Gartner Finance Symposium/Xpo Sydney 2026: Day 1 Highlights

We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Finance Symposium/Xpo 2026, taking place this week in Sydney. Below is a collection of key announcements and insights coming out of the conference.

On Day 1 of the conference, we are highlighting sessions on how to win when AI is changing (and breaking) everything, trends in the finance technology market for 2026, and smarter funding models for AI investment and strategic growth.

Gartner Survey Reveals Acquiring and Developing AI and Digital Talent is CFOs’ Top Near-Term Challenge 

Presented by Clement Christensen, Sr. Director Analyst, and Tamara Shipley, VP Analyst at Gartner

In this session, Clement Christensen, VP Analyst, and Tamara Shipley, VP Analyst at Gartner, explained how the finance industry has reached an inflection point where industries will restack in the coming years. The winners will be those that best leverage new AI capabilities. 

• With a new technology like AI entering the economy, gains are asymmetrically distributed. As such, breakaway firms are positioning themselves for breakaway performance, while others may soon be left behind. 
• Invest for upside, not just efficiency: Breakaway firms focus AI investments on opportunities that drive new products, markets and revenue streams, not just cost savings. 
• Make knowledge machine-readable: Transforming expertise and processes into formats that AI can understand, such as knowledge graphs or engineered prompts, creates tangible, reusable assets. This approach ensures that critical knowledge is accessible to both people and machines, fueling future innovation.
• Use governance to accelerate, not just control: Effective AI governance acts as scaffolding, providing clear guidance and reusable frameworks that speed up safe adoption and innovation. 
• Architect a frictionless AI supply chain:  Breakaway firms systematically remove barriers in data management and decision-making processes, enabling AI to deliver value quickly and at scale. Upgrading data infrastructure and streamlining access ensures that both humans and machines can act on insights without unnecessary delays.
• Democratize technology skills: Breakaway firms target a high percentage of “digital talent,” ensuring that innovation is not limited to IT specialists but is an organization-wide capability.

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Rob van der Meulen at rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com

Presented by Nick Duffy, Sr. Director Analyst at Gartner

As the pace of innovation accelerates and the range of technology options expands, CFOs face unprecedented opportunities and new challenges in shaping the future of finance. In this session, Nick Duffy, Sr. Director Analyst at Gartner, identified the most impactful trends, helping finance leaders make more informed decisions that drive strategic value for the organization.

• CFOs continue to prioritize cloud ERP adoption and integration, as it enables scalable automation, embeds AI agents, and supports faster, data-driven decision-making across finance.
• Invest in intelligent automation and generative AI solutions to streamline routine tasks, enhance analytics, and shift finance teams toward higher-value advisory work.
• Deploy conversational AI tools like virtual assistants and chatbots, to automate routine inquiries, improve employee engagement, and provide real-time support for both finance and non-finance users.
• Shift investment toward accounts receivable and predictive analytics. Focus on AR solutions that leverage AI for cash flow forecasting and collections, while maintaining process efficiency in AP through automation and anomaly detection.
• Evaluate emerging technologies with a critical, value-driven lens. Continuously assess the adoption, value, and future investment potential of new tools, such as embedded AI and blockchain, to ensure your technology roadmap aligns with strategic priorities and delivers measurable results.

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Rob van der Meulen at rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com

Presented by Nisha Bhandare, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner

In this session, Nisha Bhandare, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner, shared actionable approaches to help finance leaders balance financial discipline with agility, ensuring AI investments drive strategic growth and competitive advantage.

• Move beyond traditional project-based funding: AI investments require flexible, adaptive funding models due to their unpredictable nature. 
• Tailor funding models to maturity and strategic value: Use value stream funding for mature, efficiency-driven projects; product-centric funding for evolving, high-potential AI products; and block funding for experimental, disruptive ideas. 
• Continuously monitor and adjust funding: CFOs should establish regular review cadences and pivot funding strategies based on performance signals. 
• Educate and align stakeholders on AI-specific funding frameworks: Socialize the importance of tailored funding models across the C-suite and ensure teams use the four decision criteria for every new AI funding request: 1) Strategic value 2) Implementation approach 3) Predictability of outcome 4) Cost volatility. 

Journalists can receive additional information and/or request an interview with the Gartner expert by contacting Rob van der Meulen at rob.vandermeulen@gartner.com