SEPTEMBER 2026

IN THIS UPDATE


Chapter Chair's Message


Upcoming Global and Local Events


Data Governance in the Age of AI


5 Skills Shaping the Future of Accounting


Call for Volunteers


Sponsor the OC IMA

I know it isn't quite fall yet, but the air feels cooler and crisper. I'm starting to see leaves falling from the trees, and pumpkin spice seems to be everywhere already. Fall is my favorite season. :) I hope everyone had a chance to take some time off and enjoy a well-earned getaway this year as we shift gears towards year-end.


There are a couple of interesting events below, both global and local, hosted by IMA Global and UCI that are available for you to attend (registrations required). Both events qualify for CPE credits. The OC IMA Board is also working on a couple of chapter events (including a General Chapter Meeting). Please stay tuned for those announcements.


If you are an IMA member affiliated with the OC Chapter, we are also seeking volunteers to assist with chapter operations. Please see the information below.


We are once again getting closer to the end of the year, a time of gratitude, giving, and religious celebrations. If you have enjoyed attending OC IMA's previous in-person events at Maggiano's, Andrei's, and other restaurants throughout Orange County, please consider becoming a chapter sponsor or making a donation. We would like to continue providing these events for our members. This term, there are several opportunities to support the chapter. Please see the information below.


OC IMA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by the law.


I look forward to seeing some new and familiar faces this chapter term.



Happy Fall Ya'll,




Christopher Lozano, JD, CMA

Chapter Chair

IMA – Orange County Chapter

UPCOMING GLOBAL AND LOCAL EVENTS:
 

Audit Committee Oversight: Innovation to Intervention


UCI invites you to join the 13th Annual UC Irvine Audit Committee Summit—an essential interactive conference for audit committees, board members, and company representatives tasked with the important responsibility of corporate governance and financial reporting. This year’s conference provides participants with the opportunity to hear from Kurt Hohl, SEC Chief Accountant, as well as seasoned audit committee members and topical experts on the current and emerging issues and proposed regulatory changes most significantly impacting the work of audit committees.


Key topics to be explored at this year’s conference include:

  • Navigating disclosure and transparency amidst proposed regulatory changes
  • Managing investor expectations on Audit Committees
  • Oversight of the escalating risks and challenges associated with AI and Cybersecurity
  • Management estimates and Critical Audit Matters
  • The Audit Committee’s role in special situations - M&A’s, fraud investigations, and more

 

* Up to 4 hours CPE credit offered to Summit attendees.
 

IMA Global's
Women's Leadership Summit

September 23-24, 2026
 

TBD EVENTS:
  • OC IMA General Chapter Meeting
  • CMAs in Action: Company Tour and Job Costing
  • OC IMA Chapter Fundraiser

Finance's New Frontier:

Leading Data Governance in the Age of AI

By: Chad Switzer, CMA, CSCA, CPCE


A briefing for IMA members navigating the intersection of generative AI, ethics, and financial oversight. Generative AI is no longer a pilot project sitting in the innovation lab — it is embedded in the day-to-day work of finance functions. It is accelerating close cycles, powering fraud detection at a scale rule-based systems could never match, and personalizing financial products and advisory services in ways that were unimaginable five years ago. But with that transformation comes a new mandate for finance professionals: ensuring the data and models driving these decisions are governed responsibly.



For management accountants and finance leaders, data governance is no longer someone else's job. It sits squarely alongside budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting as a core fiduciary responsibility.


Why This Matters to Finance


AI systems are only as trustworthy as the data and controls behind them. Left unmanaged, they introduce real operational and ethical risk:

  • Bias & Discrimination — Models trained on historical data can quietly reinforce unfair lending or investment practices.
  • The Transparency Gap — "Black-box" models produce outcomes that are difficult to explain to regulators, auditors, or customers, weakening the authority of financial decisions.
  • Model Failures & Hallucinations — Poorly validated models can miss fraud, misclassify transactions, or generate inaccurate outputs.
  • Data Privacy — Improper use of customer data in AI training can trigger consent violations, breaches, and regulatory penalties.


Each of these risks maps directly onto territory finance already owns: internal controls, risk management, and the integrity of the numbers the organization relies on.


READ MORE...
 

5 Skills Shaping the Future of Accounting

By Dr. Ann Boyd Davis


As artificial intelligence reshapes industries across the economy, many professionals are asking the same question: what skills will matter most in the future workplace?


READ MORE...

The OC IMA also offer numerous and flexibile volunteering opportunities, which help to support the core chapter roles. If you are interested in getting involved in an unofficial capacity (volunteering, joining a committee, and supporting the chapter), please apply here.

SUPPORT THE OC IMA

Thank you for your interest in supporting the OC IMA. Our advertising and sponsorship options are below. OC IMA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN 23-7354316. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by the law.

Sponsor the OC IMA
 

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