Finance now 'the coolest room in the house', CFO says

In conversation with Accounting Times, Nexist CFO Neha Malhotra – who last year won the Management Accountant of the Year category at the Corporate Accountant Awards – says that the “big three” challenges for in-house professionals in the new financial year will be geopolitical and economic curveballs, evolving ESG regulations, and trying to keep up with AI “without losing our minds”.

“The best way to tackle this is to ditch the traditional, rigid forecasting. If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that we need financial models built for agility, less like concrete pillars, and more like Excel gymnastics,” Malhotra said.

In the face of such challenges, she said, best practice will be defined by predictive partnering.

“It’s no longer enough to look at last month’s numbers and explain why the ship hit the iceberg,” she said. “Best practice means using real-time data and automated compliance to act as the radar, shouting about the iceberg before the captain steers into it.”

To this end, Malhotra continued, there are real opportunities for corporate accountants given what she called the ‘AI Renaissance’.

“With automation taking over the mind-numbing data entry, we finally have the time to do the actual brainwork,” she said. “We grasp this by leaning heavily into strategic storytelling. The numbers are just characters; our opportunity is to write the script that drives the business forward (and ensure it has a happy ending).”

“We aren't the department of ‘No’ anymore; we are the department of ‘Here’s how’.”

“Watching corporate accountants step up as central strategic advisers armed with data and driving sustainability is incredibly energising. Finance has officially become the coolest room in the house,” she said.

With this in mind, Malhotra said, it is imperative for corporate accountants to put themselves forward for recognition.

“If we don't celebrate our own wins, nobody else will!”

“In-house teams are the unsung heroes who keep the lights on and the margins healthy, usually entirely behind the scenes. Nominating yourself or your team isn't bragging; it’s a public service announcement to the rest of the business world that finance isn't just a cost centre, we are a powerhouse,” she said.

Winning the Management Accountant of the Year category in 2025, she said was an incredible honour and validation of her team's work.

“It wasn't just a personal milestone, but proof that our team's ability to turn complex data into business strategy is working. Plus, it finally convinced my family that my job involves a bit more than just staring at Excel spreadsheets all day,” she said.

Australia's in-house finance professionals play a critical role in helping organisations navigate complexity, drive performance and deliver long-term growth. The Corporate Accountant Awards 2026 recognise the individuals and teams whose expertise, leadership, and commercial impact are helping shape the future of corporate finance.

For professionals looking to benchmark their achievements against the nation's best, the awards offer an opportunity to gain recognition on a national stage among peers, industry leaders and the broader business community. Those who aren't eligible to enter themselves can still help recognise excellence by nominating a colleague, leader or finance team whose contributions deserve to be celebrated. A nomination is often the catalyst that encourages high-performing professionals to share their story and receive the recognition they've earned.

Submissions for the Corporate Accountant Awards 2026 are now open and will close on Friday, 31 July at 5:30pm AEST. To submit an entry or nominate a deserving colleague, click here.