Core Insights - Technology is significantly transforming the finance sector, leading to a redefinition of the "finance professional" role as organizations adapt to new tools and evolving needs [1] Talent and Skills Development - A Deloitte survey of 1,326 finance leaders revealed that nearly two-thirds plan to enhance technical skills within their teams by fiscal year 2026 [1] - The finance sector is facing a talent shortage, with a 27% decline in CPA exam candidates over the past decade and a decrease in accounting graduates [3] - Approximately 75% of accounting professionals are nearing retirement, creating further challenges in workforce sustainability [3] Technical Skills Prioritization - 64% of surveyed finance leaders identified technical skills, particularly AI/automation and data analysis/technology integration, as top development priorities [4] - Core business skills such as strategic decision-making and regulatory compliance are considered lower priorities for development [5] Talent Acquisition Strategies - To address talent shortages, 35% of finance departments are considering candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, while 28% are insourcing talent from other departments [5] AI Adoption and Value Realization - While 64% of finance leaders report full deployment of AI, only 21% are experiencing clear, measurable value from these investments [6] - Many organizations are struggling to leverage AI effectively due to legacy infrastructure issues [7]

Core Insights - The 2025 holiday season is expected to be divided into two distinct segments, influenced by varying consumer spending behaviors based on income levels [1] Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Higher-income individuals are likely to have a decent holiday season, with average salaries rising between 4.5% and 6.7% depending on job stability [2] - The top 10% of earners account for 50% of consumer spending, while the remaining 90% are expected to spend less due to high credit card debt and economic uncertainty [5][6] - Retail sales growth is projected at 4% for the holiday season, but much of this increase will be due to inflation rather than volume, leading to relatively flat real spending [7] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Deloitte forecasts holiday retail sales growth between 2.9% and 3.4%, significantly lower than last year's 4.2% and the 10-year average of 5.2% [8] - The economic landscape is characterized by high inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty, impacting consumer confidence and spending [8][9] Group 3: Impact on Small Businesses - Small businesses, which rely heavily on holiday sales for revenue, may face challenges unless they cater to affluent demographics or are located in wealthier areas [10][11] - The disparity in consumer behavior suggests that while some businesses may thrive, others will struggle due to reduced spending from lower-income consumers [9][11]

Core Insights - CES is returning to Las Vegas in January to highlight the transition of AI from novelty features to a fundamental aspect of various product categories [1] Group 1: Company Presentations - LG and Samsung will present their vision for future homes [2] - Lenovo will host an immersive keynote at The Sphere [2] - Sony Honda Mobility will showcase its next-generation electric vehicle, Afeela [2] - Waymo and Zoox will demonstrate their plans for robotaxis [2] Group 2: Keynote Sessions and Discussions - A session titled "The Future is Airborne" will feature discussions on delivery drones and advanced air mobility with industry leaders [3][4] - Various sessions will cover topics such as AI in cinematic creativity, transforming industries with physical AI, and the future of autonomous vehicles [6][7][9][10][11] Group 3: Event Schedule Highlights - Media Day 1 includes sessions on tech trends and an unveiling event [6] - Media Day 2 features keynotes from AMD and discussions on software-defined vehicles [7] - The event will also include a series of panels on AI applications in healthcare, consumer behavior, and robotics [9][10][11]

Core Viewpoint - The U.K. government is proposing a new tax framework for decentralized finance (DeFi) that could alleviate tax burdens for users by adopting a "no gain, no loss" (NGNL) approach to crypto lending and liquidity pool arrangements [1][4]. Tax Framework Changes - The current tax system treats deposits in DeFi protocols as disposals, triggering capital gains tax even if no actual economic gain has occurred [2]. - The proposed NGNL approach would defer capital gains tax until a true economic disposal occurs, meaning users would not be taxed at the point of deposit [3][4]. Industry Reactions - Stani Kulechov, CEO of Aave, expressed support for the new approach, highlighting it as a significant win for U.K. DeFi users and emphasizing the need for these changes to be reflected in tax legislation [4]. - The proposal aims to align tax rules with the operational realities of DeFi, reducing administrative burdens and improving tax outcomes [4]. Consultation Process - The government is still refining the model, consulting with tax professionals and DeFi developers, having received 32 formal responses from industry players like Aave, Binance, Deloitte, and CryptoUK, most of whom support the NGNL shift [6]. - Concerns were raised about alternative models that could complicate the tax process for retail users, emphasizing the need for clear definitions and consistency with other jurisdictions [7]. Remaining Taxable Events - Despite the proposed changes, using DeFi in the U.K. will still involve taxable events, such as purchasing ether (ETH) and converting it to wrapped ether (WETH), which will still incur taxes upon liquidation of gains [8].

Core Insights - Coveo has announced a collaboration with Deloitte Canada to modernize digital experience stacks for enterprises, focusing on relevance, speed, and scalability [1][2] - The partnership combines Deloitte's industry expertise with Coveo's AI search platform to enable organizations to deploy intelligent and context-aware experiences more effectively [2][3] Collaboration Benefits - The collaboration aims to help enterprises meet rising customer expectations by providing AI experiences that are secure, scalable, and connected throughout the customer journey [3][4] - Key benefits include the acceleration of AI adoption and the simplification of the innovation process for enterprises across various industries [4] Market Context - Enterprises are under pressure to enhance their digital touchpoints, and the collaboration is positioned to address this demand by offering modern AI-powered solutions [4] - Coveo emphasizes the importance of relevance in digital experiences, advocating for a shift from a persona-based approach to a more personalized, context-driven strategy [6] Technical Aspects - The collaboration promotes a composable architecture designed for agility and growth, ensuring real-time contextual relevance at every interaction [9]

Core Points - The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is considering a formal investigation into PwC's audit work for WHSmith due to accounting errors identified in the retailer's US operations [1][2] - WHSmith has relied on PwC as its auditor since 2015, and Deloitte's independent review found that revenues were overstated across multiple years [1][3] - Following the disclosure of these errors, WHSmith's market value decreased by nearly £600 million, and the group chief executive Carl Cowling stepped down [3] Investigation Details - The errors were raised by a finance team member in August, leading PwC to refer WHSmith's public announcement to the FRC [2] - A final decision on whether to proceed with a formal inquiry into PwC's audits has not yet been made [2] Audit Findings - Deloitte's review indicated that a target-driven performance culture in North America and limited oversight of finance processes contributed to the accounting issues [4] - Deloitte found that income was recorded prematurely when agreements were made, rather than spreading recognition over time, resulting in inflated profits [5] Financial Impact - Deloitte determined that the accounting issues would have a greater impact on reported profits than previously expected, prompting WHSmith to restate its full-year 2023 and 2024 earnings [6] - The trading profit forecast for WHSmith's US business was revised downwards to £5 million–£15 million for 2025, compared to £25 million announced in August [6]

Core Insights - Appian announced the winners of the 2025 Appian Government Partner Impact and Excellence Awards, recognizing partners for their contributions to public sector innovation and process automation [1][2]. Group 1: Award Winners - **Transformation Award**: Groundswell Consulting Group modernized supervisory processes for a federal financial regulatory agency, re-engineering over 200 business processes across 18 systems with the Supervision360 program, which reduced the initial release timeline from 15 to 8 months [2]. - **Delivery Award**: Deloitte has collaborated with public sector clients for over a decade, delivering hundreds of production applications that support millions of user logins and tens of thousands of workflows, enhancing operational continuity and efficiency [3]. - **Innovation Award**: Accenture Federal Services introduced the Appian Agility Layer, which integrates workflows across legacy ERP systems for defense organizations, and developed solutions for contested logistics, improving decision-making and operational efficiency [4]. - **Growth Award**: Ignyte Group achieved a 1,600% year-over-year increase in sourced net-new software annual contract value (ACV) in 2025, supported by a 450% surge in approved deal registrations [5]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - Appian emphasizes the role of its partners in advancing secure, AI-powered modernization across government, highlighting their commitment to improving data unification and process efficiency [6][7]. - The focus on embedding intelligence in workflows and ensuring system interoperability is seen as crucial for driving meaningful transformation in government institutions [6][7].

Core Insights - The semiconductor industry is undergoing rapid innovation, with unprecedented demand and complexity, prompting PDF Solutions to provide advanced data and AI solutions to enhance operational effectiveness across the supply chain [2][11]. Event Overview - PDF Solutions will host its Users Conference and Analyst Day on December 3rd and 4th, 2025, in Santa Clara, CA, focusing on the semiconductor industry's transformation [1][2]. - The conference will feature presentations from major industry players such as Qualcomm, Intel, and GlobalFoundries, providing a platform for sharing insights and fostering industry relationships [4][11]. Conference Themes - The conference will address three key themes: the need for scalable solutions for cross-industry collaboration, the transformative role of AI in the semiconductor supply chain, and the importance of connectivity, security, and trust through a neutral industry platform [8]. Agenda Highlights - The agenda includes a morning plenary session, financial analysts session, and various presentations on topics such as AI strategies, manufacturing data analytics, and digital transformation in semiconductor manufacturing [5][6][10]. - Keynote speakers include Mike Campbell from Qualcomm and Aziz Safa from Intel, along with presentations on eBeam solutions and AI model operations [9]. Company Background - PDF Solutions, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, provides comprehensive data solutions aimed at improving yield and operational efficiency in the semiconductor and electronics industry [11][12].

TurboTax maker Intuit has launched a partnership with artificial intelligence (AI) startup OpenAI.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The collaboration, announced Tuesday (Nov. 18), will let users of Op ...

Core Insights - 21shares has launched the 21shares Canton Network ETP (CANTN), providing investors with exposure to the Canton Coin, the native token of the Canton Network, which is supported by major financial institutions like J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs [1][4][5] - The Canton Network is designed as a privacy-enabled, interoperable blockchain for institutional finance, facilitating secure connections between previously siloed financial systems [2][8] - The launch of the Canton Network ETP aligns with 21shares' mission to make blockchain innovation accessible to investors through regulated products [3][5] Company Overview - 21shares is one of the largest issuers of crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) globally, with over 50 ETPs listed in Europe and approximately $10 billion in assets under management [5][6] - The company aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance, having launched the world's first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018 [7] - 21shares is a subsidiary of FalconX, a leading digital asset prime broker [8] Industry Context - The Canton Network represents a significant effort to integrate traditional finance with blockchain technology, enhancing financial interoperability [4][5] - The network allows institutions to synchronize financial transactions across various platforms while ensuring compliance and privacy [2][5] - The introduction of the Canton Network ETP is expected to accelerate institutional adoption of blockchain technology in financial markets [5][8]