Leadership
FASB Decides Not to Proceed with Accounting Standards Amendment for Airline Settlement Payments
FASB voted on Wednesday (March 25) not to amend the current generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) guidance regarding settlement payments received by airlines from aircraft manufacturers. The decision was made after staff did not recommend adding the project, with some board members expressing dissenting views.
The Trade Desk Board Restructuring: CFO Departure Triggers Series of Personnel Changes
Ad tech company The Trade Desk experienced major board changes this week: former CFO Alexander Kayyal resigned as a director on March 19, following the abrupt termination of his five-month CFO tenure in January; Reddit CFO Andrew Vollero joined the board and audit committee, succeeding Gokul Rajaram, who is set to leave on April 3; director Kathryn Falberg resigned on March 23, leaving the company temporarily non-compliant with certain Nasdaq listing rules.
FTC reaches settlement with AI startup accused of misleading customers
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Tuesday a settlement with artificial intelligence startup Air AI and its owners, prohibiting them from marketing or selling business opportunities. The FTC accused the company of misleading entrepreneurs and small businesses through false growth promises, profit expectations, and refund guarantees, defrauding approximately $19 million in total. The settlement order includes an $18 million fine, but most of it was suspended due to inability to pay, with an actual payment of $50,000 for consumer relief.
FASB Rejects Accounting Standards Revision Project Related to Trump Civil Fraud Case
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on Wednesday rejected a potential revision project related to standards for preparing personal financial statements. The request was made in 2022 by Brooklyn College professor Daniel Tinkelman, stemming from differences in interpretation of the standards exposed in the Trump civil fraud case. FASB staff stated that most stakeholders considered the issue to be of low priority and that existing guidance already provides solutions. Tinkelman expressed disappointment with the decision.
OpenAI CFO: $120 Billion Funding Round in Sight, IPO Rumors Swirl
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar said in a CNBC interview that the company is close to completing a $120 billion funding round, $10 billion more than the $110 billion announced in February. The round has attracted new investors such as T. Rowe Price and D.E. Shaw Ventures. Meanwhile, reports about the company preparing for an IPO continue to heat up.
Robinhood CFO receives $18 million restricted stock promotion award, annual salary raised to $600,000
A securities filing by Robinhood on Tuesday showed that CFO Shiv Verma received an $18 million restricted stock promotion award, with his annual salary raised to $600,000 and his target bonus percentage increased to 75%. The company also announced a $1.5 billion share buyback program to address pressure from a 36% decline in its stock price this year.
Report: Nearly One-Third of Finance Roles Now Require AI Skills, Up Significantly from a Year Ago
A report released Tuesday by finance software provider Datarails found that nearly one-third of corporate finance job postings explicitly mention artificial intelligence or machine learning skills, up from one-quarter a year ago. The study analyzed 5,000 finance job postings published between January 2025 and January 2026, covering roles such as CFO, FP&A, finance director, and accountant.
Mastercard bets on AI virtual CFO to fill the financial function gap for small businesses
Mastercard announced it will launch a "virtual CFO" tool within the year as the first capability in its "virtual executive team" series, targeting small businesses without a dedicated CFO. The tool aims to provide core functions such as cash flow forecasting and payment insights through AI agents, and will be embedded in partner ecosystems including financial institutions and accounting platforms. Mark Barnett, Mastercard's global head of small and medium enterprises, emphasized that the tool enhances rather than replaces human leadership, and plans to ensure insight accuracy through phased deployment and a combination of user data and network intelligence.
AI Becomes Finance's 'Painkiller': Tabs Co-Founder on New Perspectives in CFO Technology Applications
Tabs CEO Ali Hussain states that CFOs' attitude toward AI has shifted from early trials to strategic application, with an emphasis on addressing practical pain points under scaling, talent shortages, and cost-reduction pressures. He predicts that 2026 will be a critical turning point for AI in finance, with technology applications focusing more on user trust and value creation.
FASB Accounting Support Fee Decreases 11%
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) total accounting support fee for 2026 decreased 11% from 2025, to approximately $29.2 million (based on $32.8 million in 2025). The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) accounting support fee decreased 9% year-over-year. Fee invoices will be mailed in late April or early May.