The programme will be led by Mark Koziel, Chief Executive Officer of AICPA and CIMA, who will deliver keynote addresses across all three days. He will be joined by senior leadership including Tom Hood, Executive Vice President for Business Engagement and Growth, and Venkkat Ramanan, Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific. The gathering is designed to facilitate critical discussions on governance frameworks, capital allocation strategies, regulatory developments, and emerging skill requirements necessary for the profession to remain relevant and forward-looking.
Highlighting the importance of India’s role, Koziel stated that the country stands at a crucial juncture where finance leaders are expected to interpret complex challenges with precision and act decisively. He emphasized that the Bengaluru engagement aims to foster candid exchanges on risk oversight, performance measurement, and the integration of emerging technologies in accounting practices. According to him, the initiative seeks to strengthen professional capabilities to address evolving business and client expectations.
Venkkat Ramanan underscored the ambition among finance professionals in India to lead rather than follow global trends. He noted that AICPA and CIMA are committed to equipping members with the relevant competencies required in a rapidly transforming environment, adding that the upcoming sessions will further accelerate this momentum.
The Bengaluru convening forms part of the broader RISE2040 initiative, a long-term global programme focused on shaping the future of the accounting profession over the next 15 years. The initiative builds on earlier efforts such as the CPA Vision Project and Horizons 2025, aiming to enhance the profession’s contribution to strategic decision-making and sustainable value creation.
The event will commence on May 12 with the CFO Summit, a closed-door session involving approximately 50 senior finance leaders. Structured as a research-driven programme, the summit will focus on generating actionable outcomes related to governance models and performance metrics. Koziel will open the session with a keynote outlining the transition from traditional financial measurement to decision intelligence. Discussions will address anticipatory finance, data governance frameworks, capital management during technological transitions, sustainability-linked financial metrics, and the expanding scope of fiduciary responsibility, including ethical and regulatory considerations surrounding artificial intelligence. The day will conclude with a curated networking dinner.
On May 13, the RISE2040 Conference will serve as the flagship event, bringing together members, employers, and public accounting leaders for a comprehensive dialogue on the profession’s future trajectory. The conference will feature a keynote address by Koziel and recognition of leading employers contributing to finance talent development in India. Key sessions will explore the impact of artificial intelligence on finance roles and decision-making processes, the growth and transformation of the Global Capability Centre ecosystem, and developments in auditing, accounting, and taxation from a United States and India perspective. The agenda will also cover advocacy priorities and long-term capability building within the profession.
The final day, May 14, will host the Major Firms Group Partner Council Meeting, a focused engagement with strategic partners. The session will include a keynote by Koziel and facilitated discussions aimed at aligning priorities, strengthening collaboration, and advancing shared objectives. The day will also feature media interactions, leadership briefings, and meetings with accounting firms and employers as part of the broader India engagement.
The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, established in 2017, represents one of the largest professional bodies in the accounting and finance sector, with a global network exceeding 580,000 members, candidates, and registrants across more than 150 countries and territories. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is recognized as the world’s largest member association for the Certified Public Accountant profession, responsible for setting ethical and auditing standards in the United States and administering the Uniform CPA Examination. The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is the leading global body for management accountants, working closely with employers to develop skills essential for leadership and strategic decision-making.
The Bengaluru summit underscores India’s growing influence in the global financial ecosystem and highlights the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking leadership in shaping the future of the accounting profession.
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