So says consultant Vijay Batavia in a Q&A that explores the transformation coming for investment intelligence and operating models.
(Industry consultant Vijay Batavia, CFA, CPA CFO Squad, says he foresees a once-in-a-generation transformation coming for investment intelligence and operating models. For instance, agentic A.I. in conjunction with frontier technology leaders such as OpenAI and integrated with financial data and systems from S&P Global, Moody’s, Bloomberg, the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and advanced private asset and valuation platforms represents a convergence of intelligent automation, real-time data integration, and natural language interaction. This will redefine the creation of insights, the evaluation of risk, and capital allocation. At the same time, he says traditional roles will give way to highly specialized, high-impact positions supported by intelligent agents. CFO and investment teams will become digitally native, insight-driven centers of excellence, he notes.)
Professional Background/Expertise
Q: What is your dream project?
A: A long-term, high-impact initiative to deploy agentic and generative A.I. across enterprise data platforms, securely integrating internal and external data sources (such as S&P, Moody’s, ICE, Markit, and others) within a strong governance and security-controlled framework.
The goal is to enable intelligent A.I. agents that provide real-time, on-demand analytics and insights through natural language interactions, significantly strengthening decision-making, risk management, and performance monitoring across the organization.
Session Insights
Q: What inspired you to participate in PMCR 2026 and join the PMCR sessions on “Analytics Unleashed: From Risk Metrics to Predictive Intelligence,” and “Global Reporting Excellence: Tackling Multi-Currency & Cross-Border Challenges?”
A: For the “Analytics Unleashed” session, the evolution of the CFO [chief financial officer] function — powered by advanced data analytics and emerging technologies such as agentic A.I. and generative A.I. — is fundamentally reshaping the future of finance and analytics operations.
These innovations are enabling CFO organizations to move beyond traditional, historical reporting toward forward-looking, insight-driven decision support fueled by real-time data. I have led scalable transformation initiatives in prior roles and would welcome the opportunity to share practical lessons learned, fostering an interactive dialogue around actionable A.I. use cases within the finance and data analytics ecosystem.
For the “Global Reporting Excellence” session, global reporting has also undergone significant transformation. Advances in technology have redefined reporting models, while CFO operating structures have become increasingly global due to business expansion, shared services, and cross-border outsourcing. This evolution demands highly coordinated, technology-enabled operating models that ensure consistency, transparency, and timeliness of reporting across regions and regulatory environments.
At the same time, heightened trade tariffs, geopolitical tensions, global economic uncertainty, structural shifts in capital markets, persistent inflation, and a higher-for-longer interest rate environment have introduced unprecedented complexity. These forces have elevated the role of accounting and reporting teams in delivering timely, decision-ready KPIs [key performance indicators] and KRIs [key risk indicators] on foreign exposure, risk, and performance.
For example, the U.S. dollar declined by more than 10 percent against major global currencies in the first half of 2025 — illustrating the magnitude and speed of today’s macroeconomic shifts. In this volatile and increasingly agile operating landscape, finance organizations must provide clarity, agility, and strategic insight with confidence.
Q: What do you think makes “Analytics Unleashed: From Risk Metrics to Predictive Intelligence” and “Global Reporting Excellence: Tackling Multi-Currency & Cross-Border Challenges” especially relevant for today’s investment operations landscape?
A: We are at a pivotal moment in history for finance, analytics, and cross-border currency dynamics, driven by profound structural changes and emerging global trends.
Technology: Advances in agentic and generative A.I., coupled with expanding computational power capable of processing massive datasets, are fundamentally transforming how insights are generated and decisions are made. At the same time, an increasingly interconnected digital economy — driven by social media, digital platforms, and the gig economy — has reshaped labor markets, capital flows, and consumer behavior at an unprecedented pace.
Capital Markets: The sustained growth of index investing and recent years of strong passive investment returns have materially altered market dynamics and asset allocation frameworks. In a parallel way, private credit has emerged as a significant disruptor to traditional banking models, reshaping how capital is structured, sourced, and deployed across industries.
International Landscape: These financial developments are unfolding alongside significant geopolitical realignments. Long-standing post-World War II economic and trade frameworks are being tested by shifting alliances, trade tensions, and evolving regional power structures.
U.S. Macro/Social Factors: Persistent inflation, rapid automation, and accelerating technological innovation are reshaping the economic landscape and carrying significant societal implications — particularly for employment opportunities among recent graduates. These forces require policymakers, institutions, and corporate leaders to rethink workforce strategy, economic inclusion, and long-term competitiveness.
At the same time, the increasing acquisition of small and mid-sized businesses by private equity (PE) and corporations has altered traditional entrepreneurial pathways, creating higher barriers to entry for first-time founders. This consolidation trend is also contributing to shifts in labor dynamics and housing affordability, with broader implications for employees and renters across the country.
Collectively, these forces underscore the imperative for agile, technology-enabled analytics, forward-looking risk management, and adaptive leadership to navigate an increasingly complex, rapidly evolving global environment.
Industry Challenges & Trends
Q: What’s one of the biggest challenges teams or clients are facing right now?
A: One of the most critical challenges organizations face is establishing high-quality, consistent data across disparate systems while building an enterprise-wide architecture that is AI-ready — particularly within investment management and corporate finance functions.
Fragmented platforms, inconsistent data definitions, and uneven governance standards must be addressed to ensure reliable analytics, scalable automation, and the effective deployment of agentic and generative A.I. solutions.
Q: How do you foresee technology (A.I., blockchains, digital assets, automation, data analytics, and so forth) reshaping your area of expertise over the next year or two? Any major shifts you are preparing for?
A: Agentic AI —powered through strategic collaboration with frontier technology leaders such as OpenAI and integrated with premier financial data ecosystems including S&P Global, Moody’s, Bloomberg, the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and advanced private asset and valuation platforms — represents a once-in-a-generation transformation of investment intelligence and operating models.
This convergence of intelligent automation, real-time data integration, and natural language interaction will redefine how insights are generated, risks are evaluated, and capital is allocated.
As Satya Nadella has suggested, AI’s impact may exceed that of the Internet revolution itself. We are entering an era where finance organizations evolve from processors of historical information to orchestrators of intelligent, predictive ecosystems.
CFO and investment teams will be reimagined as digitally native, insight-driven centers of excellence — blending deep financial judgment with advanced data science, automation, and technology fluency.
Traditional roles will give way to highly specialized, high-impact positions supported by intelligent agents, resulting in leaner, more strategic organizations capable of operating with unprecedented speed, precision, and foresight.
Q: Which technology has impressed you? Which technology has disappointed you?
A: Agentic and generative A.I. have been truly transformative, exceeding expectations. While current use cases are still in their early stages, the trajectory is similar to the evolution of mobile applications a decade ago — what began as limited functionality quickly scaled, proliferated, and ultimately reshaped how we do business. A.I. is following a comparable path and is poised to become pervasive across the economy and life in general.
In contrast, distributed ledger technology (DLT) demonstrated significant promise but, at least in the context of the conference, has yet to fully materialize into widespread, practical applications.
The PMCR Experience
Q: What are you most excited about learning at PMCR?
A: The speaker lineup and conference agenda are truly exceptional, covering a comprehensive range of timely topics and industry trend-setting themes. With such a diverse and distinguished group of speakers, the event promises to be a highly rewarding and enriching learning experience for all participants.
Q: What do you hope attendees will walk away with after hearing your session?
A: I hope they will have gained valuable insight into how technology and finance are reshaping corporate environments and everyday life, along with forward-looking perspectives on the trajectory and emerging use cases of agentic A.I.
Getting to Know You
Q: What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: As a child, I aspired to become an astronaut.
Over the years, I have lived in four different countries, and today, each member of my family holds a different passport — an experience that has shaped a truly global perspective.
Q: What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received (or would share)?
A: Find something you are passionate about (meaningful work), stay focused, and develop deep expertise.
While the gig economy and social media have reshaped the career landscape, a truly fulfilling career is one that, when you look back at retirement, reflects purpose, growth, and lasting impact.