Finance leaders in Houston came together this January for a collaborative CFO roundtable on “Agentic AI in Finance & Accounting: Reshaping How Teams Work,” and the session stood out for both the quality of discussion and the strength of collaboration in the room.

Hosted in partnership with First Water Finance at Capone’s Oven & Bar, the evening brought together CFOs, finance leaders, and transformation-focused professionals for a peer-led conversation on how agentic AI is changing the way finance teams operate.

A Strong Collaborative Format

What made the Houston session distinct was the collaborative dynamic.

With contributions from Benjamin Lehrer and Niyati Chhaya, the discussion blended real-world experience with forward-looking perspectives on how AI is being adopted across finance organizations.

The setting encouraged open dialogue, allowing leaders to share insights, challenge assumptions, and build on each other’s experiences in a way that felt natural and productive.

Key Themes from the Room

The conversation centered on how agentic AI is moving from concept to real impact across finance teams:

Workflows are being redefined
Leaders explored how AI is reshaping day-to-day finance processes, reducing manual effort and enabling more streamlined operations.

Productivity gains are becoming measurable
There was strong alignment around the tangible impact AI can have on team efficiency, turnaround times, and operational capacity.

Implementation requires practical discipline
Beyond the opportunity, the discussion focused on what it takes to successfully implement AI, from governance and integration to team readiness and adoption.

Beyond Discussion: Real Peer Exchange

What stood out throughout the evening was the level of engagement.

This wasn’t a passive session. It was a room full of finance leaders:

• Sharing real experiences

• Comparing approaches

• Asking practical questions about adoption and execution

The networking that followed carried the same energy, with conversations continuing over dinner in a more informal setting.

The Value of Partnership

The collaboration with First Water Finance added an important dimension to the event.

Bringing together different perspectives helped deepen the conversation and ensured the discussion stayed grounded in both strategic thinking and real-world application.

Closing

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us in Houston and contributed to such an engaging and collaborative discussion.

Events like this highlight the value of bringing finance leaders together in smaller, focused settings to exchange ideas and move beyond surface-level conversations.

We look forward to continuing these collaborations and conversations across more cities.