28 Apr Association Accounting Leaders Talk AI, Accounting Systems and Advancing Talent
In partnership with DCA Live, Spectrum Careers recently brought together a group of association controllers and FP&A leaders for a candid conversation about the evolving demands of their roles.
A few key themes emerged from our discussion. As expected, AI was front and center.
Associations are struggling with AI investment decisions
Leaders are still determining how much to invest in AI-powered platforms, what tangible value AI will deliver to members, and how to balance risk with internal productivity gains. This uncertainty is also complicating multi-year planning as the technology is moving faster than traditional budgeting cycles.
Data and systems remain fragmented
Associations’ systems and data remain a challenge. Many teams are still working across fragmented platforms with limited integration, which creates manual workarounds, undermines data confidence, and prevents organizations from fully capturing the value of automation and AI.
AI adoption strategies vary
Approaches to AI implementation vary widely. Some associations are implementing enterprise-wide policies to establish guardrails, while others are engaging external advisors to accelerate their AI fluency and strategy.
Association accounting teams need to become more strategic
Leaders are focused on shifting teams beyond transactional execution toward a more strategic, business partner mindset. This requires not only new tools and better-integrated systems, but also more intentional coaching to help teams build critical thinking skills, communicate insights more effectively, and contribute to decision-making rather than just reporting results.
The most memorable line of the evening for leaders who haven’t yet embraced AI: “every employee is using AI, they’re just not telling you.”
From our conversation, it’s clear that association accounting and finance leaders are navigating a period of rapid change, where technology, talent, and expectations are all shifting at once.
The question is no longer whether AI will play a role, but how to guide its use in a way that creates value while managing risk. The path forward will require balancing experimentation with discipline as leaders modernize systems, adopt AI, and redefine the role of their functions.
If you’re an association accounting or finance leader interested in joining one of our future Roundtables, please contact Lauren Hough-Flickinger to learn more.