August and September

2026 Newsletter

FEI St. Louis is where engaged financial leaders thrive

Why AI Fails In Corporate Finance – and How to Get Ah ead

Presented by Aptitude Software

September 29 | 1:00 pm Eastern | 1 CPE Credit

A discussion between Alex Curran and Ben Catterall, Global Head of Sales Engineering at Aptitude Software. This session will ask questions such as:

Why is finance data different from other enterprise data?
What does “AI-ready” actually mean when you’re dealing with financial information?
What needs to change in the underlying data architecture before AI can deliver meaningful value? What does getting that foundation right unlock in terms of AI, intelligence and speed?
How should large, complex organizations approach modernization without introducing unnecessary risk or disruption?
For the CFOs and finance leaders in the room who recognize the need to modernize their finance data foundation, how should they approach that conversation with their CIO, CTO or CDO to build the right internal alignment and make the programme successful?

Beyond SAP BPC: Rethinking Finance for the AI Era

Presented by OneStream

October 7 | 1:00 pm Eastern | 1 CPE Credit

SAP BPC's approaching end of maintenance is more than a technology decision—it's an opportunity to redefine finance for the AI era. Join IBM TruQua finance transformation experts, Par Ghatahora and Charles Dagaev, for an executive discussion on the strategic options available to finance organizations.

Designed for CFOs, Controllers, and FP&A leaders, this session explores the risks of standing still, the capabilities required of a modern finance function—including unified data, planning, consolidation, governance, and embedded AI—and a practical roadmap for navigating the transition. You'll leave with a clear framework to assess your options and define the finance operating model that will drive better decisions and greater business value in the years ahead.

Benefits of FEI Membership

National and regional conferences and professional development sessions
Complimentary webinars with CPE credits
Earn over 90 CPE credits annually through FEI learning opportunities

St. Louis area controllers, directors, or chief financial officers are eligible to join the select ranks of the area's finest financial leaders, FEI St. Louis.

If you're a member, invite eligible financial leaders to a meeting or a tech series event so they can experience the benefits of connecting and collaborating with their financial peers in St. Louis.

Today is the day to join FEI St. Louis, where engaged financial leaders thrive! Contact George Kobitz, membership chair, at George.Kobitz@roberthalf.com to learn about all the advantages of joining St. Louis' premier group of financial leaders.

Stop Explaining the Resignation After It Happens

Most finance functions run on a rearview mirror. Leadership notices the resignation spike only after it has already gutted a team's output. A labor cost spike surfaces in the quarterly review, not before it. A retention risk goes unaddressed simply because nobody connected the data in time to act.

That lag is the real cost of reactive workforce reporting. It is not a staffing problem. It is a forecasting problem, and it compounds the same way any delayed signal does: the longer the gap between the event and the report, the more expensive the correction.

isolved recently outlined what predictive workforce analytics looks like in practice: surfacing turnover risk, labor cost trends and workforce gaps before they show up in a board deck instead of after. The comparison isolved uses is a collision detection system instead of a rearview mirror, which is the right way to think about the difference.

Read the full article

Emily Ackerson is your isolved representative. Please contact her at EAckerson@isolvedhcm.com to learn more about how platinum sponsor isolved can assist your company.

AI in Finance: From Buzzword to Business Advantage

Artificial intelligence is reshaping finance and accounting, but many organizations are still determining how to maximize its value while minimizing risk. In our recent article, AI adoption in finance and accounting: Benefits, challenges and best practices, Robert Half explores where AI can have the greatest impact, from automating routine tasks and accelerating data analysis to supporting smarter decision-making. You'll learn why technical, data, and systems skills remain critical to AI success, while soft skills such as critical thinking and adaptability are becoming even more valuable. The article also outlines practical steps for building a sustainable AI strategy.

If you're exploring how AI can improve productivity, streamline operations, and help your team work more strategically, contact George C. Kobitz Jr., Vice President, Client Solutions Director at Robert Half, to schedule a conversation.

As organizations invest in AI and adapt their workforce strategies, compensation remains a key factor in attracting and retaining talent. The upcoming 2027 Salary Guide from Robert Half can help! The 2027 Salary Guide from Robert Half will be available exclusively to you on Sept. 10, and George is eager to share customized insights. Our latest research shows employers are taking a more strategic approach to compensation, with 72% modestly increasing compensation budgets to attract and retain skilled talent while balancing other cost pressures.

What specific skills do you need on your team? Book a meeting with George, your FEI representative, to discuss your hiring plans and review customized insights tailored to your market, roles, and talent needs.

Contact George at George.Kobitz@roberthalf.com or at (314) 272-4962.

From reactive to ready: AI’s role in modern finance and operations

AI is quickly becoming more than a productivity tool. For finance and operations leaders, AI agents are creating new opportunities to streamline processes, surface insights, and help teams focus on higher-value work. This article examines the growing role of AI agents and what organizations can do today to prepare for a more intelligent, responsive way of working. Click through to explore the practical implications and opportunities for your organization.

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Ingrid Boyd is your Sikich representative. Please contact her at ingrid.boyd@sikich.com or by phone at (314) 648-6567 to learn more about how platinum sponsor Sikich can help your business.

Passkeys: The Next Chapter in Secure Access

For decades, passwords have served as the foundation of digital access. But that foundation is beginning to shift. Passkeys are emerging as a simpler and more secure approach to authentication, allowing users to access websites, applications, and payment services without relying on traditional passwords or one-time codes. As adoption accelerates, passkeys represent more than a more convenient way to sign in, they signal a broader shift in how organizations think about identity, access, and cybersecurity.

A passkey uses public-key cryptography. When it is created, the service receives a public key while the private key remains protected on the user’s device. The user approves access with the same fingerprint, facial recognition, or device PIN used to unlock that device. Biometric information is not shared with the website or application.

This approach is designed to resist phishing. Because a passkey is linked to the legitimate service, a user cannot be tricked into entering it on a fraudulent login page. Passkeys also remove problems such as weak passwords, password reuse, and reset requests.

Adoption is no longer theoretical. Major technology, financial, retail, and government organizations are implementing passkeys, while payment providers are bringing them to online checkout.

Finance leaders should begin preparing now. Ask technology and banking partners about passkey support, identify high-risk accounts for early adoption, and update employee education and account-recovery procedures. Passkeys will not eliminate every cyber risk, but they represent a shift toward easier, phishing-resistant access.

Contact Krista Horbenko at krista.horbenko@usacyber.com today to learn more.

Ryan Mortland is your USA Cyber representative. Contact Ryan at Ryan.Mortland@usacyber.com to learn how USA Cyber can help protect your company with Infrastructure, Cloud Solutions, and Cybersecurity.