The Future of AP Fraud: What Every Finance Team Must Know in 2026

Accounts Payable fraud is no longer limited to fake invoices and suspicious emails.

In 2026, finance teams are facing a more advanced threat environment shaped by AI-driven impersonation, deepfake-enabled verification scams, business email compromise, vendor onboarding manipulation, and increasingly patient fraud tactics designed to exploit trust over time. At the same time, AP leaders have new opportunities to use automation and AI to detect anomalies, strengthen controls, and prevent fraudulent payments before funds leave the organization.

What You Get

• This session will give finance professionals a practical view of how AP fraud is evolving, where the greatest vulnerabilities now exist across the procure-to-pay cycle, and what modern controls are needed to reduce risk.
• Attendees will learn how fraudsters are using new technologies to bypass traditional safeguards, why long-standing verification methods are becoming less reliable, and how organizations can combine process discipline, human judgment, and AI-enabled monitoring to build a stronger defense.
• The session is designed to help AP professionals, managers, and finance leaders better understand emerging threats and leave with clear actions to improve fraud prevention in 2026.

Paul Zikmund
Chief Resiliency Officer, Berkadia

Paul is responsible for managing the company’s enterprise risk management program, ethics & compliance, internal audit function, information security, data privacy, and corporate investigations. Prior to his role at Berkadia, Paul served as a Director of Baker Tilly’s Global Fraud and Forensic Investigations, Compliance and Security Services practice where he was responsible for helping clients develop, assess and administer ethics and compliance programs, conduct global and cross-border fraud and misconduct investigations, including, bribery, corruption and compliance matters and manage risks related to ethics and compliance failures. Prior to that, Paul served as Deputy CCO & Vice President Global Security, Bunge in White Plains, NY where he was responsible for development and implementation of Bunge’s fraud, ethics, compliance and security risk management programs and controls designed to protect company assets, mitigate fraud and misconduct, ensure compliance with federal and state laws, protect company assets, and promote adherence to Bunge’s core values.

Paul managed and conducted investigations of compliance matters, fraud and ethics violations. Paul assisted with the development and implementation of tools and techniques to mitigate enterprise security, fraud & compliance risk, manages the company’s third party risk management program, and administers security, compliance training and awareness programs. Prior to joining Bunge, Paul worked as the Senior Director Forensic Audit at Tyco International in Princeton, NJ and the Director Litigation Support Services at Amper, Politziner, & Mattia, LLP, in Philadelphia, PA where he was responsible for developing, implementing, and administering fraud risk management services to Tyco and to clients. He possesses nearly 28 years of experience in this field and has effectively managed global compliance and forensic audit teams at various Fortune 500 companies.

Grace Berube
Senior Content Manager, IOFM

Grace is the Senior Content Manager at the Institute of Finance & Management (IOFM), where she has led content strategy and development since 2022. In this role, she oversees all aspects of IOFM’s digital and event-based content, ensuring it remains timely, relevant, and actionable for all financial operations professionals.

Grace manages IOFM’s robust library of site content, leads the organization’s editorial and member webinar programming, and hosts IOFM’s podcast series. She also oversees a team of subject matter experts who contribute thought leadership and educational articles. In addition, Grace curates and manages all speaker content for IOFM’s in-person and virtual events, ensuring consistency and quality across every touchpoint. With over three years in the role, Grace brings a deep understanding of the financial operations landscape and a passion for delivering content that empowers professionals to excel in their roles.