The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMA International) is set to organize an online workshop series titled “AI Super Users Virtual Office Hours 2026,” with the first session focusing on strategic thinking for Chief Financial Officers using Claude Cowork. Organized by the ICMA USA Branch Council and National CPD Committee, the session is designed to explore how finance professionals can use artificial intelligence to move beyond traditional financial reporting and apply AI tools to strategic business decision-making. The first workshop, titled “Strategic Thinking as CFO with Claude Cowork | From Scorekeeper to Strategy Architect,” will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 9:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time. The program is part of a wider series aimed at helping professionals understand practical applications of AI in finance and incorporate technology into financial and strategic workflows.
The session will be led by Dr. Imran Bhatti, FCMA, FCMA, FCPA, CFM, PhD, CMA, and Chairman of the ICMA USA Branch Council. According to the workshop announcement, participants will explore the CLEAR Strategy Loop and apply it to real-world business cases. The program will cover areas including context, levers, economics and allocation, with a focus on turning financial information into actionable strategic decisions. Participants will also examine growth scenarios and stress-test business assumptions, allowing them to assess how different financial and economic conditions can affect business performance. The workshop is intended to move finance professionals toward a more strategic role by showing how AI can support analysis, scenario evaluation and decision-making rather than being limited to routine administrative tasks.
The workshop will also include practical demonstrations and exercises involving Claude Cowork. The listed attendee walk-aways include a live hands-on demonstration using a real-world case study on risk and deadline pressure, a capital allocation exercise based on a bank covenant, automated workflows, and setting up scheduled finance tasks within Claude Cowork. Participants will also receive a complete kit that includes a downloadable Excel case pack and prompt playbook. The session will cover key areas such as building a value-driver tree for a business, stress-testing growth scenarios, evaluating structural investment decisions under different risk conditions and creating strategic responses. The organizers have also highlighted a 30-day playbook, deck and case pack as additional materials associated with the workshop.
The AI Super Users Virtual Office Hours 2026 series reflects the growing use of artificial intelligence in professional finance and accounting functions, where AI tools can assist with analysis, reporting, scenario planning and workflow automation. The program announcement lists additional sessions for November 14 and December 12, 2026, forming part of the wider online workshop series. The October session will provide finance professionals with an opportunity to examine Claude Cowork through a CFO-focused use case while developing practical approaches to strategic analysis. With AI increasingly being integrated into business and financial workflows, initiatives such as this can provide professionals with opportunities to understand how emerging tools may be applied to existing finance responsibilities. Registration for the October 10 session is available through the link shared by ICMA International in its announcement, with the session scheduled for 9:00 PM Pakistan Standard Time.
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