NextGen Finance AI Summit 2026 opens at Technopark
A two-day summit on how artificial intelligence is changing finance and accounting kicked off at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. The event brings together finance leaders, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss concrete ways AI can improve reporting, controls, and decision-making.
The summit is organised by the Professional Development & CPE Committee of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) with Technopark, the Southern India Regional Council (SIRC) of ICMAI, and the Thiruvananthapuram Chapter.
Why it matters for finance teams
Inaugurating the summit, N K Premachandran, MP, called out the shift in finance from manual processing to strategic intelligence. "There is a clear transition in finance from routine processing to strategic insight powered by technology. Professionals must therefore become more competent, both technologically and ethically," he said.
Citing a report by the McKinsey Global Institute, he noted that by 2030 nearly 25% of existing jobs in India could be affected by AI. His point was clear: use AI to reduce repetitive work, limit displacement, and create new, higher-value roles in analysis, planning, and risk.
Key sessions and themes
- Day 1: Next Gen Finance Automation with Google Apps Script; VBA Automation and Vibe Coding; plus a robotic show highlighting practical workflow automation.
- Day 2: Transforming financial reporting with automation and risk analysis; the digital twin model of costing; hands-on demos and expert-led sessions focused on implementation.
Voices from the stage
Presiding over the inaugural, Srinivasa Prasad, president of ICMAI, called the summit the first of its kind in Kerala and an important milestone for the institute. He emphasized that AI-driven management goes beyond cost control to improving overall resource allocation across the enterprise.
Leaders present included Pranav Jayan, chairman of ICMAI Thiruvananthapuram Chapter, who welcomed participants; Suresh R Gunjalli, chairman of the Members in Industry & PSUs Committee of ICMAI; and regional council members Gomathisankar and Praveen Kumar.
What to focus on now
- Map finance workflows and flag repetitive tasks for automation (close activities, reconciliations, basic variance checks). Start with low-risk pilots using Apps Script or VBA.
- Tighten data governance and ethics. Define access controls, model approval steps, and audit trails before scaling any AI use case.
- Upskill teams on scenario modeling, risk scoring, and anomaly detection-these are the levers that move from "faster" to "smarter." Consider the AI Learning Path for Training & Development Managers to structure training and governance frameworks.
- Pilot a digital twin for costing on one product line or cost center. Use it to test pricing, input cost shocks, and capacity changes.
- Track a clear KPI set: reporting cycle time, reconciliation break rates, forecast accuracy, and working capital turns.
- Form small cross-functional squads (finance, IT, ops) to move prototypes into stable processes with proper controls.
Tools and training
If you're building your toolkit, explore practical options for finance-specific AI use cases and automation ideas: AI tools for Finance.
To get hands-on with scripting and automation (Apps Script, VBA) that power many of the summit demos, review available AI Coding Courses.
The summit sets a clear agenda: automate the busywork, elevate the analysis, and anchor it all with strong governance. Teams that do this well will close faster, forecast with more confidence, and direct capital where it counts.
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