A new survey of 500 finance decision-makers by The CFO Centre reveals that the finance function is transforming into a strategic powerhouse.
Key findings:
- 60% of finance professionals now lead cross-functional initiatives in areas like recruitment, sustainability, marketing and people management.
- 55% have taken on new responsibilities driven by market or structural changes.
- Only 1% report no change to their role.
- 41% cite AI and automation as the top growth drivers, followed by supply-chain cost savings (40%), M&A (35%) and product diversification (33%).
- 56% of finance leaders feel “very confident” about meeting this year’s targets; another 40% feel “somewhat confident.”
- 25% say they need more training and support to adapt.
Reflecting this evolution, two-thirds of organisations have brought in fractional specialists to augment their teams. Looking ahead, finance leaders expect to deepen involvement in reputation management, digital transformation and change management alongside traditional planning and analysis.
“I’ve seen first-hand the shift from functional specialist to strategic consultant,” says Patrick Murray, veteran CFO and funding expert. “Today’s CFO is no longer confined to balance sheets and forecasting. They’re leading talent strategies, shaping sustainability agendas, overseeing marketing impact and driving digital transformation. The most successful finance professionals will be those who embrace change, broaden their skillsets, and commit to continuous development.”
Top priorities for finance teams include R&D (24%), securing long-term funding (22%), developing AI strategies (21%) and profit optimization (21%). Major concerns are rising operational and people costs (22%), meeting sustainability and net-zero targets (22%), and access to finance (20%).
“Businesses need agile, strategic guidance now more than ever,” comments Sara Daw, CEO of The CFO Centre. “This research paints a picture of a finance function that’s more integrated, more accountable, and more vital than ever. The era of the siloed CFO is over; the age of the strategic CFO has arrived.”
The CFO Centre — provider of part-time CFOs to over 750 businesses worldwide — operates in 18 countries with a team of more than 1,100 finance experts.
