola Rowlands

Global SVP & Deputy CFO

DEPT

Hugh O'Neill

Principal Accountant in Residence

FloQast

Drawing on 20 years of experience in the financial sector, including multiple Director-level roles spanning finance and operations, Hugh acts as a critical bridge between finance expertise and product innovation at FloQast. He is pivotal to ensuring the accounting accuracy, professional integrity, and operational feasibility of the product roadmap at FloQast by guiding solutions development to meet the highest standards of financial practice. Of equal importance, his on-the-job accounting experience enables him to empathize with the daily challenges facing finance teams, helping them to automate, streamline, and accelerate their financial processes. Having trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA) in KPMG's Dublin practice, Hugh has deep technical expertise and first-hand understanding of the evolving role of accountants, what finance teams truly need from technology, and how they can become strategic leaders within their organizations.

Steve Bourne

Senior Director Global R2R, P2P, & GFS Hub

Page Group

Steve Bourne is a Senior Director at PageGroup, where he leads global Record-to-Report (R2R), Procure-to-Pay (P2P), and Treasury Support functions, alongside the Global Finance Systems Hub. With over two decades of international finance experience, Steve specializes in scaling global shared services, managing large-scale cross-border teams, and driving digital transformation via automation and AI. His extensive background includes financial leadership roles at Bunge Limited and nine years with PwC spanning the UK and Latin America. He is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant and a multilingual executive.

Diane Naidoo

Head of Finance Systems & Change

Tesco Mobile

Diane Naidoo, CA(SA), CAPM(PMI) is the Head of Finance Systems & Change and Finance Transformation Lead at Tesco Mobile. A seasoned Chartered Accountant with a growth mindset, Diane specializes in driving finance transformation, data modernization, and process optimization. She is a strong advocate for implementing agile methodologies within finance departments to build resilient, controlled, and scalable financial systems. Diane holds her accounting credentials from South Africa and a project management certification from the Project Management Institute.

Nicola Rowlands

Global SVP & Deputy CFO

DEPT

Nicola Rowlands is the Global SVP and Deputy CFO at DEPT®, a certified B Corp digital agency. She is an international finance leader specializing in corporate strategy, financial operations, and organizational growth at scale. With a focus on building forward-thinking global teams, Nicola has successfully spearheaded high-impact international sourcing models, integrating offshore talent into core global finance functions. She is an alumna of Newcastle University and is passionate about sustainable corporate growth.

8:00 am PT

Thought Leadership

CPE Eligible

Real Talk: How Accounting Leaders are Rewriting the Rules

Session Details

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Real Talk: How Accounting Leaders are Rewriting the Rules

The "Wait-and-See" strategy has reached its expiration date. For decades, the goal was automation, using machines to speed up human tasks. We've entered the era of Agentic Accounting, where digital agents don't just assist your team—they execute the work.

As the gap between "Traditional" and "Agentic" leaders becomes a competitive canyon, the challenge is not only picking software; but also architecting a future where AI is governed and scalable. This session cuts through the noise to provide a definitive playbook for the Reviewer-First model where AI Agents handle the heavy lifting while humans provide the strategic oversight. Learn how to transform the finance function from a record-keeper of the past into a real-time, value driving engine.

Join this session to:

  • Navigate the "Build vs. Buy" Debate: Evaluate the trade-offs between general AI platforms and purpose-built platforms, ensuring long-term compliance and auditability.
  • Lead the Transition from Automated to Agentic Teams: Master the leadership framework for evolving a "people-only" finance function into a high-performance hybrid workforce, strategically balancing human judgement with AI agent execution.
  • Capitalize on the ROI of Accounting AI: Leverage the gains of agentic accounting to move beyond efficiency, focusing on how improved financial intelligence drives business-wide strategy.

Session Speakers:

Carina Hira

Finance Transformation Partner

CFGI

Dan Callaghan

Chief Accounting Officer

FloQast

Michelle Foster

Controller

PowerSchool

Landon Hartley

Vice President & Controller

PACS

Carina Hira

Finance Transformation Partner

CFGI

Carina Hira is a Finance Transformation Partner at CFGI, where she led the CFGI AI campaign for Client Delivery as well as co-led the CFGI Finance Effectiveness practice. She also spearheads initiatives designed to help modern CFOs rethink financial operations through advanced technology, robust data structures, and optimized operating models. With two decades of experience spanning strategy through execution, Carina specializes in enterprise-wide change, including Cloud ERP implementations, process re-engineering, and data governance. An alumna of DePaul University, she also serves on the Advisory Board for the non-profit organization America Needs You.

Dan Callaghan

Chief Accounting Officer

FloQast

Dan Callaghan currently serves as Chief Accounting Officer for FloQast. Dan is a seasoned accounting and finance executive with over 30 years of experience guiding high-growth public companies across industries including eCommerce, cybersecurity, SaaS, enterprise software, and digital media. Beginning his career in Big 4 public accounting, he has since held senior leadership roles from Controller to Chief Accounting Officer. Throughout his career, Dan has led finance teams through three IPOs—including a 25x oversubscribed offering in 2021—and raised more than $1.5 billion through various private and public funding rounds. He has supported over $3.2 billion in M&A transactions, spearheaded U.S. and international entity expansion across EMEA and APAC, and successfully implemented SOX, ERP, and ASC 606/842 frameworks. Known for building world-class finance organizations, Dan brings deep expertise in U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting, revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, and IPO readiness. Dan holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University, Los Angeles, and is an active CPA.

Michelle Foster

Controller

PowerSchool

Michelle Foster is the Controller at PowerSchool, a leading provider of cloud-based K-12 software. With seven years at the company and a strong foundational background from her formative years at Oracle, Michelle is an expert in enterprise tech controllership and financial operations. She specializes in driving operational transformations and building strong, connected corporate cultures within hybrid and remote accounting environments. Michelle holds a degree from CSU Sacramento, is in inactive CPA, and is a FloQast Certified Accountant (FCA) with advanced mastery in record-to-report optimization and accounting AI foundations.

Landon Hartley

Vice President & Controller

PACS

Landon Hartley is the Vice President and Controller at PACS (NYSE: PACS), a top-tier post-acute care operator. Bringing a blend of public and private corporate accounting experience, Landon specializes in financial infrastructure transformation and operational scaling. He has successfully guided the organization through milestone achievements including its IPO journey, S-1 drafting, and multi-facility ERP system implementations. Today, he oversees the core accounting and controllership functions supporting 250+ healthcare facilities across the country.

9:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

You're Going to Build Agents. The Question Is Where and How.

Session Details

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You're Going to Build Agents. The Question Is Where and How.

Generic AI wasn't built to close your books, but accounting-native agents are. The proof: three lean teams running them in production today.

At Liquid AI, eight custom agents on FloQast Transform held a four-day close through revenue growth, no new headcount. At Hazeldenes, five agents eliminated 600 hours of manual work and shifted preparers into reviewer roles. At Nitrogen Wealth, a team of three automated 90% of close tasks and offboarded a seven-person outsourced firm while holding a six-day close.

Join Jonathan Mears (Liquid AI), Ben Cirillo (Hazeldenes), and Minh Hill (Nitrogen Wealth) for a behind-the-scenes look at the agents they built, why they chose those workflows first, and the hours, headcount, and audit confidence they got back.

Join this session to:

  • See Real Agents in Action: Discover the AI agents three lean finance teams run in production - from allocations to cash booking - and evaluate the ROI they unlocked.
  • Build Your First Agent with Confidence: Learn which finance work belongs on a governed, auditable platform, and explore the framework Hazeldenes, Liquid AI, and Nitrogen Wealth used to select, build, and scale agents.
  • Scale Without Adding Headcount or Audit Risk: See how accountant-owned, audit-ready agents expand a lean team's capacity, and identify their second-order effects on close processes and team roles.

Session Speakers:

Roshan Chekuri

General Manager, Transform

FloQast

Ben Cirillo

Group Financial Controller

Hazeldenes

Minh Hill

VP, Corporate Controller

Nitrogen Wealth

Jonathan Mears

VP, Finance & Accounting

Liquid AI

Roshan Chekuri

General Manager, Transform

FloQast

Roshan Chekuri joined FloQast in 2017 as part of the sales team before spearheading the development of the company's Private Equity and Venture Capital partnership vertical. He later transitioned into a role in the office of the CEO, where he led several zero-to-one strategic initiatives, most notably taking FloQast's Compliance product to market. Now, as General Manager of AI Solutions, Roshan is driving the go-to-market strategy for FloQast's AI platform, shaping the future of AI-powered accounting solutions, and enabling the market's transition into the world of agents.

Ben Cirillo

Group Financial Controller

Hazeldenes

Benjamin Cirillo is the Group Financial Controller at Hazeldenes. With a rich background spanning private equity-backed, venture-backed, and ASX-listed businesses, Ben specializes in capital raising, post-acquisition integration, and operational scaling. He previously served as the Interim CFO of Vitura Health (ASX:VIT), where he navigated public board governance and strategic corporate development. Today, Ben is a leading voice on digital transformation in accounting, currently spearheading an AI initiative at Hazeldenes to eliminate more than 1,000 hours of manual operational friction. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ).

Minh Hill

VP, Corporate Controller

Nitrogen Wealth

Minh Hill, CPA is the VP, Corporate Controller at Nitrogen. As a forward-thinking finance leader specializing in SaaS and fintech environments, Minh focuses on leveraging advanced automation to elevate accounting from a compliance function to a strategic growth engine. Her recent AI-driven modernization initiatives have successfully boosted operational productivity by 50% while unlocking substantial EBITDA savings. She is highly skilled in leading organizations through complex business transformations, building internal accounting capabilities from the ground up, and partnering with executive leadership on strategic initiatives. She holds her Master of Science in Accounting from Bradley University.

Jonathan Mears

VP, Finance & Accounting

Liquid AI

Jonathan Mears is the VP of Finance and Accounting at Liquid AI. A tech finance executive with 17 years of experience, including a decade within Google and Alphabet's emerging products, he specializes in building high-performing controllership functions for hyper-growth companies, guiding portfolio ventures like Google Fiber and Wing from early-stage to market leaders.

9:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

GRC's Defining Moment: Join an Auditor, Leave an Orchestrator

Session Details

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GRC's Defining Moment: Join an Auditor, Leave an Orchestrator

The internal audit profession is at an inflection point. The question is no longer whether AI will change how you work; it already has. The question is whether internal auditors will lead that change or be defined by it. This is a live product reveal built for the profession's next chapter.

Watch as we unveil new capabilities, including Operational Audits, AI testing, and an integration to FloQast Transform, which puts you in command of AI agents, with governance and monitoring aligned to COSO's latest GenAI guidance. The future internal auditor isn't the Auditor. It's the Orchestrator.

Join this session to:

  • Elevate from Assurance to Advisory: Discover how automating assurance work creates the bandwidth to lead higher-value, strategic advisory work across your organization.
  • Expand the Audit Mandate: See how FloQast's operational audit capabilities complete the internal audit function and elevate its influence across the business.
  • Become the AI Orchestrator: Learn how to deploy, monitor, and govern AI agents with built-in controls aligned to the latest COSO GenAI guidance.

Session Speakers:

Jaysen Dyal

Sr. Product Marketing Manager

FloQast

Ben Alberts

Senior Product Manager

FloQast

Vicky LeVay

VP, InfoSec & Compliance

FloQast

Alex Pirie

Director of Internal Audit

Novel Services

Jaysen Dyal

Sr. Product Marketing Manager

FloQast

Jaysen Dyal is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at FloQast. Prior to joining the team, Jaysen spent 6+ years as an auditor at Lindquist and, later, Armanino, making the switch and moving to LA-based tech company Jam City as a Technical Accounting and Reporting Manager, where he first became acquainted with FloQast. Jaysen recently celebrated his five-year anniversary at FloQast. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Ben Alberts

Senior Product Manager

FloQast

Ben Alberts is a Senior Product Manager at FloQast, leading the development of next-generation platforms and AI-driven workflows. Over the last decade, Ben has built a standout track record managing cloud-scale products, previously scaling Hyperproof's Risk Platform into a multi-million-dollar ARR line and spearheading enterprise feature launches at Microsoft for Word and Azure. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering with a minor in Business from the University of Michigan, blending deep technical acumen with business strategy.

Vicky LeVay

VP, InfoSec & Compliance

FloQast

Vicky brings 20 years in finance and accounting to her role as VP, Information Security and Compliance at FloQast. A first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.S. in business leadership magna cum laude from Vanguard University. LeVay's career includes project management roles at Sungard, Breitburn Management and Slalom, focusing on compliance and risk. Joining FloQast in 2020 during the pandemic, she built the compliance department from scratch, achieving significant certifications like SOC 2 Type 2, ISO 42001, and ISO 27001. She created an agile international privacy program, supporting FloQast's global expansion. LeVay also champions women in the workplace, designing leadership programs and speaking at industry events like IAPP. She initiated a veteran mentorship program at a previous firm through Hiring Our Heroes.

Alex Pirie

Director of Internal Audit

Novel Services

Alex serves as the Director of Internal Audit for Novel Services bringing over a dozen years of audit experience, including internal and external, to the role. He specializes in the Property and Casualty insurance industry. Alex received his Undergraduate degrees in Finance and Accounting, as well as a Master's in Accounting, from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!).

10:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

The Professional Skeptic vs. The One-Click Close: Safeguarding Integrity

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The Professional Skeptic vs. The One-Click Close: Safeguarding Integrity

The "one-click close" is often dismissed as marketing vaporware, and for a skeptical accountant, that skepticism is a superpower. True autonomy isn't about blind trust; it's about engineered certainty. This session tackles the myth that AI and auditability are at odds. We're replacing the reactive, month-end scramble with a continuous, proactive architecture designed for finance leaders who demand both speed and control.

Join us for a masterclass in modern close design, moving beyond the hype to show you how to build for an AI-first world without sacrificing oversight.

Join this session to:

  • Apply Automated Accounting Workflows & Controls: Apply professional skepticism to create a plan for automated accounting workflows that ensure auditable, consistent, and compliant AI controls.
  • Engineer Trust & Auditability: Develop a documentation framework and methodology to interrogate AI decisions, satisfying external auditors skeptical of machine-only reporting.
  • Customize Dashboard Visibility: Leverage custom dashboards and diagnostics to gain real-time visibility across the close process, identifying bottlenecks and driving efficiency.

Session Speakers:

Jason Andrews

Senior Product Marketing Manager

FloQast

Remington Petrow

Senior Accounting Manager

MRI Software

Joni Risley

VP of Finance

Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc.

Tim Williams

Director of Asset Management & Senior Controller

ExchangeRight

Jason Andrews

Senior Product Marketing Manager

FloQast

Jason Andrews is a Senior Product Marketing Manager at FloQast, with extensive experience in finance and accounting. He began his career with five years as an auditor at Grant Thornton, then worked at Yahoo and Pre-IPO company GC Aesthetics. During his four years as a FloQast customer at Twilio, Jason served as Head of Global Close and Finance Transformation Lead, where he used the platform to manage growth, streamline record-to-report processes, and navigate the complexities of being a public company undergoing an ERP implementation. Now based in Cork, Ireland, Jason lives with his partner and daughter, helping teams succeed at FloQast.

Remington Petrow

Senior Accounting Manager

MRI Software

With a career spanning over a decade in accounting and finance, Remington has developed a skillset that touches on every aspect of a business' financial environment, from meeting lien covenant obligations and improving DSO to internal auditing and companywide ERP implementations. Always chasing better efficiencies and dismantling redundancies, Remington brings a pragmatic level of business acumen to any situation to cut out the noise and focus on the wider picture.

Joni Risley

VP of Finance

Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc.

With more than 30 years of experience in accounting, compliance and financial reporting, Joni Risley has built a reputation as a strategic finance leader who combines operational excellence with a passion for team development. In her current role, she leads high-performing teams responsible for complex financial operations, audit readiness, process automation, capital management, government contracting compliance, acquisition due diligence and transition, and multi-entity accounting. Most notably, her team reduced the month-end close process at CNI from 15 to 5 days. Joni is a Certified Public Accountant with a B.S. in Accounting from Tabor College, Hillsboro, Kansas.

Tim Williams

Director of Asset Management & Senior Controller

ExchangeRight

Tim currently serves as the Director of Asset Management and Senior Controller at ExchangeRight. He joined the company in 2021 as Senior Controller and expanded his role to oversee asset management in 2023. Tim is focused on leading his team to proactively manage ExchangeRight's assets by overseeing tenant relations, strategic leasing initiatives, and stewardship of the physical properties. Tim began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the private company services audit practice, where he served family-owned and private equity-backed organizations in the Minneapolis, MN area. He later spent six years at McCoy Group, where he led the accounting function for the transportation division and contributed to strategic acquisitions and divestitures. Tim holds both B.A. and Master degrees in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa, graduating in 2013. He also earned national recognition with the prestigious Elijah Watt Sells Award for outstanding performance on the May 2013 CPA exam.

10:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

The Strategic Operator: Building the Org Chart for the Agentic Era

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The Strategic Operator: Building the Org Chart for the Agentic Era

The technology is here, but the talent strategy isn't. As digital agents raise the ceiling on what your team can accomplish, the hardest leadership challenge isn't the software; it's the org chart. Realizing the full potential of AI requires new skills and a fundamental shift in how your team operates.

This session cuts through the "future of work" noise to deliver a practical playbook for the Strategic Operator model: hiring for emerging roles, redeploying your talent beyond data processing, and identifying the human skills AI cannot (and should not) replace at month-end.

Join this session to:

  • Architect the New Org Chart: Learn how to update your team structure by identifying which roles must evolve, which should be redeployed, and which new skill sets are needed to manage an AI-augmented workforce.
  • Implement a Future-Ready Talent Strategy: Execute a "hiring for 2027" playbook that prioritizes human skills, such as complex judgment and strategic thinking, and learn how to upskill staff to meet new technical demands.
  • Put New Ways of Working into Practice: Discover how to embrace "unlearning," rethinking roles and redesigning processes to transition your team from manual processors to strategic reviewers.

Session Speakers:

Razzak Jallow

Chief Financial Officer

FloQast

Steve Emberland

VP, Accounting & Treasurer

AG1

Melissa Haas

Director of Accounting & Financial Operations

KoBold Metals

Gretchen Stout

VP, Global Controller

Raptor Technologies

Razzak Jallow

Chief Financial Officer

FloQast

As Chief Financial Officer, Razzak leads FloQast's accounting, finance, and business operations. Prior to joining the team, Jallow served as the vice president of finance at Looker – a data analytics company which was acquired by Google in 2019. As a veteran finance professional in the SaaS space, Razzak possesses a wealth of experience in financial planning and analysis, accounting, and investor operations – for both public and private companies, including Google, Apple, and Adobe.

Steve Emberland

VP, Accounting & Treasurer

AG1

Steve Emberland, CPA, is Vice President of Accounting & Treasurer at AG1, where he leads the company's global accounting and treasury functions. With more than 30 years of finance leadership experience spanning technology, AI, SaaS, consumer products, and health & wellness, he has built and scaled accounting organizations through periods of rapid growth, operational transformation, and public company readiness, including helping lead the public listings of SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) and Consensus Cloud Solutions (NASDAQ: CCSI). Prior to AG1, Steve held finance leadership roles at Carrot Fertility, Delphix, SoundHound AI, and Consensus Cloud Solutions, and began his career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and PwC in Silicon Valley. Steve is passionate about helping finance organizations leverage automation, AI, and modern technology to build scalable, high-performing accounting teams and elevate Finance as a strategic business partner.

Melissa Haas

Director of Accounting & Financial Operations

KoBold Metals

Melissa Haas is the Director of Accounting & Financial Operations at KoBold Metals Company. Bringing over two decades of cross-industry financial leadership and auditing expertise, Melissa specializes in managing robust corporate accounting operations across specialized sectors, including mineral exploration, Oil & Gas, utilities, and tribal gaming. She excels at building compliant, tech-forward financial frameworks designed to sustain corporate growth. Melissa holds a B.S. from Oklahoma State University and a Master's degree from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Gretchen Stout

VP, Global Controller

Raptor Technologies

Gretchen Stout, CPA is the VP of Accounting at Raptor Technologies. She is a financial and operational executive with more than two decades of experience navigating and scaling high-growth tech companies through complex transitions. Known for her strategic leadership and people-first approach, Gretchen specializes in process optimization, financial reporting, and building world-class accounting operations. She is a licensed CPA and an alumna of Texas State University-San Marcos.

11:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

Scaling the Enterprise Close: Stories from Chipotle, Equinox, & Gong

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Scaling the Enterprise Close: Stories from Chipotle, Equinox, & Gong

This session explores what it truly means to choose a close platform for long-term growth, not just immediate needs. Through the lens of four FloQast enterprise customers, we'll discuss how their organizations evolved, how their close processes scaled alongside increasing complexity, and why they continue to rely on FloQast through years of growth.

Attendees will walk away with a practical framework for evaluating close solutions based on long-term fit, enterprise readiness, and the ability to scale alongside the business through multiple stages of maturity.

Join this session to:

  • Analyze Long-Term Strategic Fit: Evaluate close management platforms based on long-term scalability and enterprise readiness rather than solving for immediate, short-term pain.
  • Design a Scalable Close Framework: Establish a practical framework to assess how accounting processes and close solutions can evolve alongside increasing organizational complexity and multiple stages of business maturity.
  • Leverage Enterprise Best Practices: Identify key lessons and strategies from an enterprise organization's journey to maintain efficiency, accuracy, and operational continuity during rapid, multi-year growth.

Session Speakers:

Hugh O'Neill

Principal Accountant in Residence

FloQast

Kegan Hagerott

Senior Director, Assistant Controller

Chipotle

Kim Le

Director of Accounting & Finance

Gong

Ashley Randall

Director of Accounting

Equinox

Hugh O'Neill

Principal Accountant in Residence

FloQast

Drawing on 20 years of experience in the financial sector, including multiple Director-level roles spanning finance and operations, Hugh acts as a critical bridge between finance expertise and product innovation at FloQast. He is pivotal to ensuring the accounting accuracy, professional integrity, and operational feasibility of the product roadmap at FloQast by guiding solutions development to meet the highest standards of financial practice. Of equal importance, his on-the-job accounting experience enables him to empathize with the daily challenges facing finance teams, helping them to automate, streamline, and accelerate their financial processes. Having trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA) in KPMG's Dublin practice, Hugh has deep technical expertise and first-hand understanding of the evolving role of accountants, what finance teams truly need from technology, and how they can become strategic leaders within their organizations.

Kegan Hagerott

Senior Director, Assistant Controller

Chipotle

Kegan Hagerott is a senior accounting leader with expertise in corporate accounting, SEC reporting, internal controls, and process improvement. As Senior Director, Assistant Controller at Chipotle, he leads the corporate accounting and financial reporting functions, develops and maintains internal controls, and oversees accounting automation initiatives.

Kim Le

Director of Accounting & Finance

Gong

Kim Le, CPA is the Director of Accounting & Finance at Gong. With over 15 years of financial leadership experience spanning the tech, professional services, insurance, and assisted living sectors, Kim specializes in scaling financial operations. She is recognized for her ability to streamline month-end closes, implement rigorous internal controls, and drive process optimization in rapidly expanding companies. Kim is a licensed CPA and an alumna of Georgetown University.

Ashley Randall

Director of Accounting

Equinox

Ashley Randall is the Director of Accounting at Equinox, where she oversees month-end close, audit procedures, and financial reporting analysis for the Equinox, Blink, and SoulCycle portfolios. With a strong background spanning public accounting, tax, and corporate finance, Ashley specializes in scaling internal financial controls and optimizing accounting workflows. Her notable achievements include designing automated reconciliation models and transitioning multiple siloed accounting departments into a single shared services infrastructure. She is an alumna of Western Michigan University.

11:00 am PT

Breakout

CPE Eligible

Complexity In, Agent Out: Why Clean Data Powers AI That Actually Works

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Complexity In, Agent Out: Why Clean Data Powers AI That Actually Works

Manual data manipulation is the silent tax on the modern close. Disparate ERPs and third-party financial tools force accounting teams into tedious cleanup work, slowing automation before it can even scale.

FloQast was built to solve this problem. Behind the products is a deep data platform capable of processing tens of millions of transactions across your ERP, banks, subledgers, and more. In this session, we'll introduce FloQast Data Studio as the foundation for a truly automated close, setting the stage for the future of Transform, where AI Agents operate on a trusted financial data layer.

We'll also hear from Blue Owl Capital about their experience unifying disparate data and building Transform AI Agents to support complex financial workflows. Together, we'll explore what becomes possible when deep integrations, a robust data foundation, and intelligent AI Agents operate on a unified platform.

Join this session to:

  • Build the Foundation for AI-Ready Accounting: Understand why data complexity is slowing down the close, and what a "clean-data-first" architecture looks like in practice.
  • Unify Data Across Systems: See a live demo of how FloQast Data Studio unifies fragmented ERPs and third-party tools into a single, trusted data layer your whole team can rely on.
  • Scale Accounting by Automating Manual Work: Learn how real teams are deploying AI Agents to eliminate data cleanup work, and reclaim weeks of capacity every close cycle.

Session Speakers:

Max McCaskill

Manager, Transform Delivery

FloQast

Rebecca Beasley-Cockroft

Director, Product Management

FloQast

John DeLoriea

Principal, Operations and Accounting

Blue Owl Capital

Jamie Livoti

Principal, Operations and Accounting

Blue Owl Capital

Raaj Prasad

VP, Engineering

FloQast

Max McCaskill

Manager, Transform Delivery

FloQast

Max McCaskill is the Manager of Transform Delivery at FloQast, leading the team of Forward Deployed Accountants who work directly with clients to help them get the most out of their AI Agents; from day one through long-term success. Before stepping into his current role, Max spent time as an Accounting Technology Consultant and Project Manager at FloQast, giving him a well-rounded view of what it takes to deliver great client outcomes. Prior to FloQast, he worked in corporate financial services in the oil and gas industry. As a CPA, he knows firsthand what accountants are up against, and that shapes how he and his team show up for clients every day.

Rebecca Beasley-Cockroft

Director, Product Management

FloQast

Rebecca Beasley-Cockroft is a Director of Product Management at FloQast, leading the data platform and integrations that power the company's ecosystem. A 10+ year veteran in data systems engineering, she has scaled foundational pipelines for Clearwater Analytic, including building an early LLM, and launched high-impact reporting tools at LeanLaw. Driven by the belief that clean data is the backbone of operational speed and effective AI, Rebecca ensures customers always have the data they need to unlock full value from their software.

John DeLoriea

Principal, Operations and Accounting

Blue Owl Capital

John DeLoriea is a Principal at Blue Owl Capital. Operating within the firm's Finance, Accounting & Operations division, John sits on the Carried Interest Team, where he oversees the financial operations and management of specialized carried interest vehicles. Before joining Blue Owl, John expanded his asset management expertise as an Accounting Director at Apex Group and as an Officer at State Street Bank. He holds a BS in Accounting from Ramapo College and an MBA from William Paterson University

Jamie Livoti

Principal, Operations and Accounting

Blue Owl Capital

Jamie Livoti, MBA, CPA, is a Principal of Operations and Accounting at Blue Owl Capital. She is a results-driven financial operations and reporting leader and subject matter expert in carried interest within the asset management industry. Known for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to building a strong team culture, Jamie excels in leading high-impact projects and developing strategic operational frameworks. She holds an MBA and is an alumna of Pace University.

Raaj Prasad

VP, Engineering

FloQast

Raaj Prasad is the VP of Engineering at FloQast. An accomplished technology executive with a background spanning startups and large enterprises, Raaj specializes in scaling SaaS platforms, managing big data pipelines, and building advanced AI/ML and data science solutions. Known for his hands-on technical expertise and commitment to mentoring engineering talent, he previously served as the Vice President of Technology at Nomiso and Head of Engineering at Lily AI. Raaj is an alumnus of the University of Kansas.

12:00 pm PT

Thought Leadership

CPE Eligible

The Accountability Gap: Setting the Standard for AI Governance and Auditability

Session Details

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The Accountability Gap: Setting the Standard for AI Governance and Auditability

If an AI Agent makes a material error, who is responsible?

As the AI regulatory landscape evolves, "I didn't know the bot did that" is no longer an acceptable defense. This session bridges the gap between Finance's need for AI-driven efficiency and the growing demand for compliant, auditable controls.

We will deconstruct the emerging frontier of AI Risk and Compliance, drawing on the COSO framework for GenAI governance, and explore how to maintain a clean audit trail as AI Agents take on preparer roles across journal entries, reconciliations, and broader financial processes. Join us to see what industry-leading AI governance looks like in practice.

Join this session to:

  • Build Effective GenAI Controls: Identify the key elements of compliant generative AI governance and establish a controls framework your organization can stand behind.
  • Understand the Anatomy of an Agentic Workflow: Learn what it takes to deploy AI agents responsibly with monitoring and assurance embedded across every operation.
  • Adopt AI with Audit Confidence: Learn how to translate AI-driven workflows into clear, auditable evidence your auditors and stakeholders can rely on.

Session Speakers:

Mike Whitmire

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

Christina Ho

Chief Assurance Officer & Former Board Member

Oath & PCAOB

Jason Pikoos

Director, Modern Finance

Meta

Lucia Wind

Board Chair & Executive Director

COSO

Mike Whitmire

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

FloQast

As Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Mike leads FloQast's corporate vision, strategy, and execution. Prior to founding FloQast, he managed the accounting team at Cornerstone OnDemand, a SaaS company in Los Angeles. He began his career at Ernst & Young in Los Angeles where he performed public company audits, opening balance sheet audits, cash to GAAP restatements, compilation reviews, international reporting, merger and acquisition audits and SOX compliance testing. Mike is also the author of Controller's Code: The Secret Formula to a Successful Career in Finance, an Amazon Best Seller providing career guidance for finance professionals. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Syracuse University.

Christina Ho

Chief Assurance Officer & Former Board Member

Oath & PCAOB

Christina Ho is a finance and technology transformation executive who excels at working at the intersection of finance, technology, and policy. She recently completed her tenure as a Board Member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), where she promoted the use of AI in auditing to enhance audit quality and public trust, and chaired a working group on emerging technologies. Last month, she joined a tech startup Oath as its Chief Assurance Officer to build the model she wishes had existed, not optimize legacy frameworks, but to architect what comes next. A sought-after thought leader, an engaging public speaker and published expert, her work has appeared in the Journal of Accountancy and other leading industry publications. She was profiled in The Wall Street Journal and has been quoted by Bloomberg, Reuters, The Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Earlier in her career, Christina held senior roles at the U.S. Treasury, the University of Maryland, and Elder Research (acquired by Mantech). She spent her early career at Deloitte & Touche rising to audit senior manager and holds CPA and CISA certifications.

Jason Pikoos

Director, Modern Finance

Meta

Jason Pikoos is the Director of Modern Finance at Meta leading transformation, AI adoption, and governance across finance. Jason is also a member of the COSO board and a coauthor of the COSO whitepaper on AI Governance. Previously, he was a Managing Partner at Connor Group, specializing in finance transformation and GenAI solutions. With 20+ years of experience in accounting, operations, and technology, Jason helps high-growth companies achieve operational excellence through process improvement, automation, data, and analytics. He holds a degree from the University of Cape Town and spent over a decade in public accounting before joining Connor Group.

Lucia Wind

Board Chair & Executive Director

COSO

Lucia has expertise in internal audit, fraud deterrence, governance, and risk management across many industries. Currently Lucia serves as the Board Chair for COSO and its first Executive Director. Previously she led internal audit functions at Unisys, Ellucian, National Gallery of Art and AOL. During her tenure at Unisys and AOL, she also led the company's enterprise risk management programs. She began her career at Friendly's Ice Cream, followed by TJX Companies and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Wind is a Certified Fraud Examiner and earned her degree in corporate and investment finance from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

The Future of Accounting Starts at TakeControl 2026

See how leading teams are putting agentic AI to work. Gain the strategies, workflows, and insights needed to drive the next era of accounting.