Looking Back on 2025 and Ahead to 2026: Chapter Insights and Priorities

As we close out 2025 and look toward the year ahead, IOFM Chapter leaders are reflecting on what resonated most with members and what challenges lie on the horizon for financial operations professionals. 

What Worked in 2025 

Looking for new chapter meeting topics for 2026? Here's what worked best in 2025. 

A quarterly session dubbed "Excel Demo Day" had the second highest attendance of any meeting. Debra Richardson noted that "Excel isn't going anywhere... using AI in Excel to make preparing reports and data analysis in spreadsheets easier, by using a tool like Copilot [is a no-brainer] since it is part of the Microsoft family and purports to keep sensitive data private." 

Another well-attended session focused on the impact of US tariffs, which included a five-page handout of FAQs for AP and AR in addition to links on tariff content from IOFM.com. The topic proved timely as new tariffs continue to create challenges for financial operations teams. 

Tax compliance remained a perennial favorite. The Central Atlantic Region's Q4 roundtable on 1099 and 1042 questions drew strong engagement, with members particularly concerned about reporting threshold changes and the requirement to file 1042 forms via MEF. The California chapter's deep dive into 1099 best practices covered everything from vendor deactivation protocols to avoiding IRS penalties for erroneous forms. 

Fraud prevention also topped the list of high-interest topics. The Northwestern Region's Q4 meeting addressed the escalating sophistication of AP fraud schemes, with member case studies and a roundtable discussion that allowed attendees to share their experiences and strategies. 

Regional Challenges Taking Center Stage 

State-specific tax laws emerged as a significant concern in 2025. Arecka Mather, president of the Northwestern Region chapter, noted that Washington state's new tax laws are "causing a stir" alongside the new tariffs that have gone into effect. "Our first chapter meeting was all about the WA tax laws that I can say from experience, are extremely challenging," she shared. 

The Skills Gap for 2026 

When asked what skills financial operations professionals will need more of in 2026, chapter leaders pointed to competencies that go beyond technical expertise: leadership, change management, and maintaining team morale during periods of constant transition. 

"For years the AP space had no change really," Mather observed. "Since COVID we have been changing almost daily for everything we do and how we do it. At the fall conference, I heard the same thing from attendees: when is the change going to stop? Or when is the workload going to lessen?" 

This sentiment reflects a broader reality facing the profession—the pace of change shows no signs of slowing, making adaptability and resilience essential skills for the year ahead. 

Building Collaborative Communities 

Despite these challenges, chapters reported success in creating environments where members feel comfortable speaking up and asking questions. Mather shared that her chapter has focused on making meetings collaborative spaces. "We definitely try to have chapter meetings where our chapter members feel comfortable speaking or asking questions. This has worked great so we will most likely keep working on that." 

This collaborative approach will remain a priority in 2026 as professionals navigate ongoing changes in technology, compliance, and operations. 

Whether your chapter is tackling fraud prevention, mastering new tax requirements, or helping members adapt to AI tools, the lessons from 2025 point to a clear theme: collaboration, practical skill-building, and staying ahead of regulatory changes will be key to success in the year ahead. 

If you need ideas or speakers for chapter meetings, please reach out to IOFM’s senior content managers: Jess Scheer ([email protected]) and Grace Berube ([email protected]).