M&A remains a top priority for today’s finance leaders as they navigate market uncertainty, evolving capital conditions, and increasing pressure to drive long-term value. More than 40 guests gathered at The California Club in Los Angeles for Century Group’s 2026 CFOLA, hosted in partnership with RSM US LLP, for an evening of candid conversation around today’s evolving deal environment.
Moderated by RSM Los Angeles Office Leader Tasos Yiangou, the panel featured Chan Basho, CFO at Astrana Health, Alan Edrick, CFO at OSI Systems, and Christopher Toumajian, CFO at EP Wealth Advisors. Together, they shared perspectives on valuation discipline, capital planning, integration strategy, talent retention, and the growing influence of AI across finance operations.
“The role of the CFO in valuation is being the reality check,” said Toumajian, emphasizing the importance of balancing opportunity with risk throughout the deal process.
The discussion also explored culture, post-close integration, and the importance of disciplined execution in determining whether a transaction ultimately succeeds. From navigating competitive timelines to managing execution risk and stakeholder alignment, the conversation offered a practical look at how today’s CFOs are approaching M&A with greater strategic influence and operational focus.
Our Managing Director of Professional Staffing, Kyle Darr, shared following the event:
“It was exciting to be part of the diverse Los Angeles CFO ecosystem at Century Group’s 14th CFO Forum. Alan, Chan, and Christopher brought valuable insight to the conversation and were also candid about the realities that come with M&A. Hearing both the challenges and opportunities behind these transactions made for a thoughtful and engaging discussion. A big thank you to our partners at RSM for co-sponsoring the event.”
Century Group is an executive recruiting and professional staffing firm providing top-tier accounting, finance and human resources talent to start-up, mid-market and Fortune 500 enterprises on a direct hire, temporary and temp-to-hire basis. Celebrating its 37th anniversary, the company aims to continue offering standout events and opportunities to better support the sectors it serves.
