Trump’s megabill: Quick CFO takeaways

No matter where finance leaders stand on the political spectrum, President Trump’s reconciliation bill warrants attention as it is poised to touch bottom lines for many years to come.   

Massachusetts CPA bill backers push to avoid outlier status

As a growing band of states have passed laws lowering barriers to CPA licensure, proponents of similar legislation in Massachusetts don’t want to be left behind.

From gatekeeper to coach: Xactly CFO’s finance, operations merge

Being an effective operational leader, as well as finance chief, requires CFOs to cultivate an “unhealthy degree” of curiosity, Xactly’s Jason Godley advises.

M&A comeback on pause amid Trump policy haze: PwC

CFOs will need to carefully manage liquidity and the financial fundamentals of their business in the current environment, the Big Four accounting firm said.

Francesca’s veteran joins Kirkland’s as CFO

Andrea Courtois, who also had financial roles at La Senza, Lane Bryant and Lands’ End, replaces longtime Kirkland's executive Mike Madden.

Boeing picks Lockheed alum for CFO seat

Jesus “Jay” Malave will join the jet maker next month as Boeing faces fresh scrutiny after at least 270 people died in a June crash of an Air India flight that occurred just after takeoff.

Updated July 1, 2025

Senate rejects proposed moratorium on state AI laws

The proposed freeze was stripped from President Trump’s megabill as an effort by Sen. Ted Cruz to advance compromise language fell apart.

Time to rethink corporate treasury as Washington embraces crypto

The arrival of clear-sighted crypto regulation has created a unique opportunity for corporate finance, writes Alchemy’s Guillaume Poncin.

Don’t get ‘greedy’ waiting for lower rates, Flag Luxury CFO says

If a deal’s economics make sense under debt current terms, don’t be afraid to lock in financing, former Credit Suisse exec Adam Raboy advises.  

Evolving tech, data needs spotlight modern controller role: EY

Controllers are increasingly playing a central role in the evolving finance function — serving as a key bridge across disparate business functions, EY’s Kristi Chapman says.

Senate Republican deals blow to compromise AI proposal

A modified proposal to pause state AI regulation is still “not acceptable,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn asserted Monday, rejecting revised language that reduced the moratorium to five years.

Payments firms switch up CFOs

ACI Worldwide, Bill and Corpay lured chief financial officers from other companies this month as the health of the U.S. economy wavers.

2025 financial conference roundup

 As CFOs continue grapple with this year’s fast-paced change, connecting at financial conferences with like-minded executives can help finance leaders craft effective strategies. 

Updated June 27, 2025

Google swipes Oracle alum for cloud CFO

The appointment comes as Google and other large cloud providers race to build data centers and infrastructure to support spiking AI processing demand.

Pennsylvania, Delaware lawmakers greenlight CPA bills

With the votes Thursday, the total number of states that have passed bills providing new routes to CPA licensure has risen to at least 22.

North Carolina’s CPA pathways bill sails through legislature

With North Carolina now onboard, at least 20 states have passed CPA pathways legislation aiming to solve the accounting shortage by adding new routes to licensure.

Updated June 26, 2025

Agentic AI deployment accelerates despite risks: KPMG

The uptick comes as Gartner predicts that more than 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by the end of 2027.

Labor market slows as jobless claims rise to highest level since 2021

The job market is “progressing solidly, although more slowly than before,” Mary Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, said.

Ulta Beauty controller tapped as interim CFO

Controller Chris Lialios will step in as interim CFO following Paula Oyibo's departure.

Stablecoins could bridge legacy finance-crypto gap, Bastion exec says

Ripple alum Vince Tejada sees “an explosion of adoption” for stablecoins — once the ongoing regulatory evolution settles into clear guidance.

PCAOB imposes smaller exam cheating fines, citing cooperation

The audit watchdog this week announced penalties totaling $8.5 million on three Netherlands firms. Last year, KPMG Netherlands alone was fined $25 million in connection with an exam cheating scandal.  

Fed on hold to see if tariff-induced inflation persists, Powell says

“A majority of my committee has said that they do expect to cut rates between now and the end of the year,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said.

Netflix taps Airbnb CFO Mertz for board

The Airbnb executive previously served in various finance roles at Netflix.

Ahold Delhaize USA taps Food Lion executive as CFO

Jason Wilson, formerly senior vice president of finance for the grocery chain, will focus on expanding Ahold Delhaize USA’s omnichannel operations in addition to overseeing its financial activities.

Powell affirms ‘wait-and-see’ rate policy, bucking Trump’s call for cuts

Since the Federal Reserve met last week, two policymakers have said they may favor a quarter-point reduction in the main interest rate at a July 29-30 meeting.